Matt Covey says everyone should be using photoelectric smoke detectors, but only about 10 per cent of single-family homes in Covey’s district do. Covey, Halifax’s division chief of fire prevention, ...

Ionization detectors are the most common type of alarm. They sense fast-moving, flaming fires. "A flaming fire would be like a kitchen fire… something that flames up quicker," Vassar said.

3news bought one ionization, one photoelectric and two combination smoke detectors, T. J. Martin with Parma Fire installed them, and then we set a couch on fire.

Ionization detectors are typically the cheapest ones, around $10, and usually do well with sensing flames. Photoelectric detectors cost about twice as much and are supposed to pick up smoke faster.