The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with, BRK Brands Inc., a subsidiary of First Alert Inc., of Aurora, Ill., has announced a voluntary recall of nearly 146,000 First Alert ONELINK battery-powered smoke and combination smoke/carbon monoxide alarms. These alarms can drain the power from batteries rapidly, causing premature low battery power. Consumers will be alerted to the low battery power and the need to replace the battery by a chirping of the unit. If the batteries on the smoke/CO alarm are not replaced before the battery power terminates, the alarm will not detect smoke in the event of a possible fire and the presence of carbon monoxide.

The recall includes ONELINK battery-powered smoke and combination smoke/CO alarms. "First Alert" and "ONELINK" are printed on the front of the alarm. More than 300 instances of premature low battery power in these alarms have been reported. There have been no reports of injuries, incidents or alarms failing to detect smoke or carbon monoxide.

The recalled alarms include models number SA500 and SCO500 with a date code prior to March 3, 2006. The model number and date code are printed on the back of the alarm. They were sold by department, home and hardware stores nationwide from June 2005 through March 2006 for between $45 and $75.

Consumers with alarms included in the recall should contact First Alert Inc./BRK Brands Inc. immediately to receive a replacement alarm. Until a new alarm is received, consumers should test the batteries in the alarm weekly by pressing the "test" button. If the alarm signals a low battery alert, consumers should immediately replace the batteries. Consumers should not remove their alarms until they have received a replacement alarm.

For more information, contact First Alert Inc./BRK Brands Inc. at (800) 323-9005 between 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.firstalert.com .