CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

   We hereby  consent to the  incorporation  by reference  in this  Registration
Statement on Form S- 8 of our report dated  January 31, 1996,  which  appears on
page 30 of the 1995 Annual Report to Shareholders of First Alert,  Inc. which is
incorporated by reference in First Alert,  Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended  December  31,  1995.  We also  consent to the  incorporation  by
reference of our report on the Financial  Statement  Schedule,  which appears on
page 17 of such Annual Report on Form 10-K.


                                                   Price Waterhouse LLP


Chicago, Illinois
May 22, 1996