Missouri City News

Residents: Change Your Clocks and Check Your Smoke Alarm Batteries

As we Spring Ahead to Daylight Savings Time this Sunday, Missouri City Fire & Rescue Service also wants to remind residents to fit a smoke alarm check into their busy schedules.

Properly installing and maintaining smoke detectors significantly reduces the risk of residents being injured or dying in a fire. The safety devices can also help prevent the death and injury of firefighters, who often put their lives on the line trying to rescue residents who weren’t alerted to fires by the units.

“Most people think that they will wake up if their house catches on fire while they are asleep. In actuality, this is false,” Fire Chief Russell Sander said. “A properly working smoke detector is everyone’s best early warning.”

The National Fire Protection Association reports that more than 66 percent of home fire deaths that occurred from 2003 to 2006 were in homes without a working smoke alarm. A smoke alarm with a dead or missing battery is the same as having no smoke alarm installed, so residents are encouraged to regularly inspect their detectors by pushing the “test” button, or changing the batteries at least once every year, or as instructed by the manufacturer.

As they work hard to save lives and educate the public, Missouri City’s Fire and Rescue Service urges residents to remember these tips:

*Smoke alarms are powered by either a battery or are hardwired into your home’s electrical system. Hardwired smoke alarms are usually equipped with a backup battery. If your smoke alarm is powered by battery, the battery needs to be replaced annually unless it is a long-life battery (check the owner’s manual). All batteries should be maintained and replaced in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidance.

*Choose an annual date, such as the time change, when you will remember to maintain your smoke alarm. Check the manufacturer’s expiration date on the label, replace the batteries if needed, and clean dust away from the slots so that smoke can enter freely.

*All smoke alarms, hard-wired and battery-powered, should be replaced every 10 years.

The U.S. Fire Administration is conducting a national safety campaign called, “Install. Inspect. Protect.”, and the goal is to help save lives through intervention. Please visit the campaign’s website: www.usfa.dhs.gov/campaigns/smokealarms/ to find out more information about home smoke alarms and fire sprinklers.