Change your smoke alarm batteries
by
Kevin Chierek
Posted: 11.08.2010 at 2:14 PM
KIRKSVILLE, MO -- After setting our clocks back one hour from daylight savings time fire officials are reminding everyone to also change the batteries in their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
“We’re going to be turning on our furnaces, we’re going to be starting our fireplaces and we’re going to be doing things to start preparing us for the winter months” said Kirksville Fire Department Capt. Joe Shilling. “Daylight savings is a good opportunity to make sure everything’s ready to work and you know you want to make sure your fire extinguishers are in the green and working good. Just be prepared for the winter months.”
Shilling said fires are not more prone in the winter than in the summer but there is more of a hazard in the winter months because we are using heat more to warm our homes.
According to State Fire Marshal Randy Cole the chance of surviving a fire increases 50 percent with a working smoke alarm. Families should have two fire escape routes from their home and should practice those routes.