Time to Change Your Smoke Alarm Battery? Check It Out This Weekend As You Change Your Clock!

Rockville - - - Montgomery County firefighters will be hitting the streets this weekend reminding residents when they change their clocks and “Spring Forward” that it is the perfect time of year to check and replace the batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors. In addition to changing the batteries this weekend, residents are urged to follow these simple steps to protect your life, your loved ones and your home:

• Dust or vacuum smoke alarms when you change the batteries, unless your smoke alarm is sealed and is a 10-year long life unit.  
• Test alarms once a month using the test button.
• Replace the entire alarm if it’s more than 10 years old or doesn’t work properly when tested.
• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including the basement, and both inside and outside of sleeping areas.
• Interconnect all smoke alarms throughout your home so that when one sounds, they all sound. Interconnected alarms are available at most stores that sell smoke alarms.
• Make sure everyone in your home understands the warning of the smoke alarm and knows how to respond.
• Involve your family! Take time to review your fire escape plans with your family and practice with a home fire drill. 

“Smoke alarm maintenance is a simple, effective way to reduce home fire deaths,” said Fire Chief Richard Bowers. “Children and senior citizens are most at risk and a working smoke alarm can give them the extra seconds they need to escape safely.”

If you need any assistance with fire escape planning or smoke alarms, call 311 to schedule a free evaluation by fire department representatives. To learn more about what you and your family can do to be safe, visit the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service website at www.mcfrs.org/mcsafe. 

It’s a fact: If your smoke alarm was installed before March 11, 2002

It needs to be replaced. 

Smoke Alarms: A Sound You Can Live With

Install and Maintain Smoke Alarms. It’s the LAW!

Rockville - - - Montgomery County fire officials have confirmed that there were no working smoke alarms present in several significant residental fires in the County this fall. Fire Officials  are urging residents to test their smoke alarms to ensure they are working while reminding residents that the Montgomery County code requires home owners to install, test and maintain smoke alarms on every level of your home and outside all sleeping areas. Failure to comply with this local law could result in a fine and/or imprisonment.

Most fatal fires occur at night when people are sleeping and experts say that the early warning from a working smoke alarm actually doubles your chances of escaping a home fire. Since the primary job of a smoke alarm is to awaken sleeping people and warn them of urgent danger, it is essential that smoke alarms are working and are proximate to sleeping areas of the home.  

Fire Chief Richard Bowers reminds residents that as we approach the winter heating season, it’s critical that every home have working smoke alarms. “Most fires are preventable, said Chief Bowers. “Smoke alarms are one of the best and easiest safety features you can use to protect yourself, your family and your home. I strongly urge every resident to take a few minutes to test their smoke alarms, practice their home fire escape plan and replace any smoke alarms that are 10 years or older. Many people believe that smoke alarms last forever. They don’t.”

The Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service offers residents free assistance with smoke alarm installation and maintenance. Any homeowner who cannot install or test smoke alarms in their homes due to age, physical limitations or cannot afford to purchase a smoke alarm or batteries can call 311 for assistance. Visit us atwww.mcfrs.org/mcsafe for additional safety information!