Firefighters Remind Residents to Replace Smoke Alarm Batteries

Monroe firefighters remind residents to change the batteries in their smoke alarms Sunday when they change their clocks to mark the end of daylight savings time.

"On our Facebook page, we have put together a graphic to remind folks to change their smoke alarm batteries tomorrow," Kevin Catalano, spokesman for the Monroe Volunteer Fire Department, said in an email to reporters Saturday. "Nationwide, there are many home fires, injuries and deaths that could have been prevented. Smoke alarms were in the home, but either the batteries were dead or missing all together.

"Even homes with 'hard wired' smoke alarms tied into a system need to change the batteries. In these systems, there is a battery back up in the event of a power outage or an electrical issue within the house."

Monroe firefighters recommend that residents purchase 9-volt batteries and, as they change their clocks, change the batteries in their smoke alarms.

"Smoke alarms should be placed on each floor of the house and in each bedroom," Catalano said. "They are a very inexpensive way to keep your family safe."

The official time change occurs at 2 a.m. on Sunday, when clocks are turned back one hour, following the adage of "spring forward, fall back."