CAL FIRE Urges Californians To "Change Your Clocks, Change Your Batteries"

It's that time again... daylight savings time!  Our friends at the California Department of Foresty and Fire Protection have issued an excellent press release - "Change Your Clocks, Change Your Batteries" - reminding you to check the batteries in your fire alarm.  Their press release is below:

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CAL FIRE NEWS RELEASE

Sacramento – With the switch to Daylight saving time this Sunday, March 14, CAL FIRE and the Office of the State Fire Marshal are reminding all California residents to change their smoke alarm batteries when setting their clocks.


Every year, lives are lost due to inoperative smoke alarms. More than 66 percent of home fire deaths that occurred between 2003 and 2006 were in homes without a working smoke alarm, according to the National Fire Protection Association. The changing of the clocks provides an ideal reminder to change your smoke alarm batteries at least twice a year.

“With proper maintenance and regular testing, smoke alarms play a pivotal role in the early notification of a fire emergency,” said Chief Tonya Hoover, acting state fire marshal. “By taking just a few seconds each year to replace the battery, you can truly make a difference in protecting your family and your home.”

CAL FIRE has the following tips on smoke alarms:

• Test smoke alarms once a month.
• Replace batteries in all smoke alarms twice a year.
• Don’t “borrow” or remove batteries from smoke alarms even temporarily.
• Regularly vacuum or dust smoke alarms to keep them working properly.
• Replace smoke alarms every 10 years.
• Don’t paint over smoke alarms.
• Practice family fire drills so everyone knows what to do if the smoke alarm goes off.

To find more information on fire safety and fire protection visit the CAL FIRE Web site at http://www.fire.ca.gov/

*** Servpro of Point Loma is a Ready San Diego Business Alliance Member. Feel free to contact us anytime for safety tips! ***