State Fire Marshal Urges North Carolina Residents to Check Smoke Alarm Batteries During Time Change

As North Carolinians prepare to set their clocks back one hour for the end of Daylight-Saving Time on Sunday, November 3, State Fire Marshal Brian Taylor is urging all residents to use this opportunity to check and replace the batteries in their smoke alarms.

"While many people associate the time change with gaining an extra hour of sleep, it's also a life-saving reminder," said Taylor, State Fire Marshal. "Taking a few minutes to ensure your smoke alarms are working properly could mean the difference between life and death during a fire."

Statistics from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) show that nearly 60% of home fire deaths occur in properties with no working smoke alarms or alarms that fail to operate due to missing or dead batteries. Ensuring smoke alarms have fresh batteries and are properly tested significantly increases the chances of surviving a home fire.

Tips for Residents:

• Replace smoke alarm batteries at least once a year. If your smoke alarm has a sealed 10-year battery, test it to ensure it is operational.
• Test smoke alarms monthly by pressing the "test" button.
• Replace smoke alarms that are over 10 years old, as their sensors can become less reliable.
• Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside sleeping areas, and on every level of your home, including basements.