Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday at 2 a.m., which means it’s time to set your clocks back one hour.
The Virginia Department of Fire Programs recommends Virginians use Daylight Saving as a good time to check the batteries on smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, according to a state department of fire programs news release.
According to the release, 80 Virginians died in residential fires in 2016. The National Fire Protection Association reports that three out of five fire deaths take place in residences without working smoke alarms.
New construction materials and open floor plans also mean residents have
as little as two minutes to escape safely from the time the smoke alarm sounds.
“Smoke alarms are the first line of defense in preventing home fire deaths,” Virginia State Fire Marshal Brian McGraw said. “Testing them regularly to ensure they are working properly, changing the batteries when you change your clocks in the fall and spring, and replacing them entirely every 10 years should be a component of everyone’s home safety plan.”
While some newer detectors use 10-year lithium batteries, some older ones still use nine-volt or AA batteries that need to be replaced, as well, the release said.
The release also advises residents to place smoke alarms in key areas around the house — inside each bedroom and on each story of a house — and developing and practicing a fire escape plan.
For more tips on preventing and escaping house fires, click here.
