A very easy way to remember to check the operation of your smoke detector and change its batteries is to do this twice a year when the time changes to and from Daylight Saving Time. (This Fall it’s Sunday, November 6) You may decide that a once-a-year battery change is sufficient with alkaline batteries. But please pick a date that you will remember, and change that battery!

If your smoke detectors are hard-wired into your electrical system, they should still be checked to make sure they are operating properly. All smoke detectors have a test button that when pressed will sound an alarm. If the alarm does not work when you test your detector, there is a problem that needs to be resolved. If you are unable to reach your detector, call us here at the fire department – we can come to your home and test it for you. And, we can also advise you on where you should place your smoke detectors.
Smoke Detector Neglect:

● Although smoke detectors are present in 94 % of American homes, 20% do not work, mostly because of dead or missing batteries. That means roughly 19 million homes are at risk due to non-working smoke alarms and another 6 million homes are at risk due to no smoke alarms.

● In the U.S. roughly 80% of fire deaths result from fires in homes without working smoke detectors.
For more information, contact the Jacksonville Fire Department at 541-899-7246.