City of Cheyenne 3-9-2017
Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday, March 12 at 2 a.m., when we spring forward one hour for the purpose of making better use of daylight. As we set our clocks ahead, Cheyenne Fire & Rescue recommends testing your smoke alarms.
Roughly two-thirds of home fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. When smoke alarms should have worked but failed to operate, it is usually because batteries were missing, disconnected, or dead, said Byron Mathews, Prevention Bureau Chief for Cheyenne Fire & Rescue.
Cheyenne Fire & Rescue provides the following guidelines for smoke alarms:
• Test smoke alarms at least once a month using the test button.
• Make sure everyone in the residence understands the sound of the smoke alarm and knows how to respond.
• Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old.
• Replace the smoke alarm immediately if it doesn’t respond properly when tested.
• Smoke alarms with nonreplaceable (long-life) batteries are designed to remain effective for up to 10 years. If the alarm chirps, a warning the battery is low, replace the entire smoke alarm immediately.
• For smoke alarms with any other type of battery, replace batteries at least once a year. If the alarm chirps, replace only the battery.
For more information, check out the National Fire Protection Association’s 9- volt battery tip sheet (attached), which explains the importance of storing and disposing of batteries with care to avoid a fire hazard.
