Published: October 31, 2008 11:22 pm      

Firefighters: Change smoke detector batteries

Lt. Ernie Parsons immediately recalls coming to only one house with a non-working smoke detector where he had to extinguish a fire.

“That’s still too many,” Beckley’s assistant fire marshal said.

Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday when clocks need to be set back one hour. Firefighters are encouraging people to change their smoke detector batteries when they reset their clocks.

“It’s a reminder, something to jog your memory,” Parsons said. “When you change the clocks, change your battery.”

Often, people forget to change their smoke detector batteries or “steal” them to use in other devices, Parsons said.

“It just takes one time — just a little kitchen fire,” he said. “People may be delayed in getting out.”

Parsons said the cost of a smoke detector and batteries is negligible compared to losing homes, all possessions and possibly lives in fires. The fire department provides smoke detectors and new batteries for elderly homeowners in the city limits. The department works to be proactive by keeping a database of these residents.

In rental properties, landlords are required to provide the smoke detectors, but tenants must maintain the batteries.

“The bottom line is that they are there to help you get out,” Parsons said.

— E-mail: apridemore@register-herald.com