Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King is urging everyone to change the batteries in their smoke alarms when they change their clocks forward for daylight savings time this weekend.

“The annual change to daylight savings time is the perfect opportunity to make sure your smoke alarms are working properly,” Commissioner King said. “We recommend changing the batteries in these devices twice a year. A great habit to pick up is to make this change when you move your clocks forward or backwards each year. This small task is the one of the easiest ways to ensure continued protection of your family and property.”

No smoke alarms were found in approximately 91% of fatal residential fires in 2019. So far in 2020, 23 Georgians have died in 21 residential fires. In 18 of those 21 fatal fires, no smoke alarms were found.
Commissioner King encourages all residents to test and clean dust from the smoke alarms monthly. He also recommends that you plan and practice an escape route to the outside of your home in the event of a fire.

Daylight saving time starts Sunday, March 8, at 2 a.m., when clocks are set ahead one hour.