March 7, 2024

Change your clocks and check your smoke alarms

Love it or hate it, daylight saving time is coming up again. The Johnson City Fire Department hopes “springing forward” on Sunday, March 10 at 2 a.m. serves as a reminder to practice fire safety. It’s a good time to check your smoke alarms and change replaceable batteries, if needed.

Working smoke alarms are a critical element of home fire safety. Three out of five home fire deaths are caused in structures without working smoke alarms. It is also important to note that half of home fire deaths happen between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., when most people are asleep. That is why the Johnson City Fire Department recommends that smoke alarms are installed in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of the home including the basement.

“We want everyone in Johnson City to feel safe in their homes, and that starts with knowing that they have taken proper steps to protect themselves against fires,” said Johnson City Fire Chief David Bell. “Working smoke alarms save lives. If a family does not have a smoke alarm or cannot afford one, we will provide them with one and install it.”

To request a free smoke detector through the Johnson City Fire Department’s Smoke Detector Program, fill out an online form (https://jcfd.wufoo.com/forms/smoke-detector-request-form/), visit any fire station, or call 423.975.2840.

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