Residents Urged to Check Fire Alarms

When residents change their clocks from daylight saving time on Sunday, firefighters recommend also replacing the batteries on smoke detectors.

Nearly half the Ventura County residents who own smoke detectors do not have an alarm that works, fire officials estimate.

“Many people assume the batteries last forever,” said Joe Luna, a spokesman for the Ventura County Fire Protection District. “Others don’t realize that the batteries are low, and some yank out their batteries because the alarm goes off too much when cooking and forget to replace it.”

By the time a resident wakes up to the smell of smoke, or the feel of heat, the house could already be filled with deadly gases, reducing the chance of survival, firefighters said. A working smoke detector should sound when there is combustion and when smoke hits the ceiling.

Along with replacing the batteries in smoke detectors, firefighters advise homeowners to have an exit plan and practice how to roll out of bed and crawl on the floor to avoid heat or smoke in the event of a fire.