Time to Change your Clocks and the Batteries in all Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Thursday, March 8, 2018
Clocks will 'spring ahead' one hour at 2 a.m. on March 11 and Sault Ste. Marie Fire Services is recommending that all residents install new batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide alarms when they change their clocks.
"In order for smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to do their job, they need to have working batteries," explained Public Education Officer Aaron Gravelle. "Once a year, old batteries should be replaced with new batteries. When you change your clocks on March 11, Sault Fire Services wants you to also change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms."
In order to survive a fire, you need to be provided with an early warning and know what to do when the smoke alarms sound. Working smoke alarms are required on every storey of the home and outside all sleeping areas. For added protection, it is recommended to also install smoke alarms inside all bedrooms.
Carbon monoxide alarms must be installed outside all sleeping areas if your home has a fuel-burning appliance, fireplace or attached garage.
Tampering with or removing the batteries from your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms is against the law. Failure to comply with the Fire Code can result in a ticket for $360 or a fine of up to $50,000.
Remember - all smoke and carbon monoxide alarms expire. Always check the date on the back of each alarm to ensure that it is within the recommended replacement date by the manufacturer. If it has expired, it must be replaced immediately.
For more information on fire safety and fire protection, please visit
saultstemarie.ca/firesafe or contact Public Education Officer Aaron Gravelle at 705-949-3377 or by email
a.gravelle@cityssm.on.ca.