March 8, 2019
Jim Evancho
The Jacksonville Fire Department’s Fire Marshal, Lee Batey, wants to remind everyone that you should change the batteries in your smoke alarms twice per year. One of the more simple ways to remember this will be happening this weekend, the time change. Just remind yourself that when you change your clock its time to change your battery.
Fire Marshal Batey has issued a public release for all of the residents of Jacksonville. The full release is below.
Every smoke alarm has an expiration date: What’s yours? Is your battery in your alarm working?
With daylight savings time quickly approaching this weekend, Jacksonville Fire Marshal Lee Batey urges all citizens to check their smoke detector batteries, know how old their smoke alarms are and to replace them every 10 years.
March 3, 2019 – Does your home have a smoke alarm? According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the answer is likely yes: NFPA research shows that most American homes have at least one. But do you know how old your smoke alarms are? If you’re like most people, you’re probably not so sure. Are your batteries in your smoke alarm working? With daylight savings time happening this weekend – it is time to replace your batteries and check the date on your smoke detector.
A recent survey conducted by NFPA revealed that only a small percentage of people know how old their smoke alarms are, or how often they need to be replaced. That lack of awareness is a concern for Fire Marshal Lee Batey at Jacksonville Fire Department, along with other fire departments throughout the country, because smoke alarms don’t last forever.
NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm Code®, requires smoke alarms be replaced at least every 10 years, but because the public is generally unaware of this requirement, many homes have smoke alarms past their expiration date, putting people at increased risk.
“Time and again, I’ve seen the life-saving impact smoke alarms can have in home fires, even here locally in Jacksonville but, I’ve also seen the tragedy that can result when smoke alarms aren’t working properly,” says Fire Marshal Batey. “That’s why we’re making a concerted effort to educate citizens about the overall importance of smoke alarms – they save lives and they do have a life limit themselves.” “I also want Jacksonville citizens to know that the fire department will come to your residence and install smoke detectors free of charge to anyone in our jurisdiction who can’t afford them.”
To find out how old your smoke alarm is and its expiration date, simply look on the back of the alarm where the date of manufacture is marked. The smoke alarm should be replaced 10 years from that date (not the date of purchase). Fire Marshal Batey also says smoke alarms should be tested monthly and that batteries should be replaced twice per year (when daylight savings time begins & ends) or when they begin to chirp, signaling that they’re running low.
If anyone has questions regarding smoke detectors or other concerns about fire safety, they are encouraged to contact the Jacksonville Fire Department or Fire Marshal Lee Batey.
Marshal Batey also wanted to remind residents that the fire department has a smoke detector program, that is free of charge to residents in Jacksonville who can’t afford them, where the firefighters will come out to citizens homes and install detectors for them.
Smoke detectors save lives, which is evident even here in Jacksonville, with a save in the past month when a smoke detector alerted a sleeping resident that her house was on fire. She escaped safely and called 9-1-1 to report that her house was on fire.
To learn more about the services provided by the Jacksonville Fire Department please check out their website – JaxFire
