City of Norfolk Fire Marshal, Sean Lindgren, has an easy way to remember when to change the batteries in your smoke alarm: “Change your clocks, check/change your batteries!”

The Norfolk Fire Division would like to remind everyone that Sunday, March 10th, is the day we all change our clocks one hour as we “spring” ahead for daylight saving time. This weekend is a great time to check and change the batteries in all of your smoke alarms if needed.

Smoke alarms are your first line of defense when it comes to letting you know that there is a fire in your home. If you wait to change the batteries until they beep, they may or may not work. Even if you have smoke alarms that use the power from your house wiring system, the backup battery needs to be changed.

If your smoke alarms are older than 10 years in service – you can tell by a date stamped on the back of your detectors – the whole alarm needs to be replaced. Smoke alarms in Norfolk must also be interconnected for the safety of citizens. On change of ownership or tenant, smoke alarm interconnection must be verified in dwellings. Interconnected alarms are already required in new buildings and after significant remodeling.

This weekend is a great time to practice your fire escape plan with everyone in the house. This message is brought to you by the Norfolk Fire Division.