Change Your Clocks, Check Your Smoke Detectors

According to the U.S. Fire Administration and the National Fire Protection Association, more fires occur during the winter months than any other season. While cooking remains the main cause of home fires throughout the year the winter months pose additional threats to residents including heating equipment fires.

This past Sunday we set the clocks back. Whenever the clocks change it is recommended that residents change the batteries in their smoke alarms as well. Most fire fatalities occur overnight when residents are sleeping and working smoke alarms can greatly reduce the risk of a fatal fire.

As Executive Director of the New Jersey Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board I would like to remind anyone who has not yet changed the batteries in their smoke alarms to please do so ahead of the approaching cold winter months. I would also like to encourage New Jersey residents to give their families the best possible chance of surviving a home fire by learning about and installing residential fire sprinklers.