Americans Can Use Their "Extra Hour" on Sunday to Reduce Their Risk of Dying in a House Fire By 50 Percent

Windsor, CA -- WPFD is urging all residents to replace their smoke alarm batteries and check their units on Oct. 26, when clocks are turned back to end Daylight Savings Time. Taking part of the "extra hour" to do so can have lifesaving consequences.

In many of the house fires where lives are lost, an operating smoke alarm could have made a difference. "A smoke alarm reduces the risk of dying in a house fire by 50 percent," says Chief Ron Collier, citing FEMA and NFPA statistics. "We urge people not to think, "it won't happen to me." Take a few minutes and take the easy and inexpensive steps necessary to safeguard themselves and their families."

More than 2,700 people lost their lives in residential fires in 2002 and another 14,000 were injured. Windsor Fire recommends:

• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, in every sleeping room
• Test all smoke alarms monthly
• Keep smoke alarms clean by vacuuming over and around them regularly
• Like any appliance, smoke alarms wear out. Replace the entire unit after 10 years or as recommended by the manufacturer
• Organize and practice a family fire drill that includes two ways out of every room and designates a place to meet outside the home.

More information can be found by visiting our website at www.windorfire.net or www.NFPA.com.

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