The Office of Illinois State Fire Marshal encourages residents to change smoke alarm batteries as clocks are set back on Sunday
Clocks and smoke alarms in mind: because a fire can happen at any time

[November 01, 2014]  SPRINGFIELD – It is the time of the year to set clocks back one hour to standard time on Sunday morning (November 2st), from 2:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) reminds Illinois families to test every smoke alarms in their homes and change all the batteries to ensure protection in the event of a fire emergency.

“When you set your clocks back this weekend, it is the perfect time to change the batteries of every smoke alarm in your household,” said State Fire Marshal Larry Matkaitis. “Taking a few extra minutes to reset clocks and change smoke alarms gives peace of mind.”

The OSFM also emphasizes that smoke alarms should be installed on every floor and at least 15 feet from each bedroom or sleeping area. Smoke alarms should be tested once a month to ensure proper function.

In 2013, 8,310 structure fires were reported in Illinois. Smoke alarms were present in 3,660 fires, while smoke alarms were absent in 2,798 fire structures. The remaining was undetermined.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that in 2012 U.S. fire departments responded to more than 1.3 million fires, of which 365,000 were home structure fires. These resulted in 2,380 civilian deaths, 12,875 injuries, and $7 billion in property loses. In three out of five residential fires, smoke detectors were not present, or did not operate at the time of the fire.

The following are some additional tips for smoke alarm installation and maintenance:

• According to the Illinois Smoke Detector Act, smoke alarms should be within 15 feet of all sleeping areas, with at least one on each floor.
   
• For residents that have hard-wired smoke alarms, battery operated smoke alarm backups should be considered in case of a power outage.
   
• For hearing impaired family members, install alarms that combine flashing lights with sound.

• Mount smoke alarms high on walls or ceilings (remember, smoke rises). Ceiling mounted alarms should be installed at least four inches away from the nearest wall; wall-mounted alarms should be installed four to 12 inches away from the ceiling.
   
• Don't install smoke alarms near windows, doors, or ducts where drafts might interfere with their operation.
   
• Never paint smoke alarms. Paint, stickers, or other decorations could interfere with the alarm’s ability to sound.

For more information on smoke alarms and other devices please visit, www.sfm.illinois.gov.

[Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal]