Daylight savings time will begin March 8 and the Sugar Land Fire Department is again reminding residents they need to check and make certain all smoke alarms are working properly.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, smoke alarms play a vital role in reducing deaths and injuries from fire, and have contributed to the almost 50 percent decrease in fire deaths since the late 1970s.
It is estimated that 95 percent of U.S homes have at least one smoke alarm. However, 65 percent of reported home fire deaths occurred in homes with no smoke alarms or malfunctioning smoke alarms.
If homes don’t have a smoke alarm, the smoke alarm is not working or is 10 years old or older, residents can take advantage of the Sugar Land Fire Department’s free alarm service.
The department will conduct a free home safety survey; install battery-operated, single-station smoke alarms and replace existing smoke alarms’ 9v batteries
After completing the safety survey, the fire department will also provide homeowners with a copy of any recommendations.
The fire department will install at least one working smoke alarm on each level of the home and one outside sleeping areas. In addition, the National Fire Protection Association recommends that homeowners add smoke alarms inside all sleeping areas in the home.
For more information on smoke alarms or scheduling the free smoke alarm service, call the Sugar Land Fire Department’s administrative offices at 281-491-0852.
