Change your Clock, Change your Batteries
Story by Topeka Fire Dept. release
Thursday, November 1, 2007

The Topeka Fire Department reports that, in recent years 51% of residential fires occurred in residences, which had no smoke alarms (detectors) or inoperative smoke alarms. While 90% of all homes in the United States have smoke alarms, 20% of those alarms either have expired or missing batteries. Although smoke alarms will not save lives, they are designed to provide early warning to allow you to safely exit your home before the primary exits are blocked.

Smoke alarm batteries should be checked monthly and the batteries should be REPLACED twice each year.

The Topeka Fire Department reminds you that when you change your clock this Sunday, November 4, 2007 take an additional moment to change the batteries in your smoke alarm.

In conjunction with this year's Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery educational campaign the City of Topeka Fire Department will be partnering with Batteries Plus to distribute approximately five hundred (500), 9-volt smoke alarm batteries to those citizens in our community who need to replace their batteries.

The distribution of batteries will occur on Friday, November 2, 2007 from 3pm - 6pm and again on Saturday, November 3, 2007 from 1:00pm - 4:00pm. The distribution site both days will be at the Batteries Plus store, 6021 SW 29th Street, suite D.