Berkeley, California (Tuesday, October 30, 2007) – Residents should change the batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors at the same time they set your clocks back this weekend (2 a.m. on Sunday, November 4). These detectors save lives only when the batteries are working!

A working smoke detector more than doubles a person’s chances of surviving a home fire. More than 90 percent of homes in the United States have smoke detectors, but it is estimated that one-third have worn-out or missing batteries. The Fire Department recommends that you test your batteries every month, and change them yearly.

In light of the North Carolina house fire that killed seven students, the Fire Department sends a special reminder to students living in off-campus housing to check their smoke detectors. These students can obtain free smoke detectors from UC Berkeley’s Environmental Health and Safety Division and the Berkeley Fire Department.

For more information, please contact Berkeley’s Fire Prevention Division at 510-981-3474 or UCB’s Environmental Health and Safety Division at 642-3073.

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