Michigan State Fire Marshal Kevin Sehlmeyer is reminding everyone not only to change their clocks this Sunday for daylight saving time, but also to check their smoke detectors. Sehlmeyer tells WSJM News fire fatalities are up so far this year, and in 75% of the incidents, there were no working smoke detectors in the home. So how many do you need?
“We want to have as smoke alarm on every level of the home, and then in every sleeping area, or every bedroom,” Sehlmeyer said. “So, it you have a two story home with a basement, we’d want one in the basement, one on the first floor, one on the second floor, and then if it’s a three bedroom house, have smoke alarms inside the bedrooms.”
Sehlmeyer says everyone should change their smoke alarm batteries this weekend and also test the alarms. He says if you need new alarms but can’t afford them, you should call your local fire department. They may be able to provide you with one. While you’re at it, make sure you’ve got a working carbon monoxide detector.
