The Las Cruces Fire Department is encouraging residents to install new batteries in their smoke alarms when setting clocks to ‘fall back’ when daylight saving time ends this Sunday.
Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 6, and the fire department urges residents to install fresh batteries in their smoke alarms when clocks are adjusted one hour to standard time. Most people tend to adjust their clocks before bedtime Saturday evening.
LCFD also encourages homeowners test smoke alarms to ensure they are in proper working order. To check the operation of a smoke alarm, simply press and hold the alarm’s “test” button. If it beeps, or rings loudly, it is working properly.
Smoke alarms should not be tested by lighting a candle or matches under the detector. Repeated use of heat or smoke to activate the device can cause them to fail when an actual fire occurs.
For more information on smoke alarms, call the Las Cruces Fire Department at (575) 528-3473.