FDNY Urges New Yorkers to Change Their Batteries in Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms When Changing Their Clocks This Weekend

March 5, 2018 — Smoke Alarms Should be Installed on Every Level of Your Home and Anywhere People Sleep

Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro is urging all New Yorkers to change the batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide alarms when changing their clocks for the start of Daylight Saving Time on March 11th. Anyone without a smoke alarm is urged to get a 10-year sealed battery combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarm for every level of their home. As part of this semi-annual outreach effort, members of the FDNY Fire Safety Education Team will be distributing fire safety literature in multiple languages at more than a dozen locations throughout the five boroughs.

“Having a working smoke alarm saves lives by giving you and your family an early warning of a potential emergency which is why I urge all New Yorkers to check their smoke alarms and if you do not have one, install one immediately where you sleep and on every level of your home,” said Commissioner Nigro. “Last year, FDNY members educated more than 750,000 New Yorkers at more than 8,000 fire safety events and reached more than 18 million people with critical fire and life safety messages through the Department’s social media platforms,” said Fire Commissioner Nigro.

Throughout the weekend, New Yorkers will have the opportunity to meet the FDNY Fire Safety Education (FSE) Unit at locations in all five boroughs and learn life-saving lessons in fire safety. FSE programs are generously supported by the FDNY Foundation.

In 2017 - the top three causes of fatal fires were open flames, electrical, and smoking – in 53% of the fatal fires there was no working smoke alarm present.

For more fire and life safety information, visit www.FDNYSmart.org

Below, please find the locations and times for FDNY Fire Safety Education events.