TRENTON, N.J. – As daylight saving time ends this Sunday, the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety is reminding residents to “change your clock, check your batteries” — a lifesaving habit that helps ensure smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are working properly.
Officials said the time change offers a simple but critical opportunity to test alarms and replace batteries where needed.
Commissioner Jacquelyn A. Suárez called the practice a vital step in preventing tragedy, urging families to make it part of their fall routine.
Key Points
- New Jersey officials remind residents to test smoke and CO alarms as daylight saving time ends Sunday.
- DFS urges replacing batteries and outdated devices to prevent fire and CO incidents.
- “Change your clock, check your batteries” remains a lifesaving safety message.
Safety message tied to time change
“Testing alarms and replacing batteries when needed is a simple step that helps protect your home and family year-round,” said Suárez, who leads the Department of Community Affairs, which oversees the Division of Fire Safety.
Richard Mikutsky, the state’s Fire Marshal and DFS Director, echoed the warning, adding that working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms give residents “precious time to escape in an emergency.”
DFS outlines home safety checklist
The Division of Fire Safety recommends placing smoke and CO alarms inside every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home, including basements. Officials say smoke alarms should be replaced every ten years, and homeowners should choose models with sealed, long-life batteries approved by a recognized testing laboratory.
For alarms with replaceable batteries, new batteries should be installed at least once a year or whenever the device chirps. The agency also advises testing all alarms monthly to ensure proper function.
Fire prevention practices beyond alarms
Residents are encouraged to know two ways out of every room and to establish a safe meeting place outside the home. DFS also reminds families to close interior doors before bed to slow the spread of fire, clean dryer vents regularly to prevent lint buildup, and practice home fire drills twice a year, both during the day and at night.
State agency reinforces public safety role
The Division of Fire Safety serves as New Jersey’s central fire service agency, responsible for enforcing the State Uniform Fire Code and promoting community risk reduction. The Department of Community Affairs, its parent agency, provides a wide range of services — from housing and energy assistance to disaster recovery — aimed at improving safety and quality of life for residents statewide.