ENTERPRISE, Ala. (WDNews) — As residents prepare to move their clocks forward for Daylight Saving Time, the Enterprise Fire Department is reminding the community to take a moment to check smoke alarm batteries — a simple step officials say could save lives.
Clocks will “spring forward” at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 8. Fire officials say the time change is a perfect reminder for families to test smoke alarms and replace batteries if needed.
“At the Enterprise Fire Department, protecting lives is not just our mission, it is our responsibility,” said Fire Chief Christopher Davis. “A working smoke alarm can cut the risk of dying in a house fire nearly in half. That early warning gives families the seconds they need to escape safely. Our goal is simple: every home in Enterprise equipped with working smoke alarms.”
Officials recommend installing smoke alarms in every bedroom, in hallways outside sleeping areas, and on every level of a home. Alarms should be tested monthly, batteries replaced at least twice a year, and the entire unit replaced every 10 years.
“Smoke alarms most often fail because of missing or dead batteries,” Davis said. “When you change your clocks, take a few extra minutes to test every alarm in your home and make sure your family recognizes the sound and knows what to do if it activates.”
Fire officials also encourage families to review their home fire escape plans. Each room should have two ways out, exit routes should remain clear, and households should establish a designated outdoor meeting place.
The Enterprise Fire Department will also host its annual Smoke Detector Blitz on Saturday, March 21, from 9 a.m. to noon at Sessions Field on West College Street. The event is part of the citywide OSCAR Club Day of Service and focuses on improving home safety across the community.
During the event, firefighters and volunteers from the Coffee County Community Emergency Response Team will go door-to-door in selected neighborhoods to distribute and install smoke alarms for residents in need.
Free smoke detectors are available to Enterprise residents year-round through the fire department.
For more information about the Smoke Detector Blitz or to request a free smoke alarm, residents can contact the Enterprise Fire Department at (334) 348-2641 or visit www.enterprisefd.com.
