As Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 2, the Prince William County Fire and Rescue System is encouraging residents to change the batteries in their smoke alarms when setting clocks back. The agency emphasizes that working smoke alarms are critical for saving lives and reducing injuries and property loss caused by home fires.
According to national estimates, there were 344,600 home structure fires in a recent year. These incidents resulted in 10,400 injuries, 2,890 deaths, and over $11 million in property damage. Cooking was identified as the main cause of home fires and related injuries, while smoking materials led to most home fire deaths.
The Prince William County Fire and Rescue System provided several safety recommendations: “Place a smoke alarm on every level of your home, including the basement, in every bedroom and outside each sleeping area. Test smoke alarms monthly by pushing the test button. If you cannot reach the button easily, use a broom handle. When a smoke alarm sounds, get outside and stay outside. Call 911 once you’re safely outside. DO NOT remove the batteries from your smoke alarms to put in other appliances.”
They also advised replacing all smoke alarms every ten years or sooner if they do not respond during testing. For devices with non-replaceable batteries that begin chirping, replace the entire unit; for those with regular batteries, change them annually or sooner if needed.
The department highlighted that deadly house fires often happen at night or early morning hours when people are asleep. Interconnected smoke alarms are recommended so that if one goes off, all will sound.
Special attention was given to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. The department stated: “There are specially designed smoke alarms for the deaf and hard of hearing. It’s vital this audience is aware of the availability of these types of smoke alarm devices as well as the importance of a proper escape plan.” More information can be found through the Hearing Loss Association of America at www.hearingloss.org/.
Carbon monoxide (CO) safety was also addressed: install CO alarms on every level of your home and in every bedroom; test monthly; replace according to manufacturer instructions; and move outdoors immediately if an alarm sounds. Generators should only be used outdoors away from openings, and vents should be checked for blockages after snowstorms.
Residents are urged to develop and regularly practice a home fire escape plan so everyone knows what actions to take if an alarm sounds.
Further information on fire safety is available from organizations such as the National Fire Protection Association at https://www.nfpa.org and the U.S. Fire Administration at https://www.usfa.fema.gov/.
Additional resources include NFPA’s Home Structure Fires report (August 2025), Fire Loss in the United States (November 2024), Smoke Alarms in US Home Fires (June 2024), and U.S. Fire Administration’s Residential Building Fire Causes data covering 2014–2023.
