As daylight saving time comes to an end and people across the city turn their clocks back an hour, the Cleveland Fire Department has issued a timely reminder to residents about fire safety. In a message conveyed through their social media channels, the department urged Clevelanders to "please remember to check your smoke alarms" when they adjust their timepieces.
In order to ensure the devices are operational, the fire department has instructed individuals to "simply press and hold the test button on the front of the alarm until it beeps," as per the Cleveland Fire Facebook post. They emphasized that the beeping sound is a confirmation that the smoke alarm is actively working to protect families. Additionally, they pointed out that smoke alarms that fail to beep or are a decade old should be promptly replaced.
The fire department has partnered with the Red Cross to offer free smoke alarms to Cleveland residents, a service which includes installation by Cleveland firefighters. Those interested in benefiting from this program can request their free devices by calling (216) 361-5535. This initiative is part of a broader effort to improve fire safety and awareness within the community.
Consistent with fire safety recommendations, Cleveland Fire's statement also reminded that "smoke alarms should be located on every floor of the house, including the basement, and anywhere people sleep". They underscored the importance of a functioning alarm to wake up residents, allowing them to safely evacuate the premises and to swiftly call 911 in the case of an emergency. Ensuring that smoke alarms are in working order is a simple action that the department is advocating residents to regularly check and maintain to protect against the dangers of unforeseen fires.
