“Spring forward” Sunday March 14

Submitted by the St. Cloud Fire Marshal, Dave Ennis

As a friendly reminder, the St. Cloud Fire Rescue Department reminds all residents to change their clock forward one hour on Sunday, March 14 at 2:00 A.M.  The SCFR Department recommends you change your smoke alarm batteries when you change your clocks and test your smoke alarms every month.

Smoke alarms play a vital role in reducing deaths and injuries from fire and have contributed to the almost 50% decrease in fire deaths since the late 1970s.  It is estimated that 95% of U.S homes have at least one smoke alarm. Sixty-five percent of reported home fire deaths occurred in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. Properly installed and maintained smoke alarms save lives and protect against injury and loss due to fire.

Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years. The manufacture date should be on the back of the alarm.

Besides spring cleaning, this is also a good time to practice your family escape plan. Everyone should know two ways out of their house and have a meeting place outside. The meeting place could be a tree or the mail box. Just make sure everyone knows the location and it is a safe distance from the house.

The St. Cloud Fire Rescue Department has a limited amount of batteries and smoke alarms that are free to City residents.  For information on how to obtain alarms or batteries, call .

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