Cherokee Fire: Change Your Clock — and Smoke Detector Batteries

As Cherokee County residents turn their clocks back to eastern standard time, Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services is also asking them to do another simple task: change the batteries in their smoke detectors.

Each year across the state, there are house fire fatalities that happen because residents either did not have smoke alarms or had alarms that did not function properly due to dead batteries.

"If you have a smoke alarm, make sure it is in working order," said Tim Prather, Cherokee County fire chief. "Changing the battery at least once every year and cleaning dust from the device are easy ways to ensure continued protection of your family and your property. Having a working smoke alarm doubles the chances you will survive a fire in your home."

Prather also noted that fire fatalities doubled during the first two weeks of 2013. 

Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday in the United States and Canada. 

You will be setting your clock back one hour, following the adage of “spring forward, fall back.” The “extra” hour gives you a chance to catch up on the sleep you lost in March when the clocks moved forward and Daylight Saving Time began.

The federal government doesn’t require states to adopt Daylight Saving Time, so Arizona doesn’t. Indiana used to ignore Daylight Savings but now observes it. 

In an effort to save resources during World War II, the U.S. made daylight saving time mandatory for the whole country. And it was observed the entire year.

Some studies have shown that extending Daylight Saving Time results in a reduction in energy consumption; other studies suggest just the opposite. 

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