Don't forget to change your clocks back tonight, and while you're at it, change the batteries in your smoke alarms. Portage Fire Department Captain Cory Jowett says it's very important to ensure your alarms are working as it's your first defence against a deadly fire. It's also a good idea to make sure the alarm is not older than ten years or past it's expiry date.  
Jowett notes the common mistake everybody makes these days is thinking it won't happen to them and the smell of smoke will wake them up. He explains, it's exactly the opposite, smoke will put people into a deeper sleep and the only thing that's going to wake them is the sound of that smoke alarm.

Jowett says when changing your batteries please make sure that you clean your smoke alarm at the same time. This involves taking a brush attachment and just giving it a quick vacuum. People have a tendency, that when it becomes hyper- sensitive, to take the battery out and forget to replace it. When they become dirty and dusty they have a higher tendency to emit false alarms, especially if they are near a shower or kitchen. They wont usually go off, but if they start to get dusty they are more apt to sound alerts and become a nuisance. Jowett shares one of the options available on newer smoke alarms is a hush button where, if it goes off, they can just push the hush button. He explains they'll get a beep every 45 seconds and, after 5 minutes or so, if it doesn't get anything it will reset itself- if it detects anything it will go into an alarm again. Another option out now is the same hush smoke alarm but it comes with a remote, making it easier to deal with.

Jowett stresses if anybody has any questions they can contact any of the fire fighters at the department, 239-8340.