Fire officials are urging New Canaan residents turning back their clocks this weekend to swap out the batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors at the same time.
New Canaan FIre Company No. 1, on Main Street. Credit: Terry Dinan
Free batteries (three per household) will be made available at the Fire Department’s Main Street headquarters from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, according to Fire Marshal Fred Baker. The giveaway, part of a nationwide “Change Your Clocks—Change Your Batteries” campaign (daylight savings ends at 2 a.m. Sunday), is the result of a generous donation from the department as well as the Rotary Club of New Canaan, he said.
“Additionally, Kidde Corporation has donated smoke detectors and CO detectors, which are available to residents who need them—also free of charge,” he said (again, a limit of three per household).
The detectors often prevent tragedies involving loss of life and property, Baker said—earlier this month, residents at a home that experienced a basement fire were alerted to it by an alarm.
Residents who are unable to change their own batteries may call fire headquarters at 203-594-3140 to arrange for firefighters to come to your residence for assistance, Baker said.
If anyone has questions or concerns about smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors or, other fire safety topics, please contact the New Canaan Fire Marshal’s Office at 203-594-3030.