You’ll Be Springing Forward on Saturday Night

It's time to change your clocks.
Daylight saving time will officially begin at 2:00 am on Sunday, March 13th.
So before you go to bed on Saturday night don't forget to set your clocks ahead one hour. The Yakima Fire Department and the Washington State Fire Marshal's Office is hoping after changing your clocks that you'll also check your smoke alarms.

Where you place your smoke detectors could determine if you survive

According to the National Fire Protection Association, working smoke alarms save lives by cutting the risk of dying in a home fire by half. You know where to place those detectors, in every bedroom, in hallways outside bedrooms, and on every floor of the home, including basements.
How old are your detectors? Smoke alarms with non-replaceable batteries are designed to remain effective for up to 10 years. Fire officials say replace the smoke alarm if the manufacture date is more than 10 years old. The date of manufacture should be indicated on the back of the smoke alarm. If you are a landlord don't forget rental housing must also have working smoke alarms. Fire officials say you should call  your landlord or property manager if your rental home does not have smoke alarms installed.  Maintenance and testing of smoke alarms is the responsibility of the tenant.

Smoke alarms are also needed where pets sleep

“Working smoke alarms save lives by waking up or alerting people in the early and survivable stages of a fire,” says Yakima Fire Chief Aaron Markham. “Smoke alarms need to be in any room where people or family pets sleep. Plan your escape routes today and practice keeping your loved ones safe from fires in your home.” The Yakima Fire Department also suggests you review your family emergency escape plan.

Time for that spring cleaning

With the official start of Spring just a few days away, fire officials also has spring cleaning safety tips:

Clean your garage of stored newspapers or other rubbish that can fuel a fire.
Test your smoke alarms monthly.
Keep outdoor debris or dead vegetation away from your house.
Properly dispose of oily or greasy rags.

Check those medicine cabinets for expired medications

Yakima Fire Department officials also suggest taking unwanted or expired medicines to a prescription drop box. Medication drop-box locations in Yakima include the Yakima Police Department, 200 S. 3rd St.; Yakima Neighborhood Health Services, 12 S. 8th St.; Central Washington Family Medicine, 1806 W. Lincoln Ave.; and Rite Aid pharmacies.