Change your clocks, check your detectors

This weekend, daylight saving time ends and plunges us all into wintry darkness. The Austin Fire Department is hoping that one good thing will come out of the useless tradition, and is urging Austinites to commemorate the change by checking (and possibly changing) the batteries in their smoke detectors. In addition, if you are missing a smoke alarm, you should know that the Fire Department will provide and install them for free! Just call the smoke alarm hotline at (512) 974-0299. “A working smoke alarm is the simplest, cheapest life insurance you can buy,” said Fire Chief Rhoda Mae Kerr. “It only takes a few minutes to check and change the batteries, but it could save your life. And remember: All smoke alarms should be replaced after 10 years. If you don’t know how to determine the manufacturer date for your smoke alarms, we can help with that, too, so call us!”