The end of daylight saving signals that it’s time for South Australians to perform one vital, life-saving annual habit.

The South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) and Country Fire Service (CFS) urge all South Australians to change their smoke alarm batteries, now the clocks are wound back.

Statistics show that nearly half of all significant house fires in South Australia involved homes where smoke alarms had been disabled, batteries were flat, or in some cases, smoke alarms may have been removed or not fitted at all. 

MFS Community Engagement Officer Phil Evans says changing smoke alarm batteries as daylight saving ends is an Australian tradition that’s too important to ignore. 

“Only working smoke alarms save lives. Every second counts when you or your family are trying to escape a house fire, so the more you prepare the more likely you are to survive.”

“With an average of 64 Australians dying in preventable house fires each year and up to 2,000 people receiving burns, changing smoke alarm batteries is the best way to give you and your family early warning to evacuate safely.”

Most fire-related deaths result from the inhalation of toxic fire gases and smoke rather than from direct contact with flame or exposure to heat. 

Correctly located smoke alarms in the home give early warning of fire, providing precious time that may be vital to survival.

CFS Manager Development Assessment Services Leah Bertholini says while some in our community are aware, most people don’t realise that when you sleep your sense of smell is significantly diminished.

“It only takes a few moments to change the batteries and check the age of the smoke alarm to ensure that the first step in your home fire escape plan is taken care of,” she says.

The fire services recommend that the best protection is provided by photo-electric smoke alarms which are hard-wired to the 240-volt power supply and interconnected to give the earliest warning possible.