Change Your Clocks, Check Your Smoke Alarms

As Marylanders prepare to turn their clocks back for the end of Daylight Saving Time at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 1, 2026, State Fire Marshal Caroll H. Spriggs II reminds everyone to take a simple, life-saving step: “Change Your Clock – Check Your Smoke Alarms.” Working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms provide critical early warning during a home fire or CO emergency. Spriggs said the beginning and end of Daylight Saving Time is an ideal opportunity to test alarms, check their age, and replace batteries in units with replaceable batteries according to the manufacturer’s instructions. “Before you go to bed this Saturday, turn back your clocks and test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms,” said State Fire Marshal Caroll H. Spriggs II. “If an alarm isn’t working, take care of it right away. Your family depends on that warning.” One of the Office of the State Fire Marshal’s most impactful initiatives is the Get Alarmed Maryland program. This public-facing portal allows residents to request smoke alarms directly through the office. Maryland’s 2013 smoke alarm law required battery-only smoke alarms sold in the state to be 10-year sealed lithium battery models. Any older 9-volt or similar battery-only smoke alarms should be replaced with the newer, long-life models. Sealed batteries should not be replaced; replace the entire alarm when it reaches the end of its service life or as directed by the manufacturer. Along with working smoke alarms and CO alarms, having and practicing a home escape plan is another critical step in preventing injury or death. Families should identify at least two ways out of every room and practice their plan together. State Fire Marshal Spriggs also reminds everyone to keep bedroom doors closed while sleeping. A closed door can block smoke, heat, and toxic gases, allowing more time to escape or be rescued. If you escape from a fire, close doors behind you to slow the spread of flames and limit oxygen to the fire. “Everyone in your household should know the sound of the alarms and how to get out safely,” Spriggs said. “Practice your escape plan as a family. When an emergency happens, there’s no time to figure out what to do.”