The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Fire department suggests Change smoke alarm batteries when changing clocks When you're setting your clocks ahead an hour this weekend don't forget to change your smoke alarm batteries as well, says a spokesperson from Halton Hills Fire Protection and Prevention Services. The time change officially comes into effect at 2 a.m. Sunday so area residents are encouraged to set their clocks ahead by an hour when they go to bed Saturday night. "The time changes are ideal reminders to change the batteries and test your smoke alarms when you change the clocks," said fire safety technician Dave Bouskill. "Smoke alarms are your early warning devices against fire and it only makes good sense to maintain them properly." The fire service recommends the batteries be changed at least once a year, but suggests twice a year would be even better. "While the number of fire deaths in Ontario is declining, the Fire Marshal of Ontario hopes to see even fewer as a result of the new provincial law introduced March 1, 2006 saying there must be a smoke alarm on every level of the home, and outside all sleeping areas," said fire safety specialist David Ford. He added, with the minimal cost of smoke alarms today, "there is absolutely no reason why every resident in Halton Hills doesn't have at least one working smoke alarm in their home. Bouskill said while it is not only the law to have working smoking alarms, it is very important to know what to do if an alarm sounds especially through the night. "Implementing and practising a home escape plan with the family will helping the quick and safe evacuation of all family members. Teaching the children what to do when the alarm sounds can really make a difference. Information on the new March 1 provincial law on smoke alarms is available at the Public Education Information Centre at Georgetown Market Place Tuesdays and Thursdays between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.