Gainesville Fire conducts smoke alarm blitz off MLK Jr. Blvd

Daylight Saving Time isn't just at time to change your clocks. Gainesville Fire officials encourage residents to check their smoke alarm batteries too.
 
Approximately 3,500 Americans die in house fires each year, according to a release from Fire Captain Keith Smith, and in most of those cases, the homes did not have working smoke alarms.
 
To prevent fires that result in death or injury, Smith said crews will conduct a neighborhood blitz on Mill Street, McDonald Street and DeSota Street, all off MLK Jr. Boulevard, on Tuesday.
 
During the blitz, fire officials from both the Gainesville Fire Department and the Fire Marshal's office will go around to homes in the neighborhood and check smoke detectors to ensure the devices are working. They will then change batteries or install new, working alarms in homes that need it. The effort is part of a program with Gainesville/Hall County Safe Kids Coalition. 
 
Crews will conduct the blitz from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.