October 22, 2002

FALL BACK:
CHANGE YOUR CLOCK & CHECK YOUR BATTERIES
IN SMOKE AND CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS

Charlotte, NC - As more residents turn on their furnaces and prepare to "fall back" to Eastern Standard Time on October 27, the Mecklenburg County Health Department, Mecklenburg County Fire Marshal's Office and the City of Charlotte Fire Department encourage residents to use this opportunity to comply with the law.   Residences with fossil fuel burning furnaces or appliances, or attached garages, must contain a carbon monoxide alarm and all residences must contain a smoke alarm.

Since the County's carbon monoxide ordinance took effect nearly two years ago, emergency calls for carbon monoxide danger have nearly tripled.  It is estimated that the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County firefighters will respond to more than a thousand calls in 2002 for an activated carbon monoxide alarm.

Carbon monoxide alarms are available at most hardware, home improvement and discount stores for between $20 and $40.  Residents of Mecklenburg County who cannot afford to buy a carbon monoxide alarm can apply for a free alarm by calling City-County Customer Service at 704-336-7600.  Callers must be prepared to give their full name, home address and home telephone number.  Each resident's income will be verified and an alarm installed.  The alarms were purchased with a grant from City of Charlotte Neighborhood Development.

For more information on the carbon monoxide ordinance, call the Mecklenburg County Fire Marshal's Office at 704-336-2154 or check the Web site www.carbonmonoxide1.com.