OTTAWA — Daylight Savings Time begins early Sunday morning. As area residents prepare to “spring ahead” one hour, the Ottawa Fire Department reminds everyone to test their smoke alarms and change the batteries. It’s always a good rule to change the smoke detector batteries when homeowners change their clocks, Capt. Dennis Nowatkze said. Nowatzke said families should have an escape plan and practice it. It doesn’t hurt to vacuum the dust and cobwebs from detectors as well, he said. And if Franklin County residents, don’t have smoke detectors, the fire department can help with that, too. Because of a previous Leadership Franklin County class, the Ottawa and rural fire departments have a supply of free smoke detectors. For those who live in Ottawa, firefighters will install those as well, he said.
Wednesday, March 5, 4 p.m.
