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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;text-align:center;line-height:normal;background:white">
<a name="_Hlk117856398"></a><a name="x__Hlk532890118"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"><b><span style="font-size:48.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><img width="148" height="148" style="width:1.5416in;height:1.5416in" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image001.png@01DA0D97.A8915310" alt="A close up of a sign
Description automatically generated"></span></b></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:x__Hlk532890118"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"><b><span style="font-size:48.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;text-align:center;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:x__Hlk532890118"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"><b><span style="font-size:48.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">NEWS RELEASE</span></b></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:x__Hlk532890118"></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"> </span></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">For Immediate Release Date: 11/02/2023</span></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Contact: Public Information Office Phone: (919) 560-0000/Fax: (919)
560-0020</span></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:2.5in;text-indent:.5in;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">E-mail: </span></b></span><a href="mailto:publicinformationoffice@dconc.gov" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">publicinformationoffice@dconc.gov</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;text-align:center;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"> </span></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;text-align:center;line-height:normal;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">DCo Fire Marshal Reminds Everyone to Check Smoke Alarm Batteries</span></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">End of
Daylight Saving Time on Sunday, Nov. 5, a perfect time to test<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"><b><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Durham, N.C. – </span></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">At
2 a.m. on Sunday, November 5, 2023, North Carolinians will be turning their clocks backward one hour for the end of Daylight Saving Time. As our clocks fall back, the Fire Marshal Division of the Durham County Office of Emergency Services reminds the community
that this is a prime opportunity to change the batteries in smoke alarms.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">“The first line of defense in surviving a residential home fire is to have awareness when a fire occurs,” said Durham County Fire Marshal
Jason Shepherd. “That awareness is the activation of a smoke alarm. The risk of dying in a residential fire is cut in half with working smoke alarms.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">The National Fire Protection Association provides information for the varying types of smoke alarms on the market and their varying battery
requirements:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">Smoke alarms with non-replaceable 10-year batteries are designed to remain effective for up to 10 years. If the alarm chirps, warning that the battery is low,
replace the entire smoke alarm right away.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">Smoke alarms with any other type of battery need a new battery at least once a year. If that alarm chirps, warning the battery is low, replace the battery right
away.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">When replacing a battery, follow the manufacturer’s list of batteries on the back of the alarm or manufacturer’s instructions. The manufacturer’s instructions
are specific to the batteries (brand and model) that must be used. The smoke alarm may not work properly if a different kind of battery is used.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">If your home does not have a smoke alarm, the American Red Cross can assist with smoke alarm installation. Visit their website for more information
</span></span><a href="https://www.redcross.org/local/north-carolina/greater-carolinas/about-us/our-work/home-fire-campaign.html"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">here</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">Having a plan and knowing what to do in the event of a fire is also a critical component to surviving a fire. Use this
</span></span><a href="https://www.nfpa.org/-/media/Files/Public-Education/By-topic/Escape/EscapeGrid.pdf"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">document</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">
from the </span></span><a href="http://www.nfpa.org/"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">National Fire Protection Association</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">
and take the opportunity this weekend to develop a home escape plan!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">For more information, contact the Durham County Fire Marshal’s office at
</span></span><a href="mailto:DCoFireMarshals@dconc.gov"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">DCoFireMarshals@dconc.gov</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">
or 919-560-0660.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk117856398"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">###</span></span><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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