Acting State Fire Marshal Jason Mowbray called on Maryland residents Oct. 29, 2025, to test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors as Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 2. The annual reminder, tied to the clock change, aims to cut risks from home fires and poisoning incidents that claim dozens of lives each year.
Mowbray emphasized that functional devices can double survival odds in emergencies. Residents should press the test button on each unit and swap out batteries as needed, a process taking minutes but addressing common failures in fatal blazes. “Please take a few minutes to help ensure the safety of your family and friends by maintaining these life-saving devices,” Mowbray said.
Maryland law, updated in 2013, mandates that battery-powered smoke alarms sold statewide use 10-year sealed lithium batteries. Owners of older models relying on 9-volt or similar power sources must replace them promptly to meet the standard, which extends reliability without frequent changes. Hard-wired 120-volt alarms, common in many homes, require replacement every decade, paired with battery backups for outages. Placement rules call for units inside every bedroom, along hallways leading to sleeping areas, in living spaces and on all floors, including basements.
The Office of the State Fire Marshal enforces these through inspections and public outreach, with violations in rentals drawing fines up to $500 per unit. In high-rises of seven or more stories, a 2025 amendment requires smoke detectors in interior public corridors by July 31, bolstering protections in urban settings like Baltimore.
One tool in this effort is the Get Alarmed Maryland program, which lets eligible households request free installations. Relaunched online in May 2025, it has delivered nearly 350 smoke alarms and 63 carbon monoxide detectors to date, targeting low-income and vulnerable sites through a new tracking system for needs assessment. The portal, accessible via the State Fire Marshal’s website, prioritizes seniors, families with young children and those in older structures, with volunteers handling setups.
Southern Maryland has seen direct benefits and stark reminders of the program’s value. In Charles County, a Waldorf house fire Aug. 10 killed six — four children and two adults — after a basement smoke alarm was found disconnected without a battery, delaying alerts upstairs. Investigators noted the home’s multi-level layout, underscoring placement mandates. Just last week, Oct. 27, a rapid fire in Owings, Calvert County, spared human lives but claimed pets, with officials citing the same legal requirements for alarms in sleeping zones and levels.
Statewide data reinforces the push. The 2024 Maryland Fire Fatality Report, released July 10, tallied 73 deaths across 67 incidents, a 13.1% drop from 84 the prior year, with residential fires causing 58 fatalities. Cooking mishaps led at 28%, followed by heating equipment at 15%, often in homes lacking operational alarms. In the Southern Maryland region, Charles County reported three residential deaths in 2024, tied to nonworking detectors in two cases, while Calvert and St. Mary’s each had one, per the report’s county breakdowns. Nationally, the U.S. Fire Administration logs about 2,500 home fire deaths yearly, halved by alarms, though Maryland’s rate sits at 1.1 per 100,000 residents, below the U.S. average of 1.4.
Beyond devices, Mowbray stressed escape planning: Map two exits per room, conduct drills twice yearly and designate a meeting spot outside. “Testing your smoke alarms and CO detectors, replacing outdated equipment, and practicing a home escape plan are among the best ways to protect your loved ones and yourself,” he said. Keeping interior doors shut at night buys escape time by containing smoke and heat; always close them when fleeing to curb fire spread.
Carbon monoxide risks, silent and odorless, demand similar vigilance. Detectors should sit near sleeping areas and fuel-burning appliances like furnaces. Maryland logs about 50 CO poisonings annually, with half linked to faulty vents or generators.
This clocks-and-alarms tradition dates to the 1980s, amplified by Maryland’s 2013 law amid rising fire deaths. The Get Alarmed initiative, paused during the pandemic, returned stronger with digital requests, serving 200 homes in its first month alone. In Southern Maryland, where rural homes outnumber urban high-rises, the program has focused on trailer parks and waterfront cottages prone to electrical faults from humidity.
Mowbray closed with urgency: “Taking just a few minutes this weekend to check your smoke and CO alarms could be the difference between life and death. These simple steps save lives every single year in Maryland.” For free units or tips, visit the State Fire Marshal site or call local stations in La Plata, Prince Frederick or Leonardtown.
