Firefighters deliver free smoke alarms

TAMPA - No tricks, but Tampa Fire Rescue did go door to door this morning delivering plenty of treats.

Firefighters took to the streets, distributing and installing free smoke alarms and batteries near Robles Park.

"If they do have smoke detectors we check the batteries and try to replace them for them," Tampa fire marshal investigator Al Alcala said.

This is part of an annual program called "Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery". Firefighters across the country are reminding people to check their smoke detectors when they change their clocks during Daylight Savings.

"We enjoy it this is the second part of our job, and it's giving back to our community," Alcala said.

Crews chose this particular neighborhood where a fire tore through a home on Monday.

"By that time the back of the roof was about to cave in and middle dropped," Clinton Bowers said.

Bowers helped rescue the family of three. He's not sure if the home had detectors, but he's now hoping the entire neighborhood will be well equipped.

"We had some, but nothing wrong with having extra so they gave us extra and batteries," Bowers said.

It didn't take long for firefighters to find many homes with no smoke alarms at all. Others had detectors, but no batteries.

Crews say it takes five minutes to install a smoke alarm. They won't prevent fires, may not save homes, but the smoke detectors can certainly save what's most important— the family living inside.