This from the FDNY website.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta joined other fire officials at Engine 68 in the Bronx on March 9 to announce the Department will be distributing more than 100,000 free batteries for smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors throughout the City.

It is an effort to urge New Yorkers to change the batteries in their smoke alarms when they change their clocks this Sunday, March 11.

“In the wake of Wednesday night’s tragic fatal fire, the message couldn’t be clearer – change and test the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors,” said Mayor Bloomberg.

Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are required by New York law in all residences. They should be placed outside each bedroom or sleeping area and on every floor of the home – and they should be tested once a week.

Statistics from the National Fire Protection Association show that 70 percent of all fatal fires occur in homes without working smoke alarms.

“Our aim is to reduce fire fatalities in the city by ensuring that as many people as possible hear our message that smoke detectors save lives,” said Commissioner Scoppetta. “Most fires are preventable, and so are fatalities from fire when you have smoke detectors.”

Nine-volt batteries will be given out by members of the Department’s Fire Safety Education Unit and the FDNY Foundation, a non-profit group that supports many of the Department’s initiatives and fire safety education-related programs.

The Mayor and Fire Commissioner also urged that New Yorkers to follow these other simple fire safety tips in the home:

Develop an escape plan and review the plan with all members of the family frequently. Be aware that children and elderly people may need special assistance should a fire occur. Establish a meeting place outside the house for all members of the family to ensure that everyone gets out safely. When a fire occurs, get out of the house and use a neighbor’s telephone to notify the fire department.

Space heaters need space. Portable space heaters need a three-foot (one meter) clearance from anything that can burn and should always be turned off when leaving the room or going to sleep.

Never overload electrical outlets. Never run electrical extension cords under rugs. Replace old or damaged cords.

For information about how to keep your home fire safe, visit our fire safety information page.