While residents celebrate Fire Prevention Week by checking their smoke detector, a local retailer is making sure that everyone has access to new batteries.

Batteries Plus, a local battery retailer, is offering free smoke detector batteries to those who check their detector and find the battery dead.

"Checking your smoke detector is a pillar of our fire prevention education, and we're pleased that a local retailer is helping us spread the word with this offer," Chief Scott Hall said.

Officials suggest that you check your detector once a month. They also advise that, even though the battery may still work in the detector, it be changed annually.

"We teach the children that, as they blow out the candles on their birthday cake and see the smoke rise from the candles, their smoke detector needs a birthday present, too," Hall said. "It's a simple way to remember to change the battery each year."

Batteries Plus is located on the corner of State Route 725 and Wilmington Pike.

For the third consecutive year, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has chosen "The Great Escape" as the theme for Fire Prevention Week, October 8, 2000 through October14, 2000. For more information on Fire Prevention Week, visit the NFPA at www.firepreventionweek.org.

Release I00-10