The Cranberry Township Volunteer Fire Company is reminding residents to replace the batteries in their smoke alarms to kick off Fire Safety Month this October.

“Roughly three out of five fire deaths happen in homes without working smoke alarms,” according to a release by the fire company.

The National Fire Protection Association recommends installing smoke alarms at every level of the home inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas — on the ceiling or high on the wall.

It also suggests keeping smoke alarms away from the kitchen or at least 10 feet from the stove to reduce false alarms.

For the hard of hearing or the deaf, the release suggests special alarms with strobe lights and bed shakers.

The association advises that these alarms should be tested monthly, batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide alarms should be replaced every six months, and all smoke alarms 10 years or older should be replaced entirely.

For more information on the fire company’s prevention efforts, visit ctvfc21.org.