Daylight saving time begins

Sunday, March 11, is the day the time "springs ahead" by one hour. Although the official time change is 2 a.m. Sunday, many people find it to their advantage to set them ahead on Saturday night. Whether you choose Saturday night or Sunday morning to change the clocks, don't forget to change the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.

For Daylight Saving Time, the clocks are turned forward an hour in the spring and set back an hour in the fall. The effect is to shift the day an hour for more daylight. For 2012, Daylight Saving Time begins the second Sunday in March and ends the first Sunday in November.

According to California City Fire Chief Allen Smith, it's easier to remember to change batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors if they are changed at the same time the clocks are changed.

Although most buildings have smoke detectors, Smith said fire fighters often find the detectors with dead batteries or no batteries. Smoke detectors often make an ear-piercing shriek when battery power is low. As a result, the occupant may remove the battery to get rid of the noise. If there is no battery handy at the time and the detector is quiet, it is easy to forget to replace it. Then, if the detector is needed, it no longer functions.


By a California City ordinance effective in December of 2000, all residential rental units are required to have smoke detectors provided by the owner. The resident is then responsibile for maintaining the smoke detector.

A form to be signed by both owner and renter indicating compliance with the ordinance is available at the California Fire Department or the California City Hall.