Mo. fire marshal: Change smoke alarm batteries

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - The state fire marshal is urging Missourians to change the batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms this weekend.

Fire Marshal Randy Cole says Missourians should put in the fresh batteries when they set clocks back an hour Sunday morning at the end of daylight saving times. Cole says it's also a good idea to test smoke alarms and to practice family escape routes.

The National Fire Protection Association says about 40 percent of residential fire deaths occur in homes without smoke alarms.