DEWITT, N.Y. -- It takes only minutes, but it saves lives. Firefighters want to remind you that as you turn your clocks back tonight, to also check your smoke detectors.

Volunteers from the Fireman's Association of the State of New York gave away free batteries at the Home Depot Saturday in DeWitt.

Firefighters say that when you change your clocks, you should also check or change the batteries in your smoke alarms, and make sure they are working properly. They also recommend that people dust their alarms to keep them free of debris.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, almost two-thirds of home fire-deaths occur in homes that do not have working smoke detectors.