ATLANTA — Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner Ralph Hudgens reminds Georgians that they must change their clocks to daylight saving time earlier this year — and they should also change the batteries in their smoke alarms at the same time.

Hudgens said the annual change from standard time to daylight saving time is a good time to make sure your smoke alarm is working as it should.

“Every year in Georgia there are fire fatalities in homes that didn’t have smoke alarms, or where the alarms didn’t function because of dead batteries,” Hudgens said.  “If you have a smoke alarm, make sure it’s in working order. Changing the battery at least once every year and cleaning dust from the device are easy ways to ensure continued protection of your family and your property. Having a working smoke alarm doubles the chances you will survive a fire in your home.”

So far in 2014, there have been 30 fire fatalities in Georgia. In 2013, 126 Georgians died from fire.

Hudgens also recommended changing batteries in flashlights and weather radios, and having an emergency plan in place in case severe weather threatens.

Daylight saving time begins Sunday at 2 a.m., when clocks are set ahead one hour.