The Las Cruces police and fire departments encourage homeowners and tenants to check smoke alarms and install new batteries this weekend when daylight saving time begins and clocks are adjusted to ‘spring forward’ one hour.
Daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 8, 2026. Las Cruces first responders urge homeowners and tenants to install fresh batteries in their smoke alarms when clocks are adjusted forward one hour to daylight saving time. Most people tend to adjust their clocks before bedtime on Saturday evening.
Daylight saving time runs from March 8 to Nov. 1, 2026.
Homeowners should also test smoke alarms to ensure they are in proper working order. To test the operation of a smoke alarm, simply press and hold the alarm’s “test” button. If it beeps, or rings loudly, it is working properly.
Smoke alarms should not be tested by lighting matches or a candle under the detector. Repeated use of heat or smoke to activate the device can cause them to malfunction when an actual fire occurs.
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