(KNZA)--A Monday morning house fire serves as a reminder that smoke detectors save lives. 

Just ask Amy Dotson and her three children, who were awakened early that morning, when the smoke detector in their Elwood home began to sound. 

According to the Kansas Chief, it was 14-year-old Gage who first heard the alarm, and, upon getting out of bed, saw the fire and smoke. 

Yelling for his mother, Gage then awoke his 11-year-old sister and 12-year-old brother, with the whole family escaping to the safety of their front lawn. 

An electrical problem is believed to be the cause of the fire. 

In an attempt to make sure homes are prepared for such times of emergency,  fire departments remind residents to change the batteries in smoke alarms  at the same time that clocks are changed. 

The Midland Empire Chapter of the American Red Cross is again partnering with local fire departments to assist those who can't make the battery change themselves, or to provide alarms to those who can't afford one.  

Executive Director Kevin Kirby says that effort, to be held on November 3rd's “Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery Day,”  includes the Kansas counties of Brown, Doniphan and Atchison, which are among those served by the local Red Cross(Play Audio)

Kirby says those who need the smoke alarm assistance should sign up by the start of next month(Play Audio) 

Enabling the Red Cross to perform the service is the donation of 24-hundred batteries by the Maryville, Missouri location of Energizer Battery. 

The effort is also a reminder of the fast approaching time change, with Central Standard Time officially taking effect at 2:00 on the morning of November 4th.