Officials are advising people in New Zealand to get the working smoke alarms installed immediately to save them from all the associated risks. Reports have confirmed that almost half of all the New Zealand homes do not have working smoke alarms, which has raised the concerns of the officials over the issue.

Explaining both the advantages and disadvantages of the smoke alarms, the southern region fire safety officer Mr. Barry Gibson said that he has closely experienced the value of a $20 smoke alarm in helping save people's lives and what terrible impact its absence can actually have upon lives.

Daylight saving is starting tomorrow and so it is the most ideal time for people to check the smoke alarms installed in their homes, he said.

He revealed that almost 50 percent of New Zealand homes do not have working smoke alarms. But people should have them installed in all their bedrooms, living rooms and hallways and that too on each level of their home to get themselves and their family’s life saved.

He issued a message to all those people, who did not have any working smoke alarms. It said: "people have to take responsibility for their own safety and particularly for those in their care".