This morning's fire that killed two people in East Baltimore is an unfortunate but timely reminder that it's nearly time to turn back your clocks (Sunday) and at the time time make sure your smoke detectors are working and have fresh batteries.

The apartment that burned above the corner grocery on East Jefferson Street, according to city Fire Department spokesman Kevin Cartwright, "had no evidence of a working smoke detector." State law requires residents to have the devices.

I know, this isn't really a crime. But it is related to keeping our resident's safe, and fires and fire-related deaths traditionally rise as the days get colder. The Baltimore Fire Department for years has distributed free smoke detectors to any residence that needs them. Firefighters will even install them for you and give you batteries; they routinely canvass neighborhoods and knock on doors to check.

Earlier this year, the city gave away its 100,000th free detector. "There is pretty much no reason for any household to be without a working smoke detector," Cartwright said.

Today's deaths bring the number of people killed in city fires this year to 17 (seven were in homes without detectors). Last year, 34 people died in fires. In 2006, 23 people perished, 22 in 2005 and 29 in 2004. The photo above, taken at the Walbrook Fire Station on West North Avenue, shows a sign that has not been updated.

Here's a scene from this morning's fire taken by Baltimore Sun photographer Kim Hairston