Windsor Residents Challenged to be Saved by the Beep

Test Your Smoke Alarm Day takes place September 28 across Ontario

Windsor Fire Chief Stephen Laforet is calling on all city residents to test their smoke alarms today as part of Test Your Smoke Alarm Day in Ontario. Be prepared to be “saved by the beep” with a working smoke alarm – your best chance to keep you and your family safe in the event of a fire.

“Being prepared to act in the event of a fire starts with simply pressing the test button monthly,” said Fire Chief Laforet. “This will give you the confidence that your home has working smoke alarms. Lives will be saved by regularly testing smoke alarms, refreshing batteries at least once a year, and replacing smoke alarms older than 10 years.”

Last year, Ontario lost 133 people to deadly fires – the highest number in over 20 years. Many of the locations where these fires occurred were found to have no working smoke alarm, which stands as a reminder that only working smoke alarms will alert you to a fire and give you and your loved ones enough time to safely escape.

“In Ontario, we’ve seen a significant rise in fatal fires, and the number of people we have lost in these fires is very concerning,” said Ontario Fire Marshal Jon Pegg. “Entire families have been lost to fire, and the most troubling part is that the majority of these fires did not have a working smoke alarm in the home. Had there been working smoke alarms and a well thought out and practiced home fire escape plan, these deaths may have been prevented.”

For more information, visit www.SavedByTheBeep.ca today!

Quick Facts:

• Smoke alarms have been legally required to be installed on every storey of a residence in Ontario since 2006.
• Residences also include vacation homes, cabins, trailers, recreational vehicles (RVs), and cottages.
• Landlords must test alarms annually, after the battery is replaced, and after every change in tenancy. Renters must notify their landlord as soon as they become aware that a smoke alarm is not operating.