Saanich Fire Department is reminding residents that location matters when it comes to smoke alarm effectiveness.
Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 4 to 10 and this year the National Fire Protection Association campaign’s main focus is “Hear the Beep Where You Sleep: Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm.”
“In a fire, seconds count,” said Saanich Fire Chief Michael Burgess. “Half of home fire deaths result from fires reported at night between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. when most people are asleep.”
The key places to install “working” smoke alarms are in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement.
Research by the NFPA suggests smoke alarms reduce fire deaths by half, while stressing the importance of ensuring the fire alarms are working.
Data shows three out of five fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or instances where the smoke alarm was non-functioning.
Saanich Fire has issued an additional list of suggestions to greatly reduce the threat of fire in the home: Test alarms ever month by pushing the test button; replace smoke alarms at 10 years of age or immediately if they don’t respond properly; make sure everyone in the home knows the sound of the smoke alarm and what to do when they hear it; if the smoke alarm sounds, get outside and stay outside; and lastly, report a fire to the fire department from outside the home.
On Saturday, Saanich Fire Department members will attend the Home Depot Fire Safety Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (3986 Shelbourne St.).
Saanich Fire Department members are available at any time to assist residents who may have difficulty checking, installing or maintaining their smoke alarm.
On Sunday, Saanich Fire officers will be at Tillicum shopping mall for a Fire Prevention Week kickoff from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For more information visit saanich.ca/services/safety/Smoke_alarms.html or firepreventionweek.org.
reporter@saanichnews.com