Local firefighters will be promoting smoke alarm safety initiatives during the annual Fire Prevention Week from Oct. 5 to 11.
Estevan Fire and Rescue Chief Shane Code said the fire department has long recognized smoke detectors are essential for every home, so this year’s theme, Hear the Beep When you Sleep, is particularly relevant.
The local fire department, and other departments in Canada, want the public to realize smoke alarms play an important role in helping to alert people in case of a fire.
But they also emphasize the importance of smoke alarms for when people aren’t sleeping.
“The standards have changed over the last couple of years, where we’d like to see smoke detectors in hallways and near bedrooms, and of course, where the chances of fire are greatest to occur, such as in the kitchen and in the laundry room, near the furnace,” Code told the Mercury.
Forty-three per cent of all serious structural house fires in Canada start in the kitchen, so the fire department wants people to be aware of their cooking practices. Smoke detectors need to be checked, and batteries need to be in working order.
Detectors should also be less than 10 years old.
Homes are made better than ever, he said, as the standards for electrical work, building quality and codes are better than ever. Unattended cooking and candles are now the top causes of household fires, rather than faulty wiring.
As part of fire safety week, the fire department will be participating in their annual smoke alarm program. Firefighters will visit an area of the city, and check the alarms in local residences.
“We will also be encouraging people if they are interested in doing voluntary home inspections,” said Code. “It’s a little bit different than checking the smoke alarms.”
It would allow the fire department to speak to people on how they would escape if there is a fire.
“We’re hoping that people will take advantage of the opportunity for a firefighter to make sure their home is a little extra safe,” said Code.
Code said they want to encourage people to do their own fire checks to make sure that lamps and lights are clear from Class A combustibles such as paper.
The fire department will also host an open house on Wednesday, Oct. 7. People are encouraged to come to the fire hall, meet the local firefighters and learn more about the department.
They haven’t finalized all the details, but Code said they hope to close down the 300 block of 11th Avenue, like they did last year. A time hasn’t been set, either, but Code said it will run during the afternoon and into the early evening.
“We’ve got some promotional materials for families and kids, such as creating a family escape plan, where every family member knows how they’re going to get out of the home, where they’re going to meet, what’s the best exit, and have a contact with a neighbour so that everyone can be accounted for,” said Code.
The Estevan Police Service has also committed to be involved with the event.
