Province Issues Public Challenge to “Get Loud” by Testing Your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Ontario’s Fire Marshal is encouraging Ontarians to make Fire Prevention Week 2021 a noisy but safe one. The theme for the annual safety week, which runs October 3 to 9, is “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety” and the province is issuing a challenge to the public to “Get Loud” to ensure everyone has working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in their homes.
“Testing your alarms is the only way to ensure they are working properly and keep you and your family alerted in the event of a fire,” said Ontario Fire Marshal Jon Pegg. “Get to know the sounds your alarms make. If the alarm doesn’t sound, install a new battery. If the alarm still doesn’t sound, replace the alarm with a new, certified one.”
By law, every home in Ontario must have a working smoke alarm on every storey and outside all sleeping areas. Too often, fatal fires in the province occur in homes with no working smoke alarms. In 2019, over a third of residential cases of fire resulting in loss of life, injury, or property damage had either a non-functioning smoke alarm or no alarm.
“When it comes to fire safety in your home, the most important action you can take to help protect yourself and your family is to install working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and test them regularly,” said Solicitor General Sylvia Jones. “Fire Prevention Week serves as an excellent reminder to make some noise and test your alarms to ensure they are working properly. I encourage everyone to “Get Loud” to keep safe.”
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Carbon Monoxide can't be:
- Seen
- Smelled
- Heard
- Tasted
But it can be detected. Your only protection is a working CSA-approved carbon monoxide alarm. CO alarms need to be replaced every 5 to 7 years and need to be inspected regularly. Any fuel-burning appliances should also be inspected annually.
