Calgary, AB,
10
October
2013
|
12:38
America/Denver

Calgary Fire Department Reminds Community Smoke Alarms Save Lives

maltese cross
 
 
As Fire Prevention Week continues, the Calgary Fire Department encourages Calgarians to ensure their smoke alarms have been properly installed and maintained. Working smoke alarms are key in providing the early notification required for families to escape a house fire.    
 
This week, from October 6 – 12, 2013, fire departments across North America are commemorating Fire Prevention Week by promoting fire prevention and fire safety information.   Today the Calgary Fire Department is sharing the important message that smoke alarms can save lives and are essential for home fire safety.
 
“It is very distressing when we respond to a house fire and learn that there are no working smoke alarms in the home,” said Calgary Fire Department Public Information Officer Carol Henke.  “Smoke alarms provide the best warning of a fire or smoke and really do save lives.”
 
Henke is aware of a recent house fire where residents experienced a nuisance alarm while cooking and in response removed the battery from the smoke alarm.  
 
“The battery was never replaced and when their house caught fire later that evening they were not alerted. The fire resulted in one injury, and luckily, no loss of life.”
 
While all homes in Alberta are required to have a working smoke alarm, residents are responsible to ensure all smoke alarms in their home are tested, maintained, and replaced after ten years or when no longer operational (whichever comes first). 
 
The Calgary Fire Department recommends that all homeowners:
 
• Don’t disable or take out the batteries of a smoke alarm even temporarily. 

• If you have a smoke alarm that is activated with very little or no smoke, it is called a ‘nuisance alarm’.  Do not take out the batteries, but instead try to clean it with a vacuum or move it away from the kitchen or bathroom.

• Test smoke alarms once a month by pressing the test button.

• Replace smoke alarm batteries once a year. 

• Install at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home, including the basement, and ensure there is a smoke alarm in or near every sleeping area.

• Replace smoke alarms after 10 years or if you discover it is defective or broken after testing it.

To share this message, the Calgary Fire Department carried out a smoke alarm blitz last night, visiting more than 100 homes in the community of Dover and installing more than 85 smoke alarms.
 
In 2012, 38 per cent of the building fires that fire crews attended did not have a working smoke alarm. Most fire deaths in Alberta happen in homes, especially at night when people are asleep.  Home fires can double in size every 30 seconds and valuable seconds to escape can be lost if there is no working smoke alarm to wake and warn residents. 
 
Working to serve the community through excellence in prevention, education, protection and safety, the Calgary Fire Department is committed to delivering fire safety outreach to Calgarians.
 
 
-30-