Calgary Fire partners with ATCO to install smoke & carbon monoxide alarms during Fire Prevention Week
On Thursday evening, members of the Calgary Fire Department and ATCO Gas visited the community of Rundle to install, test and replace smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, as well as remind residents about the importance of having and practicing a home escape plan.
Fire Chief Steve Dongworth, Public Information Officer Alex Kwan and representatives from the Calgary Fire Department and ATCO travelled door-to-door, offering to install new alarms and advise families on fire safety.
Following a carbon monoxide incident earlier this week that sent five Calgarians to hospital, as well as several two-alarm residential fires in recent weeks that included the City’s fourth fire fatality this year, Calgarians are urged to ensure their homes have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms should be replaced at least every ten years and tested monthly.
“We know that fires can double in size every 30 to 60 seconds, and it matters greatly how quickly both the residents and fire service responds,” said Fire Chief Steve Dongworth. “We’ve seen a number of serious residential fires over the past month, including our fourth fire fatality for 2025.”
“While we are still working to determine cause of these fires, you can help protect yourself and your family by ensuring you have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and having two ways out of every sleeping area.”
A hundred years ago, typical home contents and construction materials burned much slower than the plastics, synthetics and lightweight products that are now found in our homes. Houses burn faster, more intensely and more toxic than ever, and it is estimated that residents have less than two minutes to evacuate a typical house fire once a smoke alarms sounds.
Likewise, carbon monoxide is an invisible, silent and odourless toxic gas that is created from combustion sources -- and is often referred to as the “silent killer.”
“ATCO is proud to partner with the Calgary Fire Department during Fire Prevention Week to help raise awareness about the dangers of carbon monoxide,” said Adrian Kubitza, Service Operator for ATCO Gas. "We respond to thousands of CO-related incidents each year, many of which are preventable. By investing in awareness programs, education, and providing resources like CO alarms, we’re helping keep communities safe. This initiative is a meaningful way to connect with the public and share life-saving information.”
ATCO responds to approximately 3,000 carbon monoxide-related incidents in Alberta annually, working closely with first responders. Many incidents can be avoided through simple safety measures, such as working alarms.
Both ATCO and Calgary Fire have seen a consistent increase in carbon monoxide calls.
“Last year, Calgary Fire attended over 700 carbon monoxide incidents, the most since 2020, with most incidents occurring annually during peak heating season, November to February,” said Public Information Officer Alex Kwan.
“The Calgary Fire Department reminds all residents that working carbon monoxide alarms save lives and should be installed on every level of the home, especially near sleeping areas. Never use gas-powered appliances in enclosed areas without proper ventilation and ensure routine maintenance and inspection of all fuel-burning equipment.”
In addition to the annual smoke alarm event, Calgary firefighters have visited more than 539,000 homes since 1996 as part of CFD’s Home Safety Program, which runs June to December annually. This program sees fire station crews visiting Calgarians door-to-door to offer safety information, inspect smoke alarms and, when needed, replace and install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. To date, the program has installed 33,798 alarms and replaced 17,818 alarm batteries.
Fire Prevention Week runs from October 5-11, 2025. For more information, please visit calgary.ca/firepreventionweek.
Watch for ATCO’s annual Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week campaign during the first week of November. Find out more at gas.atco.com/CO.
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