Niagara Falls, ON, October 6 – As Fire Prevention Week 2024 begins, the Niagara Falls Fire
Department issues an urgent call to action: ensure every home has working smoke alarms. With
fire-related fatalities remaining at a high level since 2020, this year’s theme, “Smoke Alarms:
Make Them Work for You!” serves as a critical reminder that lives depend on it.
Following the success of last month’s “Saved by the Beep Day,” the Niagara Falls Fire
Department encourages residents to make fire safety a year-round habit. The reality is that most
deadly fires happen in homes without working smoke alarms. It’s the law in Ontario to have a
working smoke alarm on every storey and outside all sleeping areas – don’t wait until it’s too
late.
Residents should take the following actions to ensure their family’s safety:
- Install smoke alarms outside each sleeping area, and on every storey of the home,
including the basement.
- Test smoke alarms monthly by pressing the test button.
- Replace smoke alarm batteries at least once a year.
- Replace any alarm that is over 10 years old or does not respond during testing.
- Practice a home fire escape plan regularly to ensure everyone knows how to evacuate
safely in an emergency.
“Working smoke alarms provide the early warning needed to escape a fire safely,” said Niagara
Falls Fire Chief Jo Zambito. “Ensuring they are working can prevent tragedies and save lives.”
Most deadly fires happen at night when families are asleep. In many cases, victims never wake
up. A working smoke alarm may be the only thing standing between you and tragedy.
We would like to remind our residents that having working smoke alarms on every storey of your
home, along with a well-practiced home fire escape plan, is the best way to ensure your entire
household is prepared to escape a fire in your home safely.