Fire prevention week begins on Oct. 6 and the Cranbrook Fire Department is starting it off with the importance of working smoke alarms.
“Smoke alarms serve as the first line of defense in a home fire, but they need to be working in order to protect people,” said fire prevention coordinator Chris Churchill.
“This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign really focuses on the importance of teaching the simple but critical steps to make sure you have smoke alarms in all the needed locations, and that they are working properly.”
Smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in a house fire by more than 50 per cent.
Churchill says Roughly three out of five fire deaths happen in homes with either no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
Residents are advised to install smoke alarms in every bedroom, non-sleeping area and on every floor.
Smoke alarms should be tested at least once a month and should be replaced when they’re 10 years old.
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