Back to SearchThe City of Kenora Fire and Emergency Services is calling on all residents to test their smoke alarms on September 28 as part of Test Your Smoke Alarm Day. Be prepared to be Saved by the Beep with a working smoke alarm – it is your best chance to keep you and your family safe in the event of a fire.
Our Fire and Emergency Services team is joining communities across Ontario on September 28 by asking everyone to take a minute and to ensure that there are working smoke alarms installed in their home.
"Ensuring your family’s safety from fire starts with something as simple as pressing the test button and knowing your smoke alarm is in working order,” said Dexter Hupe, Acting Fire Chief. “By testing smoke alarms monthly, changing the batteries annually, and replacing alarms older than 10 years, you can make a life-saving difference."
Remember to test your smoke alarms monthly, not just on 'Test Your Smoke Alarm Day.' To ensure you and your family never forget, visit www.savedbythebeep.ca and take the pledge to receive monthly reminders to test your smoke alarms.
In 2022, Ontario lost 133 people to deadly fires – the highest number in over 20 years. Many of these fires were found to have no working smoke alarm and stand as a reminder that only working smoke alarms will alert you to a fire and give you and your loved ones enough time to safely escape.
“In Ontario, we’ve seen a significant rise in fatal fires and the number of people we have lost in these fires is very concerning,” said Ontario Fire Marshal Jon Pegg. “Entire families have been lost to fire and the most troubling part is that the majority of these fires did not have a working smoke alarm in the home. Had there been working smoke alarms, and a well thought out and practiced home fire escape plan, these deaths may have been prevented.”
The Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM), with the support of fire services and fire safety partners across Ontario, is asking Ontarians to regularly test their smoke alarms with a challenge to test all smoke alarms in their residence on September 28.
For more information visit www.savedbythebeep.ca.
Quick Facts:
- Smoke alarms have been legally required to be installed on every storey of a residence in Ontario since 2006.
- Residences also include vacation homes, cabins, trailers, RVs, and cottages.
- Landlords must test alarms annually, after the battery is replaced, and after every change in tenancy. Renters must notify their landlord as soon as they become aware that a smoke alarm is not operating
Remember, it’s the law in Ontario to have working smoke alarms on every storey of your home and outside all sleeping areas. Additionally, the City of Kenora Fire and Emergency Services recommends installing smoke alarms inside each bedroom. This comprehensive coverage ensures early detection of fire hazards, providing critical seconds for residents to respond appropriately.
For further information on smoke alarm maintenance or any fire safety concerns, please contact the City of Kenora Fire and Emergency Service at (807) 457-2090.
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