Working smoke alarms save lives

Nanaimo Fire Rescue encourages residents to install smoke alarms in homes

NEWS RELEASE - Distributed August 16, 2019 1:00 PM

Summary

City of Nanaimo Fire Rescue wants residents of Nanaimo to be as prepared as possible in case of a structure fire, and that begins with smoke alarms in the home. Fire Rescue crews recently attended fires where there were no smoke alarms installed in the homes. In 2018 alone, only 28 per cent of home fires in Nanaimo had a working smoke alarm. This is a worrying trend for Nanaimo which statically has been below the provincial average of working smoke alarms installed in homes.

On average, there are less than three minutes to escape a house fire which is why working smoke alarms are so important. Research has proven that individuals have a 73% greater chance of dying in a fire if they don’t have a working smoke alarm. Homes should be installed with at least one smoke alarm per floor and outside each sleep area.

This fall, City of Nanaimo firefighters will be visiting mobile home parks, going door to door to check and install smoke alarms if needed. Firefighters may also be checking the status of a home's smoke alarm if they are there for a call for service.

Any City of Nanaimo residents who have questions or need assistance installing or testing their smoke alarms may call Nanaimo Fire Rescue at 250-753-7311 or email fireinfo@nanaimo.ca.

Link to Strategic Plan: Creating a safe and livable community by educating residents on fire safety and prevention.

Key Points

All homes should be equipped with working smoke alarms.
Check smoke alarms monthly. Change smoke alarm batteries every six months. And replace smoke alarms every ten years, as they are only designed to have a ten-year life span even if they are hard-wired.
Should you find yourself in a house fire, make sure to close the doors behind you when you exit to prevent the spread and damage of fire.

Quotes

"Smoke alarms are the early indicators, the warning device, to let the occupants in a home know that there is a potential fire. Nanaimo Fire Rescue responds to a number of house fires each year that could have been prevented if smoke alarms were installed. Please ensure your home has working smoke alarms. Don't rely on outdated smoke alarms to keep your family safe."

Karen Fry

Fire Chief

Nanaimo Fire Rescue

Videos

Contact:

Karen Fry

Fire Chief

Nanaimo Fire Rescue

250-753-7311

Print News Release

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