The focus of this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign is knowing the age of smoke alarms, Growth, Enterprise and Trade Minister Cliff Cullen, minister responsible for the Office of the Fire Commissioner, announced.
“Time and again, we’ve seen the life-saving impact smoke alarms can have in a home fire, but also the tragedy that can result when smoke alarms aren’t present or working properly,” said Cullen. “We want people to understand that smoke alarms save lives and remind them the alarms have a lifespan of 10 years.”
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), most homes have at least one working smoke alarm, but many people are unaware how old their smoke alarms are or how often they need to be replaced. That lack of awareness is a concern for the Office of the Fire Commissioner (OFC) and the Manitoba Association of Fire Chiefs (MAFC), along with fire departments throughout the province because smoke alarms do not last forever.
“Smoke alarms need to be replaced at least every 10 years, but the public is generally unaware of this requirement,” said Cameron Abrey, president, MAFC. “That means people are at risk because many homes have smoke alarms that are past their expiration date.”
The date of manufacture or expiration date is marked on the back of the smoke alarm. The alarm should be replaced 10 years from the date of manufacture, not the date of purchase. Smoke alarms should be tested monthly and batteries should be replaced once a year or as soon as they begin to chirp, signaling that they are running low.
“Smoke alarms are your first line of defense,” added Martin Johnson, chair, Firefighters’ Burn Fund. “Having them sound their alarm so it can be heard from anywhere in the home is the goal of proper installation and use.”
The NFPA research says working smoke alarms cut the chance of dying in a fire by half. Three out of five fire deaths have resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign includes the following safety tips:
- install smoke alarms on every level of the home, outside the sleeping areas as well as in every bedroom for maximum protection;
- remove smoke alarms from the wall or ceiling and check for the date of manufacture;
- replace any alarm manufactured more than 10 years ago;
- interconnect hard-wired smoke alarms throughout the home so when one sounds, they all do;
- test alarms monthly;
- ensure everyone in the home knows the sound of the smoke alarm and understands what to do when they hear it;
- agree on a family meeting place, and if the smoke alarm sounds get outside immediately; and
- stay outside and call the fire department.
To find out more about Fire Prevention Week programs and activities across the province, contact the OFC at www.firecomm.gov.mb.ca.
