It’s time to check your home for working smoke alarms.
It is Fire Prevention Week across the province.
Greg Nicol, the Fire Prevention Inspector with the Owen Sound Fire and Emergency Services, says it’s the law to have a working smoke alarm on every floor of your home.
He says they’re finding most people are complying with the law, but here are still people who may take the batteries out of their smoke alarms.
And Nicol says fire departments across Ontario are taking a zero tolerance stance on that.
He says if a fire crew has to respond to your home, and they find even one of the smoke detectors don’t work, you could be fined 235 dollars.
As for fire prevention tips — Nicol says the number one room in the house where fires occur is the kitchen.
He says it’s very important to make sure you’re always in the kitchen when cooking, and not to consume too many alcoholic drinks.
Nicol also wants you to have a safe escape route planned and to practice it with your family often.
The most important part of the plan is to create a meeting place, and to make sure everyone in the house knows where the meeting place is, so that everybody can be accounted for if and when there is a fire.
The Owen Sound Fire and Emergency Services will be visiting area schools this week to talk to students about fire safety and prevention.
