The Tecumseh Fire and Rescue Service is sending out a reminder after some alarming stats involving fire related deaths across the province.
Just over three months into 2018, and there have already been 31 fire-related deaths across Ontario. That's three more than the same period a year ago.
Fire Chief Doug Pitre says it's a proven fact that smoke alarms save lives. "New construction of homes with new material and furniture and plastics, the time for a house to flash over is diminished greatly. Where it might have taken 15 minutes for some room to catch fire, now it's catching fire in three. So you don't have a lot of time to get out."
"Checking your smoke alarms on a regular basis is a must, says Pitre. "Because we're past the, 'turn your clock ahead, change the battery', people have still got to make sure they check it. Make sure nobody has removed the battery. Checking weekly and practicing that plan with your kids is something that should just be part of every week for a family."
Pitre says it's also important to know what kind of alarm you've got as well. "Smoke alarms that are within the last five years, even though they're hard-wired, some of them still have batteries in them and you need to check those. The new smoke detectors, some of them carry a 10 year life battery. So those, once you plug them in they're good for 10 years, but you'd be surprised how many times we go into a home, the batteries aren't even in the smoke detector."
101 days into 2018. To date 31 fire related fatalities occurred in Ontario 28 same date in 2017. #PushTheButton #SmokeAlarms #SaveLives
— Tecumseh Fire (@TECFD) April 11, 2018