Fire departments sending reminder to change batteries
As the clocks jump one hour ahead this Sunday, fire departments throughout the region are reminding residents to change the batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
Port Colborne fire Chief Tom Cartwright said it’s a simple thing to do and early detection from those alarms saves lives.
“It’s a campaign that’s been ongoing for years and its being pushed forward by the regional fire prevention officers,” he explained.
He said the department is more than happy to come help if someone is having an issue changing the batteries or installing a new alarm for whatever reason.
Speaking to the effectiveness of the program, Cartwright said, “We like to think the people who take things seriously will be reminded of it and hopefully others will pick up on the fact they should be doing it.”
Port Colborne has especially been pushing the message of having working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors after a fatal fire in 2016 in a home that didn’t have working alarms.
In the wake of that fire, the department developed a program to make sure Port Colborne residents have working alarms.
The program has involved home inspections from fire staff and volunteers, assisting residents who call to ask for help installing or replacing an alarm and repeated fire safety messaging to drive the message home.
In 2017, Cartwright said the department visited approximately 1,400 homes. Of those homes, only 25 per cent were compliant with smoke and carbon monoxide alarm laws.
The law dictates that working smoke alarms are required on every floor on residences and outside all sleeping areas. Carbon monoxide alarms need to be installed outside of sleeping areas if the residence has a fuelburning appliance, fireplace or attached garage.
Cartwright said if someone isn’t sure if their home is in compliance, they should just call.
“The reality is if they call us and we find them in non-compliance, we’ll make sure they’re compliant. There is no fines or charges laid,” he said.
If someone is caught without working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, that’s when tickets and even charges could be issued.
Tickets, he said, are around $300, and fines are averaging around the $1,200 mark. A release from Welland Fire and Emergency Services also reminding residents to change batteries this weekend states fines can be up to $50,000.
That in mind, Cartwright said it’s easier to spend a little money to purchase the alarms now as opposed to paying the price later. Especially when that price isn’t always monetary.
“Pay me now, $5, or go to the store and buy them, two for $10, and get them up or potentially pay the price. In a lot of different ways, including your death and the death of your loved ones and your pets. And the loss of everything you own,” he said.
Although Port Colborne’s smoke alarm program is going to undergo some tweaking to encourage more compliance, he said what is in place now is working. In the past four months, he said there have been two instances in which alarms installed by the department have alerted a family to get out of the home.
He didn’t have details for program changes yet, but he did say they are going to be a bit harder with their messaging.
He said people don’t seem to understand the consequences they could face, and they need to.