OFM, local fire services call for action on ‘Test Your Smoke Alarm Day’

It’s the annual ‘Test your smoke alarm’ day in Bradford.

This Sunday, September 28 marks ‘Test Your Smoke Alarm Day’ in the province, prompting important reminders from the Ontario Fire Marshal (OFM) and local fire services.

The now-annual initiative is in its third year, with its campaign of ‘Saved by the Beep’ and its goal of raising awareness around an alarming recent trend.

“The increased number of fatal fires and fire deaths across the province is extremely concerning,” said OFM Jon Pegg in a news release. “Whether people have a false sense of safety or the mistaken belief that fire will not happen to them, too many homes in the province lack basic protection against a fatal fire: a working smoke alarm.”

This past Thursday in Bradford, the OFM, local firefighters and Mayor James Leduc officially launched this year’s ‘Test Your Smoke Alarm Day’ at Fieldcrest Elementary School.

When CTV News interviewed Pegg, he expanded on the numbers.

“In 2023, we had our worst year on record. We had 134 lives lost to fire,” said Pegg, adding that with more than 90 fire-related fatalities in Ontario so far this year, that amount could be exceeded. “That’s the importance of this event and this message is to try and curb that spike and try and keep the numbers low.”

Hence the call from the OFM and local fire services for Ontarians to take action and test their fire alarms on Sunday.

“The City of Barrie is joining communities across the province by asking everyone to take a minute and ensure there are working smoke alarms installed in their home. Lives can be saved by regularly testing smoke alarms at least once a month, refreshing batteries at least once a year, and replacing smoke alarms older than ten years,” said the City of Barrie in its Friday news release. “Be prepared to be ‘Saved by the Beep’ with a working smoke alarm – it is your best chance to keep you and your family safe in the event of a fire.”

On a positive note, Stephen Hall, Bradford’s deputy fire chief, confirmed to CTV News on Thursday that there have been no fire-related deaths in the town for ‘a number of years.’

“We’re going to try and maintain that. One of the ways we do that is this fire prevention program,” stated Hall. “We always take it seriously when we hear about fire deaths.”

Ontario law requires a working smoke alarm to be installed on every storey and outside all sleeping areas in every home.