Brantford Fire reminds residents to ensure smoke alarms are working during Fire Prevention Week

Email icon Back to Search
Brantford Fire Department truck

BRANTFORD, ON – The Brantford Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®)—the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week for more than 100 years—to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign from October 6 to 12, 2024. This year’s campaign theme is Smoke alarms: Make them work for you! and aims to educate the public about the importance of having working smoke alarms in the home. 

According to NFPA, working smoke alarms reduce the risk of death during a home fire by more than half (54 per cent). Meanwhile, roughly three out of five fire fatalities occur in homes that either did not have smoke alarms or did not have working smoke alarms.

“Smoke alarms provide early notification of a home fire emergency, but only when they are installed correctly and in working order,” said Brantford Fire Chief Todd Binkley. “This year’s Fire Prevention Week theme focuses on educating the public about the critical steps they can take to ensure smoke alarms are installed in the correct locations and working properly.” 

The Brantford Fire Department encourages all residents to follow the 2024 Fire Prevention Week theme by practicing these key safety tips and guidelines:

  1. Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside sleeping areas (such as hallways), and on each level (including the basement) of the home.
  2. Make sure smoke alarms meet the needs of all family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities.
  3. Test smoke alarms at least once a month by pushing the test button. Set a reminder in your calendar if needed.
  4. Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old.

The Brantford Fire Department is hosting a series of events in support of this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, Smoke alarms: Make them work for you!TM, including a number of displays with educational information and a chance to see a fire truck on the following dates:

  • Sunday, October 6 at Brantwood Farms, located at 251 Powerline Road, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • Tuesday, October 8 at Kidtastic Adventures, located at 603 Colborne Street, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
  • Wednesday, October 9 at Rona+, located at 215 Henry Street, from 4:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, October 10 at Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre, located at 254 North Park Street, from 4:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
  • Friday, October 11 at the Elements Casino, located at 40 Market Street South, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, October 12 at the Brantford Farmers Market, located at 79 Icomm Drive, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

To find out more about Fire Prevention Week programs and activities in Brantford, please contact the Brantford Fire Department at 519-752-4346 or email fire@brantford.ca and follow Brantford Fire on social media. For more general information about Fire Prevention Week and home escape planning, visit Brantford.ca/FirePreventionWeek or www.fpw.org.

- 30 -

Media Contact:

Kelly Page | Communications Specialist, Communications and Community Engagement

City of Brantford | 519-759-4150 ext. 5779 | KPage@brantford.ca