Brantford Fire reminds residents to test their smoke alarms during Test Your Smoke Alarm Day

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Saved by the Beep

BRANTFORD, ON – The Brantford Fire Department is teaming up with the Ontario Fire Marshal and fire departments across Ontario to implement the first annual Test Your Smoke Alarm Day on Thursday, September 28, 2023. The campaign aims to educate the public about the importance of installing and maintaining working smoke alarms in their homes.

“Last year, we needlessly lost 133 lives in fire-related incidents in Ontario,” says Brantford Fire Chief, Todd Binkley. “Smoke alarms are small devices that have a huge impact on life safety. Working smoke alarms were not present in many of the fatal incidents that occurred last year. The outcome for those affected individuals may have been different if working smoke alarms were present in the home at the time of the fire incident.”

The Brantford Fire Department encourages all residents to implement the following in their homes:

  • Purchase alarms that bear a certification marking from an authorized testing laboratory.
  • Install and maintain working smoke alarms, at minimum, on every level of the home (including the basement) and outside of sleeping areas.
  • Test alarms once per month to ensure they are in working order.
  • Check the date. Smoke alarms expire approximately every ten years. Check the back or side of the alarm to see if it is time for a new one – even if they are hardwired.
  • Conduct annual maintenance on all alarms. Vacuum them once per year and change the batteries twice per year, if applicable.

To learn more about smoke alarm safety, visit Brantford.ca/SmokeAlarms. For more information about the Ontario Fire Marshall’s Test Your Smoke Alarm Day, visit SavedByTheBeep.ca.

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Media Contact:

Chelsey Tobin | Communications Specialist, Communications and Community Engagement
City of Brantford | 519-759-4150 ext. 5779 | ctobin@brantford.ca