Kingston Fire & Rescue challenges you to be Saved by the Beep

Kingston Fire & Rescue Chief Monique Belair is calling on all residents of Kingston to test their smoke alarms on Thursday, Sept. 28, as part of Ontario’s first Test Your Smoke Alarm Day. Be prepared to be Saved by the Beep with a working smoke alarm – it’s your best chance to keep you and your family safe in the event of a fire. 

“Please take a minute and ensure that there are working smoke alarms installed in your residence. Being prepared to act in the event of a fire can start with simply pressing the test button and being confident that your home has a working smoke alarm,” says KFR Chief Belair. “Regular monthly testing can save lives. Be sure your alarm also has fresh batteries at least once a year and replace smoke alarms older than 10 years.” 

Last year, Ontario lost 133 people to deadly fires – the highest number in more than 20 years. Many of these fires were found to have no working smoke alarm and stand as a reminder that only working smoke alarms will alert you to a fire and give you and your loved ones enough time to safely escape.

“In Ontario, we’ve seen a significant rise in fatal fires and the number of people we have lost in these fires is very concerning,” said Ontario Fire Marshal Jon Pegg. “Entire families have been lost to fire and the most troubling part is that the majority of these fires did not have a working smoke alarm in the home. Had there been working smoke alarms, and a well thought out and practiced home fire escape plan, these deaths may have been prevented.”

This challenge was established by the province’s Office of the Fire Marshal, with the support of fire services and fire safety partners across Ontario. For more information, visit www.savedbythebeep.ca.

As part of Test Your Smoke Alarm Day, Kingston Fire & Rescue encourages people to take an additional five minutes to complete the home self-inspection. Answer a few questions about fire safety in your home and be entered to win a $50 gift card. Visit www.cityofkingston.ca/homeselfinspection to complete the home self-inspection today.

Quick Facts: 

• Smoke alarms have been legally required to be installed on every storey of a residence in Ontario since 2006. 
• Residences also include vacation homes, cabins, trailers, RVs, and cottages. 
• Landlords must test alarms annually, after the battery is replaced, and after every change in tenancy. Renters must notify their landlord as soon as they become aware that a smoke alarm is not operating.