It’s Time to Change!

It’s time to change our clocks and start enjoying those long awaited extra few hours of daylight. The Halton Hills Fire Department reminds all our residents to move their clocks forward one hour on Sunday March 13, 2011. Spring and fall have become fixed reminders to change the batteries, test the alarms and ensure they are working. Remember the old saying, “Change your Clocks – Change your Batteries”. Take the opportunity as well to dust, clean and vacuum your alarms while changing the battery. Only a working smoke alarm provides the extra few precious seconds you need to escape a fire. Functional smoke alarms save lives, reduce injuries and fire loss.

Smoke alarms are your first defense against fire. Fire Chief Brent Marshall says, “With the minimal costs of smoke alarms today, there is absolutely no reason why every resident of Halton Hills doesn’t have working smoke alarms in their home”. The requirement to install and maintain working smoke alarms on each level of the home, including the basement and outside each sleeping area will ensure family members will wake to the sound of a “beeping” smoke alarm in the event of a fire. In addition to the above, this requirement applies to all single family homes, semi-detached homes, townhomes, apartments, multi-unit occupancies and seasonal homes such as park trailers, campers and cottages.

Mayor Rick Bonnette says, “In addition to having working smoke alarms, it is equally important that every family member knows what to do in the event the smoke alarm sounds. Developing a home escape plan is a great start to ensuring a safe evacuation of family members, but remember to practice this escape plan with all family members to make sure it does work”.

The misuse of candles, unattended cooking practices and careless use of smoking materials continue to be the leading causes of residential fires today. Fire prevention, inspection/enforcement and public education staff will continue to educate and send the messages home of how to prevent these fires from occurring.

Fire Department Staff would be happy to talk with citizens of all ages regarding general smoke alarm information or anything else of a specific nature. Staff will also visit your home to assist with locating the proper place for your smoke alarms.

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