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Fire Chief Scott Selle is urging all residents of Pembroke to participate in Test Your Smoke Alarm Day on September 28. The initiative, part of the “Saved by the Beep” campaign, highlights the importance of working smoke alarms as a vital safety tool for protecting families in the event of a fire.
On September 28, Pembroke will join communities across Ontario in asking residents to take just one minute to test the smoke alarms in their homes. Chief Selle emphasized that this simple act could make the difference between life and death.
“Pressing the test button on your smoke alarm gives you confidence that it’s working properly,” said Chief Selle. “Testing your alarm once a month, changing the batteries yearly, and replacing alarms older than 10 years can save lives.”
The warning comes amid a rise in fatal fires across Ontario. Ontario Fire Marshal Jon Pegg expressed concern over the increase, noting that many victims of these fires did not have functioning smoke alarms.
“We’ve tragically lost entire families to fires where no smoke alarms were working,” said Pegg. “If alarms were in place and homes had practiced escape plans, many of these deaths could have been avoided.”
The Office of the Fire Marshal, alongside fire departments and safety organizations, is encouraging all Ontarians to take part in the smoke alarm challenge on September 28. For more information, visit www.savedbythebeep.ca.
(Written by: Emma Butler)