VFRS is going door-to-door to educate you on smoke alarms

Take advantage and ask any fire or smoke-related questions you may have, writes Chief Andrew Zvanitajs

Yorkregion.com
Aug. 16, 2021
Chief Andrew Zvanitajs

The COVID-19 pandemic has made many of us adapt to working remotely, keeping our physical distance from others and wearing a mask.

Programs and services have also changed, due to the evolving nature of the times we are living in. Such is the case for the Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service’s (VFRS) Alarms for Life program.

The Alarms for Life program is an annual campaign, encouraging compliance to the Ontario Fire Code requirement to have a smoke alarm on every level of a home and a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm in every home.

In years past, firefighters have gone around the community speaking with citizens about fire safety, as well as checking to make sure they have the appropriate working smoke and CO alarms.

This year’s outreach will look a little different.

Each weekend throughout the summer and early fall, VFRS firefighters will be going door-to-door in targeted neighbourhoods. They will be dropping off information on smoke alarms and speaking with citizens they come across while maintaining their physical distance and wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment.

This program provides citizens with a great opportunity to engage with their local firefighters and gain valuable knowledge from them.

In the coming weeks, firefighters will be leaving information in the form of a door hanger on what steps you can take to make your home both safe and compliant. If you see your local fire truck out and about, be sure to say hi and ask staff any questions you may have.

If you should ever require non-emergency assistance with your smoke or CO alarms, you can call us at 905-832-8531, ext. 2, and we can attend.

Just as important as having working smoke alarms installed in the right places is having and practising an escape plan.
If the alarm goes off, everyone in the home needs to know exactly what they're going to do and where they’re going to go. Make your plan, practise it with family members and increase your chance of survival.

Residential fires are responsible for 73 per cent of all fatal fires in Canada each year. VFRS is working to lower the risk of death and harm from fire and CO poisoning by providing you with the information you need to keep your family safe.

Fire safety doesn’t take a summer vacation, so it is important to always be prepared. To learn more about fire safety, visit vaughan.ca/fire.