Let's get loud! Georgina fire chief encourages residents to learn the sounds of fire safety

Yorkregion.com
Oct. 7, 2021

The only way to ensure your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are working is to test them.

Georgina fire Chief Ron Jenkins is encouraging all residents to get loud and learn the sounds of fire safety as part of Fire Prevention Week.

Press the buttons and learn what your smoke alarm is telling you with all those beeps.

Knowing the difference between a beep and a chirp can save lives.

“Knowing the different sounds your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms make can save you, your loved ones and your home,” Jenkins said.

“Get loud by testing your alarms every month to learn the sound they make and to ensure the batteries work. Take immediate action if your smoke or carbon monoxide alarms sound. If the alarms beep in an emergency, get everyone out of the home. If your alarms chirp, replace the batteries or alarms immediately.”

Every home in Ontario must have a working smoke alarm on every storey and outside all sleeping areas. But too often, fatal fires occur in homes where there were no working smoke alarms, Jenkins added.

Testing alarms should produce a beeping sound -- the same sound in an emergency. If the alarm does not beep once the test button is pushed, replace the batteries and test again. If the alarm still does not sound, replace the alarms.

Georgina Fire Services is also hosting a Fire Prevention Month scavenger hunt with a number of live challenges on now until Oct. 31.

For more information, visit georgina.ca/fire.