The Bracebridge Fire Department is taking a proactive approach to fire prevention this summer, launching its annual door-to-door campaign to promote the use of working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
Uniformed firefighters will visit neighbourhoods across Bracebridge every Monday from 7 to 9 p.m. until the end of September. The initiative is designed to remind residents of the critical importance of fire safety amid a recent increase in residential structure fires.
Fire crews will be knocking on doors to encourage homeowners to check their alarms, though they will not enter homes as part of the campaign. Residents who require additional help can arrange follow-up appointments with Fire Prevention staff.
Simple safety measures can make a life-saving difference.
In addition to maintaining alarms, residents are reminded to have a home fire escape plan - and to practice it regularly with everyone in the household.
Fire safety officials are also emphasizing provincial requirements that many residents may overlook.
By law in Ontario:
- Every home must have a working smoke alarm on every storey and outside all sleeping areas.
- Homes with fuel-burning appliances—such as furnaces, fireplaces or cooktops—or an attached garage must also have carbon monoxide alarms on every storey and outside sleeping areas.
- All smoke and carbon monoxide alarms should be tested monthly to ensure they are operating correctly.
By combining education, outreach, and regular checks, firefighters hope to reduce the risk of fire-related injuries and fatalities in the community.
Residents are encouraged to take a few minutes each month to test their alarms—and to answer the door when local firefighters come knocking.
