Fire Prevention Week started in 1922 and is always the week in October that has Oct. 9 in it, the day of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
The theme for this year is “ Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware. Fire can happen anywhere.”
About 74 per cent of all fires in Canada are residential, with the two leading causes being kitchen fires and smoking equipment. In 2014 there were 170 fire-related deaths and 1,300 injuries in Canada, with 87 per cent of those fatalities from structural fires.
The Alberta Fire Code 2014 states that smoke alarms shall be installed in each dwelling unit and in each sleeping room not within a dwelling unit. It also states that if your home was built after 1977 they must be hardwired. As well the fire code requires owners of leased dwelling units to inspect and test each smoke alarm prior to occupancy and to provide the tenants with ongoing inspection and testing reports.
The Alberta Building Code 2014 also has these requirements for dwelling units:
- A smoke alarm on every level (including basements).
- A smoke alarm in each bedroom and in each hallway serving a bedroom.
- Smoke alarms to be interconnected and be equipped with a hush feature and battery backup.
- A carbon monoxide (CO) alarm to be installed in every dwelling that contains a fuel-burning appliance, or shares a common wall/floor/ceiling with a storage garage.
- A carbon monoxide alarm in or within five metres of each bedroom.
- Carbon monoxide alarms to be interconnected, so that when one alarm sounds, all alarms sound.
Modern building construction has changed drastically in recent years and research shows that 30 years ago you had about 17 minutes to escape a house fire.
Today it's down to three or four minutes. The reason? Newer homes and the furniture inside them actually burn faster. A lot faster. This means that the best hope you have of surviving a fire is a working smoke alarm, an escape plan and immediate evacuation.
On Oct. 13 come join Penhold firefighters at our free open house and barbecue at 1001 Minto St. There will be fire truck rides and a chance to use a firehose.
Later that night at the Penholder Inn is our annual live and silent auction to raise funds for a new rescue truck. If you would like to donate an item to our auction please call 403-886-4553 and leave a message.
Jim Pendergast is the fire chief for the Penhold Fire Department.
