Fire Chief Stephen Laforet Challenges City of Windsor Residents to be “Saved by the Beep”

Windsor Fire Chief Stephen Laforet is calling on all residents of Windsor to test their smoke alarms on September 28 as part of Test Your Smoke Alarm Day. Be prepared to be “Saved by the Beep” with a working smoke alarm – it is your best chance to keep you and your family safe in the event of a fire.

Windsor is joining communities across Ontario on September 28 by asking everyone to take a minute to ensure that there are working smoke alarms installed in their homes. 

“Being prepared to act in the event of a fire can start with simply pressing the test button and having the confidence that a working smoke alarm is in your home,” said Chief Laforet. “Lives will be saved by regularly testing smoke alarms at least once a month, refreshing batteries at least once a year, and replacing smoke alarms older than 10 years.”

Since 2022, Ontario has lost over 254 people to deadly fires. Many of these fires were found to be in locations with no working smoke alarm, and this stands as a reminder that only working smoke alarms will alert you to a fire and give you and your loved ones enough time to safely escape.

“In Ontario, we’ve seen a significant rise in fatal fires, and the number of people we have lost in these fires is very concerning,” said Ontario Fire Marshal Jon Pegg. “Entire families have been lost to fire, and the most troubling part is that the majority of these fires did not have a working smoke alarm in the home. Had there been working smoke alarms, and a well thought out and practiced home fire escape plan, these deaths may have been prevented.”

The Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM), with the support of fire services and fire safety partners across Ontario, is asking Ontarians to regularly test their smoke alarms and is issuing a challenge to everyone to test all smoke alarms in their residences on September 28. 

Pledge to help keep you and your loved ones safe by signing up for a monthly reminder to test your smoke alarms. For more information about the campaign, visit www.SavedByTheBeep.ca today!

Quick Facts:

• Smoke alarms have been legally required to be installed on every storey of a residence in Ontario since 2006.
• Residences also include vacation homes, cabins, trailers, recreational vehicles (RVs), and cottages.
• Landlords must test alarms annually, after the battery is replaced, and after every change in tenancy. Renters must notify their landlord as soon as they become aware that a smoke alarm is not operating.