Thunder Bay Fire Rescue reminds residents to change the batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide alarms when they change their clocks this weekend.

“With the pending time change comes an opportunity to educate the community about the importance of testing and changing the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, “ said Fire Chief John Hay. “Working smoke alarms give you the early warning needed to safely escape a fire, and only a carbon monoxide alarm can alert you to the presence of CO.”

It’s the law to have working smoke alarms on every level of your home and outside all sleeping areas.  Ontario Fire Code regulations also require carbon monoxide alarms to be installed outside all sleeping areas if your home has a fuel-fired appliance, a fireplace or an attached garage. Citizens are encouraged to plan and practice their home fire escape plans so everyone in the household knows what to do in the event of a fire.

Thunder Bay Fire Rescue recommends replacing old smoke alarms with new duel smoke/carbon monoxide alarms. Both hardwired and battery-operated smoke alarms are required to be replaced every 10 years.

  

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Contact:       Anthony Stokaluk, Public Education Officer – Thunder Bay Fire Rescue, 625-2802, cell 631-7033 or astokaluk@thunderbay.ca