You can expect to run into a lot of firefighters this week as crews work to spread the word on the fire safety.
Deputy Fire Chief Gary Bridge tells AM980 that this Fire Prevention Week, the major focus is on having working smoke alarms.
“A lot of London residents may not realize, but it is the law. Smoke alarms are required on each and every storey of your home as well as outside each sleeping area. That is a law, we want to make sure Londoners are aware of that.”
Bridge says that overall, residential fires have been on the decline in the past 6 years but this year may buck that trend. In 2008, there were 231 residential fires. By 2013, that dropped to 131 fires a year. Unfortunately, this year is on track to reach 146 residential fires.
Bridge adds that unattended cooking is the number one cause of residential fires in Ontario.
“There are two components that we often talk about with unattended cooking. One is, obviously, be present when you’re cooking. The second is, if there’s a fire on the stove, we ask that put a lid on it rather than try to transport it or move that pot. Oftentimes fire will generate when people try to move the pot and spill things.”
Fire Prevention Week runs until October 11th.
More information can be found on the city’s website.
Source: Fire Prevention Week Has Crews Stress Safety As Residential Fires On The Rise | (CFPL AM) AM 980
