by Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative
One of the best ways to keep area families and individuals safe is to provide them with the tools to prevent fires.
With public education being an important focus for Essex Fire & Rescue, Firefighters hosted the annual Open House at all three stations last Wednesday evening during National Fire Prevention Week.
This year’s theme was “Smoke alarms: Make them work for you!™” It reiterated the importance of having working smoke alarms in the home.
During the event, Firefighters are available to answer questions, engage with youth on ways they can help keep their homes safe, and provide fire prevention material.
Youngsters were also given a chance to tour the fire hall, get a ride in a fire truck, and were able to complete a mini firefighter obstacle course. This challenge allowed them to carry a smaller firehose and complete other firefighter type training exercises on a smaller scale.
Assistant Deputy Fire Chief, Jim Meloche, called the open house a success. He was pleased to see many families from throughout the municipality visit one of the three stations to learn more about fire prevention and ask any questions they may have about fire safety.
He urged families to check their fire alarms once per month to ensure they are in good working order, that batteries are still fresh, and that the device has not reached the end of its lifecycle.
“They save lives,” he said.
Recently, Firefighters took part in the annual door knocking campaign to check on smoke alarms in residential dwellings. Meloche noted Firefighters found many that were not working or had expired. They were able to replace many of the devices.
Smoke alarm/CO devices are available to individuals and families who need them. They are urged to call the fire hall at 519-776-7132 to learn more.
In keeping with the fall fire safety theme, the Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) encouraged individuals and families across the province to put safety top of mind on Saturday, September 28, by hosting its second annual “Test Your Smoke Alarm Day.”
The campaign was introduced last year, because there were 133 fire-related deaths in 2022, which was this most in the province for the past two-decades.
The OFM website noted that in 2023, there were 123 fire-related deaths in the province. That was 10 less than in 2022, but the number of fatal fires increased to 111.
The Ontario government is looking to proclaim September 28 in each year as “Test Your Smoke Alarm Day,” recognizing the importance of working smoke alarms.
The Ontario government has introduced Bill 177 2024, An Act to proclaim Test Your Smoke Alarm Day. It has passed two readings to date and is currently being examined by the Standing Committee on Justice Policy.
Information onwww.ola.org on the proposed Bill notes “testing smoke alarms every month is a simple, yet crucial action that can protect loved ones and property from the devastating impacts of fires.”
Health Unit asks those who picked-up KI Pills to check expiry
Last week, the Windsor Essex County Health Unit made note on its social media that those who received KI Pills since July of this year are asked to check their expiry date.
They have been distributed at community events, including the Fire Prevention Week Open House.
The expiry date should be November 2034. If pills have an expiry date of March 2025, please contact the health unit at 519-258-2146 ext. 4445 or weki@wechu.org to receive replacement pills.