A working smoke alarm is crucial for fire safety, giving you valuable time to escape during an emergency. That’s the theme of this year’s Fire Prevention Week – Smoke alarms: Make them work for you.
According to the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS), crews responded to 3,389 fires in 2023, an increase from the previous year when they said they responded to 2,545. Leigh Gruener is a public education officer with the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service, and her job is to educate the community about fire safety and how to prevent common causes of house fires.
One of the common causes of house fires is cooking.
“We call it unattended cooking, meaning that we’re cooking away, and then something happens to pull us away from the cooking event. The Jets score, the Bombers score, whatever. Our phones are another thing. We walk away and come back, and there happens to be a fire in our kitchen.”
It’s also essential to educate new residents on safe cooking practices. Some newcomers, unfamiliar with modern appliances, have tried cooking indoors with unconventional tools, like garbage cans. This is extremely dangerous.
“We work to educate these families on the proper use of stoves and ovens. We also advise people to cover small kitchen fires with a lid and to call 911 immediately if the fire becomes uncontrollable. It’s important to stress that there’s no penalty for calling 911 — we are here to help,” says Gruener.
The second most common cause of fires is from smoking. Often, individuals will fall asleep with a lit cigarette or put them out in items that are not appropriate to use, such as potted plants. Gruener says it happens more often than you would think, with a significant apartment fire that was caused by such an incident last summer.
Smoke alarms are extremely valuable in these emergency situations, but there are steps to be taken to ensure they’re working to the best of their ability.
- Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, outside all sleeping areas and in your basement
- Test smoke alarms every month by pressing the test button
- Change the batteries at least once a year
- Replace the smoke alarm when it’s ten years old
- Create and practice a home escape plan so all family members know what to do in the event a smoke alarm activates
If you are renting, it is the responsibility of the landlord to maintain and replace smoke alarms within the residence; if you are the owner of the property, it is your responsibility.
Fire extinguishers, while not mandatory, are useful for small fires, but you need to know how to use them properly. They are effective for minor fires but won’t last long, so they should only be used when it’s safe to do so. If you’re unsure or the fire is too big, the priority should be to evacuate and call 911.
Another thing all families and individuals should have is a fire escape plan. Ensure everyone knows what to do when the smoke alarm sounds, where to meet outside, and which exits to use. Practicing the plan can help prevent panic in an emergency. Teaching children about fire safety can be made fun by timing escape drills and encouraging them to participate in making the plan. It’s important that everyone, including children, knows their role and that no one is responsible for anything beyond getting out safely.
A fire escape plan includes identifying exits, a meeting place, and assigning responsibilities ahead of time. Ensure your children know exactly what to do—whether it’s getting outside to a specific spot or calling 911 once they’re safe. This preparation can prevent confusion during an emergency, making sure everyone is accounted for quickly.
For Gruener, there’s nothing more alarming than hearing someone is missing.
“I can’t describe the feeling when you come up and you hear ‘we’re missing somebody.’ We kind of go into high gear. Now we’re looking for a child, an adult, or an animal.”
Some people hesitate to call 911 due to fears of getting in trouble or fined, but that’s not true—emergency services are there to help.
Several services are available for anyone seeking more information about fire safety. The Smoke Alarm for Every (SAFE) Family program offers free smoke alarm installations for eligible homeowners without working alarms. Renters should know that their landlords are responsible for installing and maintaining working smoke alarms, as required by Fire Prevention By-Laws. Fire Prevention Week kicks off on Monday, October 7, with an event at Hastings School from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
During the week, schools across Winnipeg were encouraged to conduct fire drills and teach students fire safety and prevention tips. On Saturday, October 12, from noon to 4 p.m., Winnipeggers can visit their local fire paramedic stations during open house events. Every Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) station will welcome visitors. These open houses are a great opportunity to meet local first responders and learn more about smoke alarms and fire prevention. You can also receive information on creating home escape plans. It’s an excellent chance for the community to engage in fire safety awareness.
– Ryan Funk, U Multicultural
