Working Smoke Alarms a priority during Fire Prevention Week
By Nelson Daily Staff
The stats don’t lie.
The Fire Chiefs Association of BC says the chance of a fatality rises 74 percent when a working smoke alarm is not present.
Members of the Nelson Fire Department are doing their best to combat the loss of life during Fire Prevention Week.
“In a fire, seconds count,” said Fire Chief Len MacCharles.
“Half of home fire deaths result from fires reported at night between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. when most people are asleep. Home smoke alarms can alert people to a fire before it spreads, giving everyone enough time to get out.”
According to the latest NFPA research, working smoke alarms cut the chance of dying in a fire in half. Meanwhile, three out of five fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
Nelson Fire Rescue is conducting door-to-door visits in areas of Nelson, promoting smoke alarm awareness and conducting free home exterior FireSmart evaluations.
Members are also installing smoke alarms, all for free.
Nelson Fire Rescue is asking people wanting more information to please contact the firehall at 250-352-3103.
