Caledon Fire encourages participation in “Test Your Smoke Alarm Day”

By ZACHARY ROMAN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

It's time to test your smoke alarm.

September 28 is “Test Your Smoke Alarm Day” in Ontario, and Caledon Fire is joining fire departments across the Province in promoting the #SavedByTheBeep campaign.

In 2022, there were 133 fire fatalities in Ontario. Three of them were in Caledon.

This fact is one of the many reasons fire departments are creating a unified day to promote smoke alarm testing. 

Ontario's Fire Marshal, Jon Pegg, said most fire fatalities last year happened in homes that didn't have a working smoke alarm. 

“Had there been working smoke alarms, and a well thought out and practiced home fire escape plan, these deaths may have been prevented,” said Pegg.

Caledon's Fire Chief, Dave Forfar, said working smoke alarms give people the time they need to escape in the event of a fire. 

“Simply pressing the test button gives you the confidence that a working smoke alarm is in your home,” said Forfar. “Add a home escape plan and lives will be saved.”

Caledon Mayor Annette Groves has already joined the #SavedByTheBeep challenge, and there's a video on the Town of Caledon Youtube channel of her testing her smoke alarms. In the video, she challenges the rest of Caledon Council and Caledon residents to test theirs too.

Forfar said smoke alarm batteries should be changed at least once a year and alarms tested once a month.

Caledon's Deputy Fire Chief of Community Safety, Sarah Hoffman, said there will be an annual “Test Your Smoke Alarm Day” in Ontario moving forward. She said one of the goals of the campaign is to inspire as many people as possible to test their alarms by having the message come from not only fire departments, but the community at large. 

“Everybody has that mentality that it's not going to happen to them,” said Hoffman. “But we know that fire doesn't discriminate and happens to anybody at any time.”

Anyone who tests their smoke alarm, takes a picture of themselves doing it, posts it and tags @CaledonFireES on social media with #SavedByTheBeep has a chance to win a prize. 

Caledon Fire has a fire trivia quiz night at Caledon Hills Pub in Palgrave from 7 to 8 p.m. on September 28. It also has presentations at Legacy Pines in Palgrave and Lina Marino Park in Valleywood on that day, beginning at 6:15 and 6 p.m. respectively.

Those looking for more information about smoke alarms and fire safety can visit www.savedbythebeep.ca.