Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency (HRFE) wishes to remind you to ‘fall back’ this Saturday night before you go to bed.
When you turn back your clocks by an hour you should also change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. While you’re at it, check the expiry on the back of the smoke detector. The National Fire Protection Association says smoke detectors should be replaced every 10 years.
HRFE investigators frequently discover smoke alarms didn’t sound when they followed up on fire fatalities. Usually it’s either because the alarm has been disconnected or batteries were dead or taken out to be used for something else, and not replaced.
HRFE has a public education program called, ‘Alarmed and Ready’. The purpose of the program is to provide a smoke alarm, free of charge, for those in need.
To place a request for a free smoke alarm call: 902-490-5590
To date, our firefighters have responded to more than 1,400 requests for a smoke alarm, and we’ve installed in excess of 1,550 alarms. As well, more than 1,100 batteries have been replaced for existing alarms.
This program also gives our front-line firefighters an opportunity to educate the public on the importance of an early warning device in the home, and to demonstrate to residents how to maintain and test their smoke alarms.