WEST KELOWNA – West Kelowna Fire Rescue and Westbank First Nation personnel went door to door in two mobile home parks during Fire Prevention Week, October 4 to 10, to ensure that residents had working smoke alarms. The results of this initiative showed that of the homes visited, 71% did not have a smoke alarm present, or had alarms that were either not working or expired. For those homes without protection, fire personnel installed maintenance free 10 year smoke and carbon monoxide alarms at no cost to the resident.

Working smoke alarms save lives, reduce fire-related injury, reduce the spread of fires, and reduce the damage of fires. Each year, three out of five home fire deaths result from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or non-working smoke alarms. The risk of dying in a home fire is cut in half in homes with working smoke alarms. The typical cause of a smoke alarm failure is missing, disconnected, or dead batteries. Half of residential home fire deaths occur between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., when residents are asleep – an important reminder to “HEAR THE BEEP WHERE YOU SLEEP.”

West Kelowna Fire Rescue, serving the City of West Kelowna and West Bank First Nation, is committed to ensuring all residents are protected by a working smoke alarm. Residents are encouraged to ensure their own safety and the safety of their loved ones by asking themselves the following questions:

Do I have a working smoke alarm?
Does my smoke alarm sound when I push the button?
Have I changed my smoke alarm(s) within the last 10 years?

If you are unsure of the status of your smoke alarms, we can help. Please contact West Kelowna Fire Rescue at 778-797-3200.