Ontario Fire Marshal News Release Smoke Alarms

Originally Posted By: rwand1
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For Immediate Release


ATTENTION: HOME, NEWS AND ASSIGNMENT EDITORS
Working Smoke Alarms: It?s the Law!

TORONTO (December 13, 2005) ? A Fire Code amendment requiring smoke alarms on every level of Ontario homes will save lives and reduce property damage, says Community Safety and Correctional Services Minister Monte Kwinter.

?If a fire occurs in your home, smoke alarms can give you and your family the precious seconds you need to safely escape,? Kwinter said. ?I was pleased to accept the Fire Marshal?s recommendation and sign this regulation. It?s one more way our government is working to improve community safety for all Ontario.?

With this amendment, the Fire Code now requires homes to have working smoke alarms on every level and outside all sleeping areas. It covers single family, semi-detached and town homes, whether owner-occupied or rented.

To underline the importance of the new regulation, the Office of the Fire Marshal has launched a public education campaign, Working Smoke Alarms: It?s the Law! The province-wide campaign will heighten awareness about the importance of working smoke alarms and educate the public about the amended regulation, smoke alarm technology and the enforcement of smoke alarm requirements.

?Working Smoke Alarms: It?s the Law! is a comprehensive campaign designed to inform homeowners, landlords and tenants of residential occupancies of the need to have more working smoke alarms
inside their homes and properties,? says Bernard Moyle, Fire Marshal of Ontario. ?In about 50 per cent of fatal, preventable home fires, there was no smoke alarm warning. It is critical to have working
smoke alarms on every level to give occupants the precious seconds they need to escape a fire.?

Municipal fire departments across Ontario have been informed of the amended regulation and will be enforcing it soon. For homeowners, tenants and individual landlords, non-compliance with the Fire Code smoke alarm requirements can result in a ticket for $235 or a fine of up to $25,000.

For more information, please contact:
Carol Gravelle, Office of the Fire Marshal, 416-325-3138
Janice Johnstone, Office of the Fire Marshal, 416-325-315


Originally Posted By: mcyr
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icon_smile.gif icon_smile.gif


Good topic and would like to add;

http://www.nfpa.org/itemDetail.asp?categoryID=1068&itemID=25474&URL=Learning/Public%20Education/Special%20projects/Educational%20Messages%20Advisory%20Committee

Marcel


Originally Posted By: rwand1
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.



Marcel,


Thanks for that link.

Seasons Greetings!

Raymond wand
Alton, ON


Originally Posted By: hjeffrey
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.



Raymond & Marcel,


Thanks for posting this hot information.

We were talking to a local fire representative who related a recent incident where the total fines levied should have been at least $75,000 but were dropped to far, far less. Too bad, it would have made a very strong point.

The Fire Department has done so much in the past in getting the message of how important properly functioning smoke detectors are in saving lives. Free literature, free detectors, free advice, etc. but to no avail when the human factor enters into the equation. Need a battery for the little one's toy to keep them happy or maybe the remote needs a new one. And what about that noise the darn unit makes when it goes off - simply annoying! Ah, it'll get fixed later - yeah, right!!!!!

As inspectors, we can now bring this information to all parties concerned with no recourse. As the saying goes, "It is better to be safe, than sorry." but it is even better to be safe and LIVE to be sorry for something else!

Why wait for the day when the device proves the point?


Originally Posted By: rwand1
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.



On a related note … it is amazing how many ABS furnace vents and power draft hot water heaters I have found with failed or unglued joints.


Just yesterday a 2 year old high effic. furnace with an unglued joint.

Unfinnished basement and no CO detector. CO detector on main floor. Had someone knocked the vent, it likely would have gone undetected.

Raymond Wand
Alton, ON