Purchasing a new home is an exciting time. But with so many things for new homeowners to check off their “to-do” list after move-in, Ontario’s fire service leaders want to remind homeowners that fire safety should be at the top of their priority list.

Through the #RealEstateSmokeAlarmChallenge, the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs (OAFC) has partnered with the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) to promote fire prevention best practices. Working together, the province’s fire service leaders and real estate agents can improve the safety of Ontarians. 

This challenge was prompted after an unfortunate series of fatal residential fires claimed the lives of eight adults and children only weeks into 2018. In all of those cases, the homes had no working smoke alarms. To prevent future tragedies from sweeping our communities, Ontario’s realtors can take action and make change by participating in the #RealEstateSmokeAlarmChallenge.

Resources for Real Estate Agents

The OAFC has prepared a downloadable brochure, which real estate agents, brokerages and firms can print off and distribute to clients. The brochure outlines the importance of working smoke alarms in all homes, as well as tips for how to test and maintain alarms. 

Download and print OAFC’s smoke alarm brochure for realtors.

If you would like to order additional, fun educational materials for your clients, OAFC offers a multitude of products, such as children’s colouring books and crayons, adult activity books, plastic fire helmets, playing cards, puzzles and more. 

For information and instructions on how to order Will Fightfire public education materials, click here.

Get involved on social media

We’re hoping to see this important safety campaign take off across the province – and better yet, all of Canada! Here’s how to be a part of it. 
You can share how you’re incorporating fire safety into your sales approach, helping educate and protect your clients, by sharing photos and using the hashtag #RealEstateSmokeAlarmChallenge. 

Please also tag and follow the OAFC on Twitter at @ONFireChiefs.

Potential social media photo opportunities:

• You and/or clients testing a home’s smoke alarms
• Display of fire safety educational leave-behind materials
• You and local fire department professionals with a smoke alarm
• New smoke alarms being given to clients

Photo: Love It Or List It host and realtor David Visentin with Barrie Fire's Samantha Hoffmann, Public Fire & Life Safety Officer, promoting the #RealEstateSmokeAlarmChallenge.

For more information on smoke alarms or other fire safety topics, visit the OAFC’s Public Safety website. If you have questions about this campaign, please contact Avori Cheyne, Communications Strategist, by email to avori.cheyne@oafc.on.ca.