Oakville firefighters will be delivering fire safety tips and advice to people’s homes this summer as they carry out their door-to-door home awareness campaign.
The Town of Oakville announced that starting in June, firefighters in uniform will visit homes between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. on weekdays, and between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. on weekends until Sept. 30.
Oakville Fire Chief Paul Boissonneault said these family-friendly and informative visits will help residents learn how to protect themselves, their families and their pets from fire and carbon monoxide exposure.
Fire crews are expected to visit 12,000 homes during the campaign though residents are not obligated to provide crews with access to their homes.
“We’re launching our home awareness program because fire safety starts in the home with you before an emergency happens,” said Boissonneault in an online video about the campaign.
“Last year in Ontario, 111 lives were lost to fire. Many of those lives could have been saved with working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.”
He called on residents to stay safe by having smoke alarms on every storey of their home and outside all sleeping areas.
The fire chief said carbon monoxide alarms are needed by those who have a fuel burning appliance, fireplace or attached garage.
“Test your alarms monthly and replace the devices every 10 years,” said Boissonneault.
“Create a home escape plan and practice it twice a year.”
Boissonneault noted that during the door-to-door campaign, firefighters would deliver fire safety booklets, which are available in multiple languages.
Residents can hear about the campaign and the importance of fire safety directly from Boissonneault by clicking here.
“Programs like our door-to-door awareness initiative make a real difference in reducing fire risks in our neighbourhoods,” said Oakville Mayor Rob Burton in a press release.
“Ensuring residents have working alarms and the knowledge to prevent fire-related emergencies is a vital part of keeping our community safe. I want to thank our fire crews for their continued commitment to public safety.”
The town’s Fire Prevention and Safety page on oakville.ca also has educational and informational resources in English, French, Mandarin, Arabic and Spanish.