Fire safety: test your alarms and know your escape plan
Oshawa Fire Services reminds the community that working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms save lives. By law, all homes must have smoke alarms on every level and outside all sleeping areas.
Key safety steps:
- Install smoke alarms on every storey and outside all sleeping areas. For added protection, consider alarms in each bedroom.
- If your home has a fuel-burning appliance, fireplace, or attached garage, install carbon monoxide alarms outside sleeping areas. For added safety, install alarms on every storey as per manufacturer recommendations.
- Press the test button on both smoke and carbon monoxide alarms monthly, and replace batteries at least once a year.
- Replace alarms over 10 years old or as the manufacturer recommends.
- Know what to do if an alarm sounds—ensure your family has an escape plan and practices it regularly.
Help elderly family members with alarm maintenance
If you have elderly family members, make sure they have properly working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in their home, and offer assistance in testing alarms and changing the batteries. Many older adults may have difficulty reaching or testing alarms, so your support could be life-saving.
Non-working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms can result in fines of up to $50,000 and/or one year of imprisonment.
For more fire safety information, visit oshawa.ca/Fire and follow @OshawaFire on X.
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