For Immediate Release
Minden, Ontario
September 20, 2023
10:00 AM
Release # 23-77

Subject:        Test your Smoke Alarm Day 2023 “Saved by the Beep”

Minden Hills Fire Chief Shain Duda and Deputy Fire Chief Rob Thibert are calling on all residents of the Township of Minden Hills to test their smoke alarms on September 28^th as part of the Test Your Smoke Alarm Day. Be prepared to be “Saved by the Beep” with a working smoke alarm – it is your best chance to keep you and your family safe in the event of a fire.

The Minden Hills Fire Department is joining communities across Ontario on September 28^th by asking everyone to take a minute to ensure that there are working smoke alarms installed in their home.

Last year, Ontario lost 133 people to deadly fires – the highest number in over 20 years. Many of these fires were found to have no working smoke alarm and stand as a reminder that only working smoke alarms will alert you to a fire and give you and your loved ones enough time to safely escape.

“In Ontario, we’ve seen a significant rise in fatal fires and the number of people we have lost in these fires is very concerning,” said Ontario Fire Marshal Jon Pegg. “Entire families have been lost to fire and the most troubling part is that most of these fires did not have a working smoke alarm in the home. Had there been working smoke alarms, and a well thought out and practiced home fire escape plan, these deaths may have been prevented.”

The Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM), with the support of fire services and fire safety partners across Ontario, is asking Ontarians to regularly test their smoke alarms with a challenge to test all smoke alarms in their residence on September 28.

The Minden Hills Fire Department will be out promoting Test your Smoke Alarm Day on the 28^th in a number of ways:

• Sharing information door to door
• Firefighters will be stationed throughout the community handing out information on how to protect your family.
• Firefighters will be out in the community during the evening to help with Smoke/Co Alarms, providing voluntary Smoke alarm checks and tests, and providing fire safety information to all.

Quick Facts:

• Smoke alarms have been legally required to be installed on every storey of a residence in Ontario since 2006.
• Residences also include vacation homes, cabins, trailers, RVs, and cottages.
• Landlords must test alarms annually, after the battery is replaced, and after every change in tenancy. Renters must notify their landlord as soon as they become aware that a smoke alarm is not operating.

Please contact the Minden Hills Fire Department at 705-286-1260 if you have questions about or require assistance with checking your alarm. For more information please also visit www.savedbythebeep.ca

-END-

Contact Information:
Shain Duda, Fire Chief
Township of Minden Hills
PO Box 359, 7 Milne Street
Minden, ON K0M 2K0