“Safe and strong communities start in the home. Replacing smoke alarm batteries at the same time the clocks are turned back each fall is a life-saving habit worth developing,” said Ray Danyluk, Minister of Municipal Affairs. “Having an operational smoke alarm can give you the time you need to make it out alive and more than doubles your chances of surviving a home fire.”

Fire statistics indicate that in residential fires, only 60 per cent had smoke alarms installed, despite being required by law in Alberta. Of those, only 37 per cent of smoke alarms were known to have activated during fires. In many cases, the failure of smoke alarms to activate was due to lack of a power source - no battery, dead battery, electricity off or disconnected. 

“Albertans need to get into the routine of changing their smoke alarm batteries and testing their alarms when they turn their clocks back each fall,” said Acting Fire Commissioner Ernie Polsom. “The key to surviving a home fire is to have operational smoke alarms combined with a well practiced escape plan.”

All homes should have a continuous power source to smoke alarms, whether hard-wired or battery-operated, to ensure they operate in the event of a fire. An additional safeguard is monthly testing by pushing the test button to ensure the smoke alarm is in working condition.

Smoke alarms are only one part of ensuring fire safety in a home. A home fire escape plan should also be developed and practised regularly so that everyone knows what to do in case of a fire emergency. 

For more information, including smoke alarm facts and tips visit the Alberta Emergency Management Agency website at www.aema.alberta.ca.