Latest news with #smokealarms
CTV News
4 hours ago
- General
- CTV News
No smoke alarms at fires in Timmins, one home destroyed, the other heavily damaged
A Timmins fire truck is seen in this file photo. Firefighters in Timmins are reminding the public of the importance of having working smoke alarms after two fires Monday caused heavy damage. Neither residence had smoke alarms, officials said in a news release Tuesday. The Timmins Fire Department first responded to a garage fire at a west-end residence. 'Prior to arrival, the fire had spread to two nearby homes,' the news release said. 'One home was a complete loss, while the other received significant damage. A third home received minor damage. No injuries were reported during the incident and all occupants were able to exit the residences.' Later in the afternoon, crews responded to a second structure fire in Schumacher at a multi-unit dwelling. 'The fire was quickly brought under control by the arriving crews and no fire spread to additional units,' the release said. 'None of the buildings involved had working smoke alarms. All occupants are fortunate to have escaped thanks to the actions of brave neighbours.' Fire officials said the incidents are a good reminder of the importance of smoke alarms – and of regularly checking smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, ensuring you have a home escape plan and discussing fire safety with your family.
Fast Company
6 days ago
- Fast Company
Smart technology is making our homes safer
The ability to stay connected through technology plays a pivotal role in our everyday lives, but in some areas of our lives we are only beginning to realize the life-saving potential of smart technology. This is particularly true in the world of fire and carbon monoxide (CO) safety, where timing can be the difference between life and death. We know that having working smoke alarms in the home can double the likelihood of safely escaping a house fire. Due to modern synthetic materials and open floor plans, fires today are burning hotter and faster. In an emergency, every second counts. Smart technology that provides real-time notifications and remote monitoring capabilities is emerging as a crucial tool for protecting both lives and property. This is especially vital when we have elderly parents who might not respond quickly to alarms, or beloved pets who can't communicate their distress when smoke or CO threatens their safety and we're not at home. Building these smart capabilities into both smoke and CO alarms could help save lives. Stay informed from anywhere with smart tech According to a 2023 survey, 85% of Americans own at least one smart home device. With smart and connected technology becoming a household staple, it is our goal to make sure that safety is prioritized at the same rate as convenience. Families who invest in connected safety devices are not merely adopting the latest trendy gadgets, but are in fact investing in the most efficient way to help protect what matters most—our loved ones and the home we create memories in. The most effective smart safety solutions operate seamlessly in the background of our busy lives, providing peace of mind without requiring constant attention. These systems can alert us to potential dangers whether we're at home cooking dinner, sleeping upstairs, or traveling around the world. At Kidde, we leaned into this idea when collaborating with Ring to introduce a collection of smart smoke alarms and smoke and CO combination alarms. With built-in Ring technology and an optional monitoring service to help protect homes from anywhere, this connected technology can be used to help save lives and property. But this is just the tip of the iceberg for how connected tech can transform the home safety landscape. Smoke and CO alarms can communicate with other smart devices The integration of smart technology into home fire safety and CO devices is in the process of revolutionizing how we protect our homes. Strategic collaborations present massive opportunities for brands that are willing to combine their expertise and identify avenues for innovation that will put smarter safety solutions into the hands of consumers. Remote alerts and monitoring: Today's connected smoke and CO alarms can send immediate notifications to smartphones regardless of location, allowing for faster emergency responses even when no one is home. Many systems now offer the option of professional monitoring services that can dispatch emergency services if needed. Interconnected systems: Modern smoke and CO alarms can communicate with each other, ensuring that when one alarm sounds, all alarms in the home activate. This is crucial for multi-story homes where occupants might not hear an alarm on a different floor. The most advanced safety technology doesn't operate in isolation. Smoke and CO alarms can now communicate and act in conjunction with other smart tech in the home. Regulations help keep consumers safe Despite the many benefits that smarter technology can provide for the fire safety industry, it's only one piece of the puzzle. Common sense standards and regulations are also necessary to ensure the public health is consistently and equitably protected. Regulations covering fire and life safety technology are key to our safety given that Americans spend roughly 90% of their time indoors. Voluntary standards, which are often adopted into code or incorporated by reference in legislation, are developed in a consensus-driven method by industry experts, firefighters, academia, consumers, and other stakeholders to help set minimum performance requirements for products and services. Our input into this process, alongside key partners, helps us innovate to meet the demands of present and future customers and help keep more people safe. However, consumers are often unaware of safety codes and standards. Recently, Miller Gardner, son of former Yankee Brett Gardner, died from exposure to carbon monoxide, while vacationing in Costa Rica. The U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica underscored these travel safety concerns, noting that 'most countries in Latin America, including Costa Rica, do not have widespread laws mandating carbon monoxide detectors. However, some businesses (like hotels) or embassies may voluntarily install them due to safety concerns.' To avoid tragic situations like this, Kidde suggests all travelers take a battery powered CO alarm that fits in their luggage. Ultimately, knowledge of standards and emergency preparedness is perhaps the most important tool anyone can have at their disposal. Because of that simple truth, we've made fire and CO safety education one of our core missions to help keep consumers informed. And now, smarter technology is helping consumers have more knowledge than ever about the state of their home. Connected, smart technology can save lives Humans are flawed. We forget things, we mess up, and we assume a home fire will never happen to us. Technology can function like another version of ourselves, always keeping an eye out for our safety. Our partnership with Ring demonstrates how essential and transformative collaboration can be to developing solutions that meet this type of need and make home safety an integral and seamless part of your everyday life. When it comes to the safety of our families and homes, there's no such thing as being over-prepared.
CTV News
7 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Working smoke alarms credited with saving pets in Elliot Lake house fire
Working smoke alarms saved 4 pets in an Elliot Lake house fire Sunday. Fire crews found fire damage in the kitchen and smoke damage throughout the home. The cause is under investigation.
CTV News
02-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Ottawa Fire Services marks 20 years of ‘Wake Up!' program promoting smoke alarms
Ottawa firefighters will be going door to door this week at homes across Ottawa to check for working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and to raise awareness about fire safety. This year marks the 20th anniversary of a devastating blaze in the capital and the push since to promote smoke alarms in all homes. In April 2005, a fire at the Mekong Grocery store on Somerset Street West in Chinatown claimed the lives of five members of the Thach family. The building did not have working smoke alarms at the time. Mekong Grocery fire 2005 Fire footage of fatal 2005 fire at the Mekong Grocery on Somerset Street West. (CTV News Ottawa) Then-Deputy Fire Chief Bruce Montone tasked now-retired Fire Prevention Officer Ivan Tanner with finding a way to prevent such a loss from happening again. Tanner created the 'Wake Up!' program, which sees firefighters visiting residents across Ottawa, to ensure people have working smoke alarms in their homes. 'It was one of the most serious fatal fires in our city's history. Something had to be done,' Tanner said in a video shared by Ottawa Fire Services on social media. 'Working smoke alarms give you the best chance to escape a fire alive.' The story behind the 'Wake Up! Ottawa' program — a response to tragic loss in 2005, now with more than a quarter of a million visits to protect our residents. #Ottawa #SmokeAlarmsSaveLives — Ottawa Fire Services (@OttFire) June 1, 2025 Twice a year, firefighters visit homes in Ottawa to inspect and test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms, install new alarms or batteries, where required, and share information on fire safety and escape planning, all of it at no cost to residents. Visits will take place this week, June 2 to 9. Uniformed firefighters will visit select residential areas for two hours between 3 and 8 p.m. on weekdays and 2 and 4 p.m. on weekends. If no one is home, firefighters will leave a door hanger with fire safety information. 'It's incredible and so gratifying to see it still going 20 years later, and to see how many people it's touched and the lives that have been saved,' Tanner said in a news release. The City of Ottawa says over the past two decades, the Wake Up! program has visited more than 264,000 homes, installed nearly 13,000 smoke alarms and replaced more than 6,500 batteries. The city also notes that since the program began, the number of homes needing smoke alarms during firefighter visits has dropped. Ontario's Fire Code requires that homes have a working smoke alarm on each floor and outside each sleeping area. For homes built after January 1, 2015, smoke alarms are also required in sleeping rooms and all smoke alarms must be interconnected and have a visual strobe light. Carbon monoxide alarms are also required outside sleeping areas if the home has an attached garage, a wood stove or a fuel-fired appliance. Smoke alarm tips The City of Ottawa says you should test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms at least once per month. Each device should have a 'test' button. When pushed, it should beep loudly to show that it's working. Replace the batteries in your alarms once a year. The easiest way to remember to do this is to set a date. Common examples include your birthday, when clocks change for Daylight Saving Time, or 'Test Your Smoke Alarm Day' on Sept. 28. Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms should be replaced according to manufacturer instructions, which is usually every seven to 10 years.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hampton Fire & Rescue offers free smoke alarms to residents
HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) — The Hampton Division of Fire and Rescue is offering free smoke alarms to help protect the community. As part of a free smoke alarm program, firefighters will furnish and install smoke alarms or replace batteries for any homeowners in Hampton. A working smoke alarm will immediately notify a resident of smoke or fire in their home. To request a smoke alarm, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
