THUNDER BAY — The city's fire chief is calling on city residents to test their smoke alarms Thursday.
This year, for the first time, Sept. 28 is Test Your Smoke Alarm Day across Ontario.
Homeowners, landlords and tenants are encouraged to push and hold the test button on their alarms until they beep.
Fire Chief Greg Hankkio said it's very troubling that there was a significant rise in fatal fires in Ontario last year, with 133 people losing their lives, the highest toll in over two decades.
Even more troubling, he said, is that in most of these cases there was no working smoke alarm in the home.
"It stands to reason that, had there been working alarms, and well-practised escape plans, many of these deaths may have been prevented," Hankkio added.
The law requires working smoke alarms on every storey and outside sleeping areas of every residence including cottages, cabins, trailers and RVs.
It's illegal for tenants to remove batteries or tamper with alarms in any way.
Landlords must test alarms annually, after the battery is replaced, and after every change in tenancy, and tenants must notify landlords as soon as they become aware an alarm is not functioning.
Failure to comply with Ontario Fire Code smoke alarm requirements can result in a $360 ticket or a fine up up to $50,000 for individuals and up to $100,000 for corporations.
