COLD LAKE - National Fire Prevention Week took place from Oct. 6-12, and the City of Cold Lake’s fire chief took the opportunity to speak about safety in the home and community.
Cold Lake Fire-Rescue is not only focused on prevention but also on responding to emergencies, according to Cold Lake Fire-Rescue Fire Chief and City of Cold Lake Manager of Protective Services Jeff Fallow.
The department’s busiest categories of calls reflect the variety of challenges the fire department faces. According to Fallow, the most frequent types of calls Cold Lake Fire-Rescue responds to are public assistance/agency assistance calls – with 116 responses recorded so far this year, as of the end of August.
These calls include things like agency assistance calls for EMS and sometimes RCMP, and public assistance calls for such things as smoke/odour investigations, warming fires, electrical problems, and rescues, just to name a few.
Alarms also make up a significant portion of Cold Lake Fire-Rescue's responses, with 76 calls recorded by the end of August. The alarms are often triggered by cooking smoke, steam, or faulty detectors.
Each alarm call requires follow-up to ensure proper function.
Additionally, the department has responded to 61 motor vehicle collisions during the same period.
Fallow further notes some trends, stating, “Cold Lake Fire-Rescue has noticed an increase in calls for outdoor warming and encampment fires, as well as an increase in EMS co-response calls.”
Check smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
This year’s theme for Fire Prevention Week is “SMOKE ALARMS: Make them WORK for You,” and Fallow is urging residents to take fire prevention seriously.
He also highlights the importance of vigilance, particularly around common household hazards. For example, with colder weather arriving soon, he reminds people to take precautions when using fireplaces.
“Have your fireplaces cleaned and inspected and only burn clean wood," says Fallow.
A key part of this year’s fire prevention message is ensuring smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors are properly maintained.
Fallow notes the most common mistake people make is forgetting to check these vital devices regularly.
“The most common mistake people make is to not check their smoke detectors or changing batteries. It is also common for people to leave something cooking on the stove and leave the kitchen.”
In line with the 2024 Fire Prevention Week theme, Chief Fallow stresses the importance of making sure smoke detectors are up to date, as they typically expire after 10 years.
He also advises residents to inspect CO detectors and ensure fire extinguishers are functioning properly, with the pressure gauge in the green zone and no leaks.
He further emphasizes keeping candles away from flammable objects and never leaving stoves unattended while cooking.
