LAC LA BICHE - Fire Prevention Week is being celebrated across Canada from Oct. 6-12.
Each year, Fire Prevention Week – which is celebrated across North America and established following the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 – has a theme. This year’s theme, is ‘Smoke Alarms: Make them work for you.’
John Kokotilo, the regional fire chief for Lac La Biche County, recommends that homeowners change the batteries in their smoke alarms every six months, once in the spring and again in the fall.
“If they’re battery operated, change them when you change the clocks,” he told Lakeland This Week.
Even detectors wired directly into electrical systems in homes and businesses generally have battery back-ups that should be tested and replaced regularly.
To ensure that their smoke alarms are working property, Kokotilo explained, people can test them by pushing the indicator buttons located on the devices.
A smoke alarm itself, he continued, should be swapped at least every decade.
“They should be changed out at a minimum of every 10 years,” he said.
Open House
On Thursday, Oct. 10, as part of Fire Prevention Week, Lac La Biche County Fire Rescue Services will be hosting an open house at Station One in Lac La Biche. According to Kokotilo, this event, which takes place from 4-6 p.m., will feature educational information related to the week’s theme of smoke alarms, along tours, food and children’s activities.
Each year during Fire Prevention Week, Kokotilo continued, the local fire department hosts public education events reiterating the importance of fire safety. Those who attend these local events are provided with information and education can learn about programs such as FireSmart, as well as wildfire and home safety, along with building code information.
According to Kokotilo, Lac La Biche County Fire Rescue Services responded to 375 calls in 2023. As of Oct. 3, the response number for 2024 was 357. Emergency calls for the department include a variety of situations from motor vehicle collisions to wildfires and structure fires.
When asked if local fire officials have noticed any certain trends regarding the types of calls that members respond to, he stated at the time that he didn’t have a specific information to share – but said the more people who are educated about fire prevention, the less calls of any kind the department will receive.
Fire Prevention Week, the regional fire chief continued, is doing a great job keeping the public informed about how crucial fire safety is and how they can take measures in their own homes, vehicles, and outdoors. Through these annual events, he said, firefighters are helping people by “making sure that they understand the importance of fire safety…how easy a fire can start, and how quickly it can spread, and the consequences thereafter.”
