Fire prevention week

Fire ban in effect

A fire ban has been declared for all of Strathcona County, effective immediately. The ban applies to Sherwood Park and all rural areas and hamlets. Until further notice, no outdoor fires are permitted. This includes burn barrels, fireworks, recreational fire pits and charcoal barbecues, including in campgrounds / parks. The use of propane appliances such as barbeques, are permitted. All fire permits are suspended until the ban is lifted. Info www.strathcona.ca/fireban or 780-400-2010.

Sparky the fire dog in front of a fire truck — Fire won’t wait. Plan your escape™

Fire won’t wait. Plan your escape^TM

October 9 to 15 is Fire Prevention Week. Today’s homes burn faster than ever. You may have as little as two minutes (or even less time) to safely escape a home fire from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Your ability to get out of a home during a fire depends on early warning from smoke alarms and advance planning.

Home fire escape planning and practicing

It is important for everyone to plan and practice a home fire escape. Everyone needs to be prepared in advance, so that they know what to do when the smoke alarm sounds. Given that every home is different, every home fire escape plan will also be different.

Have a plan for everyone in the home. Children, older adults and people with disabilities may need assistance to wake up and get out. Make sure that someone will help them!

Develop your home fire escape plan today!

Smoke alarms

Working smoke alarms save lives. Smoke alarms sense smoke well before you can, alerting you to danger. Smoke alarms need to be in every bedroom, outside of the sleeping areas (like a hallway) and on each level (including the basement) of your home.

Choose an alarm that is listed with a testing laboratory, meaning it has met certain standards for protection.

For the best protection, use combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms that are interconnected throughout the home. These can be installed by a qualified electrician, so that when one sounds, they all sound. This ensures you can hear the alarm no matter where in your home the alarm originates.

Source: NFPA