Ottawa firefighters get ready to go door-knocking to promote fire safety

Firefighters in Ottawa are gearing up to ensure residents are as safe as possible when it comes to fires.

Ottawa Fire Services will be sending firefighters door knocking to make sure smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are present and working. The visits to city residents will take place from June 6 to June 13, between the hours of 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. on weekdays, and between the hours of 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on the weekend.

Not only will they be checking on alarms, they will also be providing information on fire safety and home escape planning.

Working smoke alarms will be provided to those with broken or faulty ones, and batteries will be provided to those who need to replace old ones. Ontario's fire code requires that homes have a working smoke alarm on each floor and outside each sleeping area. Carbon monoxide alarms are also required outside sleeping areas if the home has an attached garage, a wood stove or a fuel-fired appliance.

Residents are not required to let the firefighters into their homes and can take the information, but can accept the courtesy call if they wish.

This will be the first door-to-door “Wake Up” campaign since September 2019. Firefighters have been visiting homes every spring and fall since the “Wake Up” program began in 2005, but suspended the campaign due to the COVID-19 pandemic.