Smoke alarm and fire safety tips

The North Grove recently welcomed Briana, a Public Education Specialist from Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency to share ways to keep yourself, your family, and your home safe from fire. 

Smoke alarms: 

Did you know that roughly two-thirds of home fire deaths happen in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms?  

Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in home fires in half.  

• Check for or install smoke alarms inside every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home, including the basement.  

  • If you rent, your landlord is responsible for installing and maintaining smoke alarms.

• Ideally, smoke alarms should be installed away from the kitchen to prevent false alarms. Generally, they should be at least 10 feet (3 metres) from a cooking appliance.  

• Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old. If you need a smoke alarm and are unable to afford one, please call 311. 

• A continued set of three loud beeps – beep, beep, beep – means smoke or fire. Get out, call 911, and stay out. 

• A single chirp every 30 or 60 seconds means the battery is low and must be changed.  

• Chirping that continues after the battery has been replaced means the alarm is at the end of its life.

Parenting Journey Home Visitor, Marlee, is checking on The North Grove’s smoke alarms to make sure they are in working order.  

Carbon monoxide alarms:  

Do you heat your home with oil? Do you have a gas stove? Does your home rely on other fossil fuels? You should install a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm. 

• A continuous set of four loud beeps – beep, beep, beep, beep – means carbon monoxide is present in your home. Go outside, call 911, and stay outside.  

• A single chirp every 30 to 60 seconds means that the battery is low and must be replaced.  

• If you have replaced the batteries and a chirping sound continues, the alarm is at the end of its life and the unit must be replaced. 

• Note that CO alarms also have an end-of-life sound that vary by manufacturer. If you can, check the product information from the manufacturer so you know what to listen for when it’s time to get a new CO alarm! 

• If you need a CO alarm and are unable to afford one, please call 311. 

Fire escape plans:  

According to the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA), only one in three households have developed and practiced a home fire escape plan.  

• Think about a home escape plan! Draw a map of your home showing all doors and windows. Discuss the plan with everyone in your home.  

• Know two ways out of every room, if possible. Make sure all doors and windows leading outside open easily. 

• Decide on an outside meeting place (like a tree, light pole, or mailbox) a safe distance from the house where everyone should meet.  

• Practice your home fire drill at night and during the day with everyone in your home, twice a year.  

• Practice using different ways out.  

• Teach children how to escape on their own in case you can’t help them.  

• Close doors behind you as you leave.  

If the alarm sounds... 

• If the smoke alarm sounds, get out and stay out. Never go back inside for people or pets.  

• If you have to escape through smoke, get low and go under the smoke on your way out.  

Here is Parenting Journey Home Visitor, Raechelle, pointing out the “Muster Point” - the meeting place at The North Grove in case of a fire or other evacuation.  

We chose a big tree at the edge of the property, easy for everyone to spot, and safely away from the building! 

For more fire safety and prevention information, please visit the Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency Website.