It’s Fire Prevention Week in Vaughan

Visit one of our booths for safety tips, trivia and prizes! 

Did you know you could have less than two minutes to evacuate safely once a smoke alarm sounds? Working smoke alarms save lives, and, in an emergency, every second counts. 

That’s why Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service (VFRS) is sharing important fire safety tips throughout Fire Prevention Week. Drop by one of their booths at locations across Vaughan this week to test your knowledge with trivia, win exciting prizes and learn how to stay safe:

• Monday, Oct. 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Walmart (8300 Highway 27)
• Tuesday, Oct. 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Costco (71 Colossus Dr.)
• Wednesday, Oct. 9, from noon. to 4 p.m.: Canadian Tire (8081 Dufferin St.)
• Thursday, Oct. 10, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.: Rona (200 McNaughton Rd.)
• Friday, Oct. 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Home Depot (55 Cityview Blvd.)

Fire Prevention Week is recognized each year during the week of Oct. 9 by the National Fire Prevention Association, and has been proclaimed by the City of Vaughan from Oct. 6 to 12, 2024. Fire departments across North America observe Fire Prevention Week to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire in 1871 and the devastation it caused. 

This year’s theme, ‘Smoke alarms: Make them work for you!’ stresses the importance of working smoke alarms and knowing their signs and signals. Knowing what to do when an alarm sounds – with a beep or a chirp – will help keep you and your loved ones safe:

• A continuous beeping or steady tone means there is an emergency, and you should get out, call 9-1-1 and stay out.
• A single chirp every 30 or 60 seconds, or a series of three rapid beeps, means the battery is low and must be changed.
• Chirping that continues after switching the battery means the alarm is at the end of its life and must be replaced.

Your smoke alarms should meet the needs of all household members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities. Special alarms and devices ensure everyone can be alerted in case of a fire and can include:

• Smoke alarms that flash strobe lights to alert people who are deaf or hard of hearing when they are awake.
• A pillow or bed shaker to wake them if they are asleep. The sound of a standard smoke alarm activates this device. 
• Smoke alarms that use a low-frequency sound can be used to wake a person with mild to severe hearing loss.

If someone in your household requires help getting to safety, VFRS has a free voluntary Vulnerable Persons Registry that first responders reference during an emergency so they know to provide special assistance to those who need it.

Approximately 50 per cent of all fire fatalities occur in homes without working smoke alarms. A working smoke alarm gives you an early warning of a fire so you can get outside quickly. Follow these steps to ensure your home is prepared in case of an emergency:

• Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on each level of the home (including the basement).
• Test smoke alarms at least once a month by pushing the test button.
• Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old or if they stop responding when testing or according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Follow the City on Instagram to challenge yourself with fire prevention trivia throughout the week and check out more safety tips at vaughan.ca/fire.

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