Ontario’s Fire Marshal last week reported the province recorded its highest number of fire-related deaths in more than 20 years in 20-22.
St. Thomas Fire Prevention Officer Kim Destun tells myFM it is not known at this time why the spike in numbers last year.
Statistics from the Fire Marshal’s office show one in three fire deaths occur during the months of November, December and January.
Ontario’s Fire Marshal Jon Pegg says a high percentage of fatalities happen in homes without working smoke alarms.
Destun stresses getting the message out to homeowners is an ongoing priority.
She adds we’ve been lucky with no such deaths in St. Thomas in recent years and we can’t let complacency set in.
Pegg stresses the importance of working smoke alarms in residences.
And Destun adds the need for a fire escape plan all family members understand.
Destun says such a plan means it is that much sooner you have all individuals outside the residence and accounted for.
Written by Ian McCallum
