As people prepare for Daylight Saving Time this Sunday, the St. Thomas Fire Department is hoping people will also use this time to check their smoke alarms.
Daylight Saving Time comes into effect Sunday (Mar 14) at 2 a.m., meaning everyone must turn their clocks forward a hour.
Although many clocks including cellphones, tablets, and computers will most likely change automatically, analog clocks, watches, ovens, and microwaves may need to be changed by hand.
Fire Prevention Officer Kim Destun says that daylight saving is a perfect time to check to make sure that smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are in good order.
Destun also advises when smoke alarms should be replaced.
She adds that last year in Ontario there were 18 fatalities from fires as of March 1st, with 34 fire related fatalities by March 1st of 2021.
This is believed to be as a result of COVID-19 restrictions and the fact that everyone is spending so much time in their homes, cooking, working, and doing online schooling, making it far more important that everyone takes the time to check and make sure their smoke alarms are working.
The community is reminded that if they do not have working smoke alarms and need either technical or financial assistance in making sure their homes are properly equipped, to reach out to the St. Thomas Fire Department.
