Windsor Fire Chief urges residents to test smoke alarms before clock change

Windsor Fire and Rescue Service is asking residents to replace smoke detector batteries when they set their clocks back on Sunday, November 1. Chief Fire Prevention Officer John Smith says the time change serves as a practical reminder to ensure home safety equipment is fully operational before winter.

The department's push comes after a fire at the Dorchester Apartments in the 2500 block of Lauzon Road near Tecumseh Road East on Sunday, October 18. That early morning blaze killed two people and injured several others. Smith notes that the survivor was sleeping in a bedroom with a closed door but failed to hear the smoke alarm activate.

Smith emphasizes that a working alarm provides early detection, which is critical for escape. He points out that many sleeping areas in houses and apartment buildings still lack functioning devices. "We still have a high number of sleeping areas, houses, and apartment buildings that don’t have working smoke alarms," Smith says. He adds that he wishes he could inspect every home in Windsor to verify their status.

For residents with hearing impairments, Smith recommends installing alarms with additional detection methods, such as strobe lights or vibration alerts. He explains that the two victims in the October 18 fire had hearing issues. "You want to make sure the owner of your house, if you’re a tenant, that you have a hearing impairment," he says. The survivor in that incident was in a bedroom with a closed door and did not hear the device go off.

Smith states that fires and accidents will continue to happen, but a functional alarm gives occupants a better chance to vacate safely. "We want people to get out alive," he says. The goal is to avoid arriving at a scene where a resident is trapped in a house that likely had a working alarm but was not used effectively.

The fire department is also observing Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week from November 1 to November 7. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odourless, and tasteless gas often called the silent killer. Symptoms of exposure include headaches, nausea, dizziness, breathlessness, collapse, loss of consciousness, and death.

Ontario law requires carbon monoxide alarms to be installed outside all sleeping areas in homes with a fuel-burning appliance, fireplace, or attached garage. Residents are advised to test these detectors to confirm they are working. The department urges everyone to recognize the health risks associated with the gas and ensure proper installation.