South Glengarry firefighters knocking on doors

In this Sept. 23, 2016 photo provided by the Township of South Glengarry, Acting Fire Chief Dave Robertson shows off a combination smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector. The fire department is going door-to-door this week in a voluntary campaign for Fire Prevention Week. (South Glengarry via Newswatch Group)

SOUTH GLENGARRY – With a theme of “Don’t Wait, Check the Date,” township firefighters are going door-to-door this week to educate the public on smoke alarms and CO detectors.

It’s Fire Prevention Week through Saturday and the voluntary campaign will assist homeowners in answering questions and providing help on all matters related to carbon monoxide and fire alarms.

“Smoke alarms wear out over time and should be replaced every 10 years. It is important to check the expiry date of your alarms and to ensure that there is a working smoke alarm on every storey of your home and outside of sleeping areas,” Acting Fire Chief Dave Robertson said.

“In addition, all homes with fuel burning appliances need to have at least one carbon monoxide detector,” he added.

According to the province, 35 per cent of all fatal house fires over the last five years involved places where there was no smoke alarm warning – 13 per of those had to detector at all.