SMOKE ALARMS SAVE LIVES. PERIOD

This past winter was a particularly challenging one for the Brampton Fire and Emergency Services team, and for the entire Brampton community. Due to two devastating house fires, we had families lose their children, their siblings, their parents and pieces of their hearts.

The Brampton Fire and Emergency Services team faces fires and emergencies on a daily basis, but to face these significant tragedies so close to one another was especially tough.

As members of the community, and parents and family members ourselves, these tragedies hit home.

As a father, I do not want to imagine the pain felt by these grieving families, and as the fire chief, I want our team to do all that we can to ensure this doesn't happen again.

I cannot stress enough the importance of working smoke alarms. They are not a nuisance, they are not hard to maintain, and they will save your life.

If you can set an alarm to wake up every day, remember to go grocery shopping or hit the gym, then you can set a reminder to check and maintain the smoke alarms in your home. Put reminders in your phone, sticky notes on your calendar and just do it!

Additionally, remember:

Test your alarms regularly. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to ensure everything is working properly.

It's strongly recommended that you replace your smoke alarms within 10 years of the original installation date.

Cleaning the house? Clean your alarms. Remove excess dirt, dust and debris on a regular basis.

Replace the batteries regularly — this goes for battery-operated alarms and battery backup. Thecost of having extra batteries available far outweighs the cost of losing a loved one.

Plan your escape. Should a fire happen, ensure everyone in the home is aware of the alarms, what the sounds mean and how to exit.

Fire safety is all of our responsibility. Do not let these tragic life-altering events pass without learning from them.