National Fire Prevention Week is October 6 – 12th and this year’s theme is “Smoke alarms: Make them work for you!

This year’s campaign strives to educate everyone about the importance of having working smoke alarms in the home. You need to remember three things: INSTALL, TEST, and REPLACE. Smoke alarms serve as the first line of defense in a home fire, but they must be working to protect people.

You can help keep your family safer by following these guidelines:
• Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area (like a hallway), and on each level (including the basement) of the home.
• Make sure smoke alarms meet the needs of all family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities.
• Test smoke alarms at least once a month by pushing the test button.
• Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old or stop responding when tested.

For more information on National Fire Prevention Week, click HERE.

For further fire prevention tips, or to learn how to become a part of the RDEK’s Rural Fire and Rescue Service, contact your local fire department. Our annual recruitment drive is on now. Being a paid-on-call firefighter gives you the satisfaction of knowing you’re making a difference in your community, provides you with training in everything from medical response to fighting fires, and is an opportunity to give back. For more information, click HERE.