In the wake of a deadly house fire in Oshawa, the Niagara Falls Fire Department is reminding people about the importance of working smoke alarms.

“Fire moves so fast that you may have less than 60 seconds to safely escape a fire, so early warning is crucial to survival,” said Chief Jim Boutilier.

“Only working smoke alarms give you that early warning.”

Smoke detectors should be installed on every storey of a house and outside all sleeping areas. They should be tested monthly.

Boutilier is also stressing the importance of having a practiced home fire escape plan so everyone knows what to do in the event of a fire.

That includes knowing all exits and choosing a meeting place outside.

The Ontario Fire Marshal is currently investigating the cause of a blaze in Oshawa, which killed four people including two children.

We now know there were no working smoke alarms inside the home.