Door to door fire alarm inspections

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Some fire departments take a more active approach to implementing fire safety in homes. St.Catharines fire department knocked on over 3 000 doors this year to check fire and CO alarms in their home awareness program. While there’s no official city-wide door to door program in Hamilton, other municipalities say it could mean the difference between life and death.

St. Catharines fire safety officer Frank Donati says knocking on doors and checking alarms is a great way to ensure people are complying with the fire code.
“It’s extremely effective because we always find people who don’t know their responsibility or their rights. It is the least expensive life saving device anyone will ever buy.”

If they visit a home that does not comply with the fire code, they re-visit to make sure proper changes have been made. It’s a hands on approach that works for the municipality and in the city of Toronto last year, over 58 000 homes were visited by Toronto fire fighters.

Not every fire department takes this approach that seems to work very well in some cities. Public Safety Minister David Orazietti says every department takes on different approaches to educating the public.

Dontati says fire departments like to share information with each other on what works for them and what doesn’t. However it is up to each municipality to decide what the best course of action is. St. Catharines program starts on Victoria day weekend and runs until Labour day weekend. Donati says within 4 to 5 years, the fire department should have knocked on every door in St. Catharines.