Fort Erie firefighters are launching a door-to-door program to educate residents on the importance and legality of having working smoke and CO detectors in households.

The program, called SAFE (Smoke Alarms Fort Erie) will start April 7, and see members of the Fort Erie Fire make stops at homes throughout the town on advertised nights and weekends for the remainder of the year.

In Ontario, every home is required by law to have a working smoke alarm on every floor. 

In homes that have an attached garage or fuel burning appliance, a carbon monoxide alarm is required outside all sleeping areas.

Fort Erie Fire Chief Ed Melanson said fire prevention is based on three pillars: education, prevention and finally suppression.

“If we are able to not only educate but also motivate our residents to use fire safety best practices in their everyday lives, we will be able to minimize the number of fire casualties we see in our town,” Melanson said, in a town of Fort Erie press release.

The town said the entire Fort Erie Fire Department trained for the new program throughout the winter.

The program will include in-home inspections; smoke and CO alarm testing and maintenance; and literature on planning a home escape route and safe cooking practices.

Firefighters will offer total amnesty while visiting residences, said Melanson.

“We will check your home and make sure that the alarms are compliant with the law. If for some reason, there is a problem, we will help fix the problem where we can or provide the homeowners with the tools they will need to fix the problem themselves.”