Page 25 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 133

www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #133 February 2024 25

Cornwall Fire Services with Deputy Chief Leighton Woods

Y ou know what the worst nightmare is for any firefighter responding to a call?
It’s finding out that a resident doesn’t have a WORKING smoke alarm in their home.

You might be surprised to learn that this happens quite often! What’s worse, we sometimes find that homes in which entire
families live don’t have ONE working smoke alarm.
I decided to dedicate this column to this subject because just the other day, the Cornwall Fire Services charged a landlord and a
tenant for not having working smoke alarms — that’s right, you can be charged for not having one.
Ontario law requires working smoke alarms on every storey of a home and outside all sleeping areas. Not having working smoke
alarms can result in fines up to $50,000 for individuals and $100,000 for corporations. Often an additional victim fine surcharge is applied in addition to
court costs.
I know that this might sound a bit steep but believe me, it’s needed. The Office of the Ontario Fire Marshall reported that there were 133 fire fatalities
in 2022, the highest ever recorded in the last twenty years!
What’s more, most fire fatalities investigated between 2012 and 2021 had non-working smoke alarms or worse yet, had no evidence of even having
any in the first place.
Smoke alarms are important because more fatal fires occur at night when everyone is sleeping. Most of the time, deaths in fires aren’t due to flames,
but rather smoke inhalation.

So, for 2024, do yourself and your family — and heck, even your pets — a favour and make sure to test your smoke alarms. If you don’t have any, take
the short trip to your nearest hardware store and buy some. It could very well save your life.

Where is the best spot to install your smoke alarm? Well, given that smoke rises, it’s recommended you place the alarms on the ceiling. Avoid ceilings
near bathrooms, heating appliances, windows, and ceiling fans.
The smoke alarm should be installed between each sleeping area and the remainder of the building or where a sleeping area is served by a hallway,
install the alarm in the hall. Homes built after 2012 are actually required to have visual smoke alarms on every floor and in every sleeping room. Always
install the smoke alarm on or near the ceiling in accordance with the manufacturer’s installation instructions.
Stay safe!

Continued from page 15 Match Your Area Knowledge
have inspired her to give back and
senior hockey team, where I continue be a different part of the hockey Play Thom’s Valentine Trivia
to play to this day. I also play soccer community. “Sports,” Brandi
in the women’s league, both indoor says, “have always been a part of
and outdoor, and during the off my family’s lives. I wanted my Valentine Trivia
season for ice hockey, I play ball daughter to be able to create the 1Q) 1969 - Who scored four goals during Atom B action to
hockey in the women’s ball hockey same friendships and memories I help Flamingo Motel to a 4-4 tie against McGuire Fuels?
league.” was able to create. From a young age 2Q) Can you name the Royals trainer who was adept at
A rehab assistant at St Joseph’s my father’s love of hockey has come making plaster cast goalie masks during the 1970 era.
Continuing Care Centre, she credits through his children and now I hope
the many wonderful coaches and to pass the love of the game onto my 3Q) What area landmark collapsed on Valentines Day,
volunteers over the years who own daughter.” 1971 Page 40 for Answers
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