There have already been more than 100 fire fatalities in Ontario this year and the province is on pace to eclipse last year’s death toll of 124.
That’s chilling news to Township of Madawaska Valley Fire Chief Corwin Quade. He says there hasn’t been a fire death in his region for several years and he wants it to stay that way. The Township’s fire department is marking Fire Safety and Prevention Week. It’s encouraging people to think about how to stay safe if they’re ever in a fire.
“Make sure you have two ways out of the house,” said Quade. “Fire won’t wait. You have a minute to get out of a house if an alarm goes off. So if you don’t have a working smoke alarm, you won’t get out.”
Quade says his department will be speaking to school groups throughout the week. He also encourages those who have questions about fire safety to contact the department.
“Always call the fire department,” he says. “We can inspect something for you. We’re always here to help you out.”
Corwin recommends that homeowners have their furnaces serviced, or their chimneys cleared, before they resume heating their homes.
