In an average week, eight Canadians die as a result of fire, and highest percentage of people continue to die in their own homes during a fire.
Pretty sobering statistics, as Sooke Fire Chief Steven Sorensen puts it, but it doesn’t have to be this way, which is why for this year’s Fire Prevention Week, focus will be on smoke alarms and their potential role in saving lives.
A good lesson to be heard, considering smoke alarms still don’t seem to be taken seriously, noted Sorensen.
“When we respond to fires in Sooke, 70 per cent of the homes we go to, the smoke alarm is either missing or doesn’t work,” he said.
Sooke firefighters will visit all elementary schools making their fire safety presentation “You Hear the Beep or You Sleep” which explains how a smoke alarm works and why it’s important to have. The fire team will be visiting John Muir Elementary and Saseenos Elementary this Thursday and Friday at 9 a.m.