Firefighters will be knocking on your door. Be alarmed!

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Published on
September 7, 2023
Health, public safety and emergencies

As part of the fall Wake Up! program, firefighters from Ottawa Fire Services will visit homes across the city next week to ensure smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are present and working.

Ontario’s Fire Code requires that homes have a working smoke alarm on each floor and outside each sleeping area. Carbon monoxide alarms are also required outside sleeping areas if the home has an attached garage, a wood stove or a fuel-fired appliance.

From Monday, September 11 to Monday, September 18, uniformed firefighters will:

  • Visit select residential areas between 6 and 8 pm on weekdays and 2 and 4 pm on weekends.
  • Offer to inspect and test alarms.
  • Install smoke alarms and provide new batteries.
  • Share information on fire safety and home escape planning.
  • Leave fire safety information in the mailbox if no one is home.

This is a courtesy call only and all services are provided to residents for free. Residents are not obligated to provide firefighters access to their home.

To learn what is involved in a firefighter home visit, watch the Wake Up! video. Visit ottawa.ca/fire for more information on smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

Saved by the Beep

Missed the firefighters when they visited? Join thousands of households across Ontario in testing their alarms as part of Test Your Smoke Alarm Day on Thursday, September 28. Here’s how you can promote fire safety in your household:

  • Test your alarms once per month.
  • Replace the alarms’ batteries once per year.
  • Install new alarms once every 10 years (or as instructed by the manufacturer).
  • Review your fire safety habits and escape plan with your household regularly.

Smoke alarms don't last forever. Learn more about smoke alarm safety and how your household could be saved by the beep on savedbythebeep.ca.

For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca, call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) or 613-580-2400 to contact the City using Canada Video Relay Service. You can also connect with us through FacebookTwitter and Instagram.