This year’s Fire Prevention Week October 3-9, 2021, “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety.” works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe.  

Port Coquitlam Fire and Emergency Services reminds residents to make sure they have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in their homes and that they know the sounds they make, mean. 

Residents are reminded of the importance of having working smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms in their homes and the Port Coquitlam Fire and Emergency Services have provided the following tips to make sure everyone in your home is safe:

Smoke Alarms

• A continued set of three loud beeps—beep, beep, beep—means smoke or fire. Get out, call 9-1-1, and stay out.
• A single “chirp” every 30 or 60 seconds means the battery is low and must be changed.
• All smoke alarms must be replaced after 10 years 
• Place smoke alarms in each bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every floor of your house.

Carbon Monoxide Alarms

• A continuous set of four loud beeps—beep, beep, beep, beep—means carbon monoxide is present in your home. Go outside, call 9-1-1 and stay out.
• A single chirp every 30 or 60 seconds means the battery is low and must be replaced.
• CO alarms also have “end of life” sounds that vary by manufacturer. This means it’s time to get a new CO alarm
• Place a CO alarm outside each sleeping area and on every floor of your house.
• Make sure your smoke and CO alarms meet the needs of everyone in your home, including those with sensory or physical disabilities. 
• Install a bedside alert device that responds to the sound of the smoke and CO alarms and sleep with your mobility device, glasses, and phone close to your bed.

Port Coquitlam Fire and Emergency Services takes part in Fire Prevention Week each year by educating the community on the year’s theme and conducting elementary school fire drills. For almost 30 years, Port Coquitlam Fire and Protective Services having been going to each elementary school to assist them with a fire drill and to teach the students about that years message.

Students can enter a poster or video contest for a chance to win an iPad from the Office of the Fire Commissioner. To enter, students can visit gov.bc.ca/FirePreventionWeek.

For more fire safety and prevention tips, visit portcoquitlam.ca/fire or contact the Port Coquitlam Fire and Emergency Services Department at fire@portcoquitlam.ca or 604.927.5466.

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MEDIA CONTACTS

Ximena Ibacache
Manager of Communications & Administrative Services
City of Port Coquitlam
Tel 604.927.5499
Email ibacachex@portcoquitlam.ca