​Central York Fire Services (CYFS) is working alongside the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) for Fire Prevention Week now until October 12. This year’s focus is on the importance of having working smoke alarms on every storey of your home.

In the event of an emergency, working smoke alarms and a home escape plan can save lives. Ontario law requires a homeowner to install and maintain working smoke alarms on every storey of a home and outside all sleeping areas. It is also law to have working carbon monoxide detectors outside sleeping areas.

Central York Fire Services reminds residents to regularly check their home’s smoke alarms to ensure they are in working order and explains what each beep or chirp means.

Make your alarms work for you:

• Test your smoke alarm monthly. Simply press the 'test' button and listen for the beep. 
  
• Refresh batteries annually.
  
• Replace smoke alarms older than 10 years.
  
  

Alarm sounds:

• A continuous beeping or steady tone means there is an emergency, and you should get outside, call 9-1-1 and saty out. 
  
• A single chirp every 30 to 60 seconds, or a series of three rapid beeps, means the battery is low and must be changed,
  
• Chirping that contuines after switching the battery means the alarm is at the end of its life and must be replaced.
  

As we approach the season of feasts and festivities, CYFS also reminds everyone to keep cooking safety in mind. Locally in Aurora and Newmarket, cooking related calls accounts for nearly half of all fire related incidents responded to.

CYFS reminds cooks to keep these safety tips in mind:

• Watch what you heat. Always keep a close eye on what you are cooking. Set a timer to remind you that you are cooking. 
  
• Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. Always keep a lid nearby when cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the curner. Never pour water onto a grease fire. 
  
• Have a "kid and pet free zone" of at least 1 metre around the stove or grill and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
  
• If there is a fire in the oven or microwave: close the door, turn the power off, and open doors and windows to ventilate. 
  

Always remember, if you are in danger at any time, alert others in the home while evacuating, exit the home, and go to your meeting place. Call 9-1-1 from a safe location.

CYFS would like to thank everyone that came out to celebrate the very successful Open House that took place on September 21. This event is a key initiative for public education and engagement. A record breaking 7,000 plus residents were in attendance to learn about fire safety and meet some of our firefighters.

For more safety tips, visit cyfs.ca. For more general information about Fire Prevention Week and cooking safety, visit fpw.org. For fire safety fun for kids, visit sparky.org.