Fire Prevention Week is here to help you protect yourself.
The Eckville Fire Department is looking to spread the word of how citizens can ensure their property and lives are safe from the dangers of fire mismanagement. This year, the them is “Put out your pot” and as always, the fire department is stressing that everyone should routinely check the battery on their smoke alarms.
Fire Chief Stuart Carde stressed the importance of these themes.
“As always - check your smoke alarms,” he said. “It’s a good time to change your batteries during fire prevention week and we are also focusing on “Put your pot out” - which means make sure that if you are ashing your cigarettes into potted plants; make sure the cigarette is out.”
Carde also stressed the importance of everyone educating themselves on fire safety.
“We don’t have any more fire prevention activities left this year but of course the fire commissioners website always has literature about recommendations on what to do,” he said, adding that the Eckville Fire Department always looks forward to presenting on Canada Day.
The Fire Department, despite seeing a few more calls within the last couple months, is down 20 calls for the 2016 year.
“We are down about 20 calls for the year - so let’s hope that fire prevention is the cause of that,” he said. “We haven’t been called out to any pot fires this year - but there is always tomorrow.”
Carde discussed the continuing internal training of volunteer firefighters at the department and added that part of that training is providing community outreach to ensure people can protect themselves. The Eckville Fire Department currently has 19 members, which is adequate to serve the population – however the department is always taking new volunteers.
“We are 19 strong right now, but we have room for seven more,” he said. “Nineteen is a pretty good number for the population we cover. During my 14-year tenure we have had as high as 21 but as low as 10.”
Carde added that people should remember to check the batteries on their smoke detectors and also to check the age of the detector itself – as they should be replaced every five years.
reporter@eckvilleecho.com