Windsor Fire Department urges residents to test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

Windsor Fire and Rescue Service is asking residents to inspect their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors this weekend.

The reminder coincides with the switch back to Standard Time, which occurs at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 1. Chief Fire Prevention Officer John Smith states that the hour-long shift is a practical opportunity to replace batteries and verify that safety equipment is fully operational.

The department increased its outreach following a tragic event in mid-October. On Sunday, October 18, an early morning fire broke out at the Dorchester Apartments located in the 2500 block of Lauzon Road near Tecumseh Road East. Two people died in the incident, and several others sustained injuries. Smith noted that the survivor was in a bedroom with the door closed but failed to hear the alarm.

Smith emphasized that functional alarms provide the critical early detection needed for safe evacuation. He highlighted that many residential units, including houses and apartment buildings, still lack working devices. For residents with hearing impairments, Smith recommended installing alarms that incorporate additional detection methods to ensure alerts are effective.

The department is also using the period from November 1 to November 7 to promote Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week. Officials are reminding the public that carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas often called the silent killer. Symptoms of exposure range from headaches and nausea to dizziness, breathlessness, and loss of consciousness. Ontario law requires carbon monoxide alarms to be installed outside all sleeping areas in homes equipped with fuel-burning appliances, fireplaces, or attached garages.

Smith expressed a desire to personally verify the status of alarms in every Windsor home. He noted that while fires and accidents will continue to occur, a working alarm significantly improves the chance that occupants will vacate the property safely before emergency crews arrive.

Residents are instructed to test both smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to confirm they function properly. The department advises placing carbon monoxide detectors outside sleeping areas to maximize safety for those who may be asleep when a leak occurs.