Fire Prevention Week, which runs from October 7th - 13th seems like a very good time to check smoke alarms, fire extinguishers and any fire concerns you might have in your home or garage.  

So that's exactly what firefighters from the Airdrie Fire Department will be doing starting today (October 9) with residents in Airdrie Meadows, Big Springs, and Edgewater when they launch their fall Home Safety Program.

Deputy Fire Chief Linda Masson says the department does two such campaigns every year, spring and fall.  "The fall one is in connection with Fire Prevention Week.  Our crews go out in specific areas of our community and they hand out a home safety check so residents can go through it on their own or the crews will help them with it and just look in their home and look at the safety issues."

That is only the first part of a very helpful visit from the department.

"The crews also inspect smoke detectors, smoke alarms, and CO alarms and they install smoke alarms and batteries if the home doesn't have any.  We also talk about fire extinguishers, we talk about the very important home escape planning and just visit with folks and want them to be conscious of helping themselves stay safe."

Masson explains that Airdrie residents are always happy to see the fire crews come around during the Home Safety Program and are very appreciative of their efforts to keep everyone safe.  

"We get a great response from our residents where the crews go.  Sometimes the resident may be a renter and the landlord didn't provide smoke alarms or they just didn't realize their smoke alarm is now 10 years old and now it's no longer effective or reliable.  We certainly do receive much appreciation from the residents.  They're usually very happy to see our firefighters out and about and to talk with them and they're very attentive to the information we provide."

The program runs until the end of October.  

Questions? Comments? Story ideas? Email us at new@discoverairdrie.com