Windsor Fire is reminding the community to test their smoke alarms ahead of Test Your Smoke Alarm Day and the Saved by the Beep campaign. In 2025, there were 112 fatal fires across Ontario, with 127 people left dead. Fire officials say if a working smoke alarm was on the premises, they could have been prevented. So far this year, there have been 77 fire fatalities. “Being prepared for a fire starts with pressing the test button and knowing your smoke alarm works,” said Windsor Fire Chief Jamie Waffle. “Test alarms on Sept. 28 but make it a habit to test them every month, replace batteries yearly, and replace smoke alarms every 10 years. These simple steps can save lives.” Ontario Fire Marshal Jon Pegg says once a fire alarm sounds, you might have less than one minute to escape the home safely. “Now, imagine if you didn’t hear a beep at all?” he asked. “Being prepared in a fire emergency means having working smoke alarms on every storey of your home and outside all sleeping areas, as well as a practiced home fire escape plan.” The Saved by the Beep campaign offers a monthly reminder to test your smoke alarms.
