Home fire safety information and resources

Make sure your home and property are fire safe with the information and resources on this page. From creating a home escape plan, to ensure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working properly, these tips can help keep you and your family safe. 

Fire Won’t Wait. Plan Your Escape

Developing a home escape plan with all members of the household and practising it regularly ensures that everyone knows what to do when the smoke alarm sounds and uses that time wisely.

Make sure your home escape plan meets the needs of all your family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities.

Do you know what the sounds coming from your smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarm means? Knowing what to do when an alarm sounds will keep you and your family safe. When an alarm makes noises – a beeping sound or a chirping sound – you must take action.

Knowing the difference can save you, your home, and your family! Make sure everyone in the home understands the sounds of the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and knows how to respond. These are some common sounds for your alarms and you can learn the specific sounds your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms use by checking the user guide or search the brand and model online

Smoke alarms

• A continued set of three loud beeps — beep, beep, beep—means smoke or fire. Get out, call 9-1-1, and stay out.
• A single “chirp” every 30 or 60 seconds means the battery is low and must be changed.
• Chirping that continues after the battery has been replaced means the alarm is at the end of its life and the unit must be replaced. All smoke alarms must be replaced after 10 years.

Carbon monoxide (CO) alarms 

• A continuous set of four loud beeps—beep, beep, beep, beep—means carbon monoxide is present in your home. Go outside, call 9-1-1 and stay out.
• A single chirp every 30 or 60 seconds means the battery is low and must be replaced. Chirping that continues after the battery has been replaced means the alarm is at the end of its life and the unit must be replaced.
• CO alarms also have “end of life” sounds that vary by manufacturer. This means it’s time to get a new CO alarm.

Carbon Monoxide Safety handout (pdf)