TNRL helping residents during Fire Prevention week

MERRITT – It is the 100 anniversary of Fire Prevention week and the Thompson-Nicola Regional Library (TNRL) is partnering with the Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) fire services to help residents be prepared.

The TNRL is giving out free First Alert Smoke & C02 Alarms to residents.

According to the TNRD, this year’s Fire Prevention week theme is “Fire won’t wait. Plan your escape”

“Today’s homes burn faster than ever. You may have as little as two minutes – or even less – to safely escape a home fire from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Your ability to get out of a home during a fire depends on early warning from smoke alarms and advance planning,” said Jeremy Denny, Regional Fire Prevention Officer with the TNRD.

The TNRD fire services also provided some safety tips for residents including:

• Make sure you have a home safety plan that meets the needs of all your household members, including children, older adults, and people with sensory or physical disabilities.
• Install smoke alarms inside every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of your home. Ideally, smoke alarms should be interconnected so when one sounds, they all sound.
• Know at least two ways out of every room, if possible. Make sure all doors and windows open easily.
• Have an outside meeting place which is a safe distance from your home where everyone should meet.
• Practice your home fire drill at least twice per year with everyone in the household, including guests. Practice at least once during the day and at night.