FIRE TAKES ITS TOLL IN MARCH, SAYS FIRE MARSHAL (April 3, 2001)

TORONTO, Ontario, April 3, 2001 -- March proved to be a devastating month for fire deaths in Ontario, according to statistics provided by the Office of the Fire Marshal. Twenty-two people died in 17 fires last month, compared to a total of 13 deaths in 11 fires during March, 2000.

"It's difficult to pinpoint any one reason for the increase," says Ontario Fire Marshal Bernard Moyle. "Usually, it's a combination of factors, including an unusually cold winter. Regardless of how the fires started, the real tragedy is that people did not escape in time."

"All residences in Ontario are required by law to have smoke alarms -- and the vast majority of them do. However, many of these alarms are not in working order, because the batteries are dead or have been removed," says the Fire Marshal. The Fire Marshal's Office estimates that 40% of smoke alarms in homes do not work. "Taking a few minutes each month to test your smoke alarms and changing the batteries at least once a year may be the smartest investment you ever make," he said.

The Fire Marshal also recommends developing a home escape plan and practicing it with the entire family. "You may only have seconds to escape, so a well-rehearsed plan is critical to your family's survival," he said.

Of course the best defence against fire is not to have one in the first place and the Fire Marshal warns that it's time we changed our attitudes about fire. "People still tend to think of fire as an unfortunate accident, completely out of their control," he says. "Nothing could be further from the truth. Careless cooking and careless smoking are the leading causes of fires in the home and almost all of these incidents are easily preventable."

The Fire Marshal urges everyone to be proactive about fire safety in their homes. "No one needs to die in a fire," he says. "The fire department will do its very best to protect you if a fire occurs, but ultimately, your family's safety is your responsibility."

In 2000, Ontario recorded its lowest fire death rate ever, with a total of 102 fire deaths for the entire year. So far in 2001, 39 people have died in 33 fires compared to 24 people in 22 fires in 2000.

Contact:
Bev Gilbert
Office of the Fire Marshal
416-325-3178

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