Manitoba Government News Release–The Manitoba government, through the Office of the Fire Commissioner, is once again offering the Smoke Alarm for Every Family (S.A.F.E. Family) program, in partnership with the Manitoba Firefighters’ Burn Fund, Municipal Relations Minister Andrew Smith announced today.
“The risk of dying in a reported home fire is reduced 50 per cent in homes with working smoke alarms,” said Smith. “Smoke alarms save lives—but they need to be properly installed, equipped with functioning batteries, and within their 10-year service life.”
The goal of the S.A.F.E. Family program is to save lives by protecting every home with a working smoke alarm and encouraging residents to make and practice a home fire escape plan.
Any homeowner without a working smoke alarm can apply to receive one. Only owner-occupied homes qualify for the S.A.F.E. Family program, since landlords are legally responsible for installing and maintaining smoke alarms in rental units.
Fire departments will focus on identifying homes with at-risk residents including older adults, newcomers to Canada, young children, people with disabilities, and low-income families.
“The recent rash of fires in both vacant and occupied residences points out the seriousness of the issue for the public and firefighters, along with the number of adults and children who are admitted each year with serious and life-threatening burn injuries” said Martin Johnson, chair, Firefighters’ Burn Fund of Manitoba. “The Firefighters’ Burn Fund is pleased to be in partnership with the Office of the Fire Commissioner and Manitoba’s fire departments in the delivery of this vital program.”
Since the program started in 2015, fire departments across the province have installed more than 7,500 smoke alarms in eligible homes, the minister noted.
For more information on the S.A.F.E. Family program, contact a local fire department or visit www.manitoba.ca/safefamily.