As British Columbia wraps up Fire Prevention Week, which runs through Sunday, Oct. 9, the provincial government is requesting British Columbians to test their smoke alarms and have a home fire-safety plan. Fire Prevention Week is an annual event during the week of Oct. 8, the date of one of the most significant fires in North America, the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which destroyed 10 square kilometers of Chicago.
Earlier this year, the province introduced new regulations under the B.C. Fire Code requiring every private dwelling, hotel and motel room in the province to be equipped with functioning smoke alarms.
Homeowners are also asked to check the manufacture date on installed smoke alarms. The National Fire Protection Association recommends installing smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home.
