News Release
Beginning May 1, the Ajax Fire Department will be conducting a door-to-door check of smoke alarms in specific areas of Ajax.
As the result of an amendment to the Fire Code that came into effect on March 1, 2006, every home in Ontario is now required to have a working smoke alarm on each storey, as well as outside all sleeping areas.
Ajax Fire Department representatives will be checking to ensure that all residences in Ajax have the required number of smoke alarms and that they are in working order. The owners of residences that are not in compliance with the Fire Code requirements will be asked to purchase and install additional smoke alarms and/or batteries. Failure to comply with the Fire Code requirements will result in a ticket or a fine.
"We certainly don’t want or expect to be handing out tickets as a result of this program," said Ajax Fire Chief Randy Wilson. "The Ajax Fire Department will work with homeowners to make sure they have the correct number and type of smoke alarms for their home and that they are all working. However, continued Fire Chief Wilson, "We do have the power to prosecute, if people refuse to comply with the law. We know that smoke alarms save lives and we will do whatever is necessary to make sure everyone is adequately protected."
Failure to comply with the smoke alarm requirements of the Fire Code could result in a ticket for $235 or a fine of up to $50,000 for individuals and $100,000 for corporations.
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Media Contact: Matt Pegg, Deputy Fire Chief, 905-683-4481, ext. 6047
