Every trailer, RV and mobile home should have working smoke alarms

    TORONTO, July 3 /CNW/ - On June 30, a 34-year-old man and two young
children died in a fire in a trailer park in Essex, Ontario. It has been
confirmed by Office of the Fire Marshal investigators that no working smoke
alarms were found in the trailer.
    As a result of this tragic fatal fire, the Fire Marshal of Ontario is
urging everyone to have a working smoke alarm in their trailer home, motor
home or other recreational vehicle.
    "The Ontario Fire Code requires every 'dwelling unit' in Ontario to have
working smoke alarms on every storey and outside all sleeping areas,"
explained Pat Burke, Fire Marshal of Ontario. "What many people may not know
is that the term 'dwelling unit' includes seasonal homes such as park model
trailers, cabins and cottages and may include trailer homes, motor homes and
other recreational vehicles".
    While many new trailer and RV models may already meet a construction
standard requiring working smoke alarms, older models may not be equipped with
any or they may not have been properly maintained. It is a good practice to
install working smoke alarms in any recreational vehicle, trailer and boat
with sleeping quarters. Test the alarms monthly and after any absence of more
than a few days. Replace any smoke alarms that may be more than 10 years old.
    "Smoke alarms can alert you and give you and your family the precious
time needed to safely escape a fire," said Burke. "Install smoke alarms in any
structure where people may be sleeping or living."
    Failure to comply with the applicable Fire Code smoke alarm requirements
can result in a ticket for $235 or a fine of up to $100,000.

For further information: Gina Pontikas, Office of the Fire Marshal,
(416) 325-3138