Inspection shows high rate of fire safety

Carried out by two Public Security cadets between May and August, the door-to-door home inspection found that 86 per cent of the inspected homes (672 out of 779) conformed to City fire regulations — a 19 per cent increase over last year.

However, the inspectors found that some residents were at risk due to faulty and/or missing smoke detectors. Just over 37 per cent of the 107 non-conforming homes needed new batteries for their smoke detectors, which were supplied free of charge by the inspectors, while almost 19 per cent had defective alarms.

Nearly 44 per cent of non-conforming households were found to be missing smoke detectors altogether, and were issued notices to have new ones installed.

“While we’re very happy that the number of conforming homes has increased significantly, we must continue our efforts through programmes such as this to reduce the risk of fire,” said City Councillor John de Castell, who is also Commissioner of Community Safety. “Westmounters must always remember that something as simple as a fresh battery in your smoke detector can save a life.”

This was the second year of Westmount's fire inspection programme, a joint effort between the City of Westmount and the Service de sécurité incendie de Montréal. The cadets go door-to-door throughout Westmount, providing homeowners with fire safety information and ensuring that each home is properly equipped with fire alarms and smoke detectors.

With the Fire Department supervising the training and work schedules of the two Public Security cadets, and the City providing funding and equipment, nearly 4,500 door-to-door visits have been carried out since the programme’s launch on July 13, 2006.

This year, inspections were carried out in the northern sector of Westmount, mainly north of Côte St. Antoine Road. Cadets visited between 1 p.m. and 9 p.m. on weekdays. In many cases, residents were not home when the cadets visited, so notices were left providing these homeowners with important fire safety tips.

Fire Prevention Week is an ideal time for everyone to check their smoke detectors. Residents who may have questions regarding fire safety are encouraged to contact the Station 76 Fire Prevention office at 514-280-3534.