Ontario residents are advised to check and install working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms to ensure early warning in case of fire and dangerous carbon monoxide levels in their homes.
During power outages, electrically-connected smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms will not work unless they have battery backups.
Make sure your home has battery-operated smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms, Ontario’s community safety ministry advises.
People are also reminded to use extreme caution when using fuel-fired appliances such as portable generators and heaters, furnaces, fireplaces, hot water heaters, stoves and gas barbecues. These appliances produce carbon monoxide when fuels such as propane, gasoline, kerosene, natural gas, heating oil or wood have insufficient air to burn completely.
Only a carbon monoxide alarm will alert you to the presence of deadly carbon monoxide gas.
If only installing one alarm, locate it near the sleeping areas.
To reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, portable generators and barbecues should only be used outdoors to ensure that exhaust fumes do not enter the home.
Users are advised to allow appliances to cool before refueling and refuel and store them outside, following manufacturer’s instructions.
Carbon Monoxide (CO) is an invisible, tasteless and odourless gas that can be fatal. Only working carbon monoxide alarms will detect the presence of this deadly gas.
“Please remember to take extra precautions during power outages. Fuel-fired appliances can produce carbon monoxide, which can be detected by carbon monoxide alarms,” said Madeleine Meilleur, minister of community safety and correctional services.
“Installing battery-operated carbon monoxide and smoke alarms can protect you and your family.” Meilleur advised in a press release.
Portable generators can produce carbon monoxide and should be used outdoors to ensure that exhaust fumes do not enter the home, the ministry cautions.
