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This week is National Fire Prevention Week (Oct 5-11th) and I was invited to perform at the Kelowna Fire Hall for the “Fire Chief for a Day” event. 50 kids from different schools across the Okanagan and their parents came to the Kelowna Fire Hall on October 8 for activities. For the show I was requested to include some special fire prevention related magic. During the show I showed all the kids a Smoke Alarm, and had the fire card put into one of 4 envelopes. The other 3 had just blank paper. One by one I put the envelopes on the Smoke Alarm to see if it could find the fire. Finally the Smoke Alarm being to ring as it had found the fire!

At the event they did a live fire demonstration showing how fast a fire can spread in your house. I had no idea that by the time the smoke alarm goes off you only have 2 minutes to get out of your house.

Home Fire Safety Tips – Half of these I had never even heard of before I did my research!

• More than half of all fatal home fires happen at night while people are asleep. Smoke detectors sound an alarm when a fire starts, waking people before they are trapped or overcome by smoke. With smoke detectors your risk of dying in a home fire is cut nearly in half.
• Install smoke detectors outside every sleeping area and on every level of your home, including the basement. Follow installation instructions carefully, and test smoke detectors monthly. Change all smoke detector batteries at least once a year. If your detector is more than 10 years old, replace it with a new one.
• Smoke alarms should be tested and maintained in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions. Alarms should be tested once a month by pushing the test button and listening for the alarm.
• For battery operated smoke alarms, replace batteries at least once a year or for extended life batteries according to manufacturer’s instructions. Batteries should also be replaced when the smoke alarm makes a chirping sound.
• Smoke alarms should be cleaned, at least once every six months, by gently vacuuming the exterior.
• Smoke alarms do wear out and should be replaced at least every 10 years.