In addition to setting your clocks ahead one hour before bed on Saturday night, home owners are reminded to change the batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
The London Fire Department said Daylight Saving Time, which comes into effect on Sunday, is the perfect time to take a few moments to make sure the life saving devices are in working order.
"Smoke alarms are the minimum standard to alert people to a fire being present in the home. It allows you time to realize that there is a fire and to take action to safely exit the structure," said Deputy Chief Brian McLaughlin.
Batteries in smoke alarms should be replaced once a year, while the devices themselves should be replaced every ten years.
"People don't realize how quickly fire spreads and also that often times it's not the size of the fire but the amount of smoke that ends up killing most people," said McLaughlin. "Regrettably, right now we are two times the number of fire deaths in Ontario that we were at last year. A lot of fire deaths are specifically related to not having working smoke alarms in the home."
Home owners are legally required to have smoke alarms on every storey of their home and outside of all sleeping areas. Carbon monoxide detectors must also be installed outside of all sleeping areas if your home has a fuel-burning appliance, fireplace, or attached garage.
The fine for failing to comply with the Fire Code ranges from $360 to $50,000.
