Kamloops, BC – June 2, 2023 – Blackpool Fire Rescue is highlighting the importance of working smoke detectors following a response to a property earlier this spring.
On April 30, 2023, at 4:39 am, Blackpool Fire Rescue was called to a structure fire in a unit of a mobile home park within the department’s response area.
Five occupants were awoken by the active smoke detector alarm, triggered by smoky conditions developing in the home. Fortunately, the people in the home were able to evacuate and call 911.
Fire crews arrived to find a small fire under the rear of a newer addition on the back of the unit.
The fire was quickly extinguished. Fire crew members found a wire that had been nicked by a nail and shorted during construction of the addition to the home.
“The people in the home were very grateful to have had a working smoke alarm and were equally grateful for the Blackpool Fire Rescue and its members for having installed the smoke alarm. The smoke alarm not only saved them; it saved their home,” said Blackpool Fire Chief Mike Savage.
In the fall of 2020, Blackpool Fire Rescue provide combination smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to every home within their fire protection area that did not have a functioning smoke alarm to enhance public safety, with the support of the Fire Chiefs Association of BC and the Office of the BC Fire Commissioner. Fire crews assisted with installation of the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, which included the mobile home park where this recent structure fire took place.
“Our smoke alarm checks in 2020 revealed that in one area, 50% of units had no smoke alarms and 50% had no carbon monoxide detectors. It was also noted that 25 homes in this area had smoke alarms with dead batteries,” Savage said. “Fortunately, in this instance, no one was hurt. Unfortunately, that may not have been the case if there had not been a functioning smoke alarm.”
Savage added that this situation illustrates the importance of working smoke alarms, as well as having properly installed and inspected wiring. “Working smoke alarms remain the most effective measure for preventing fire injuries and death. Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors save lives!”
Blackpool Fire Rescue provides structural fire protection service in the community of Blackpool and for properties further south that are adjacent to Highway 5 within a portion of Electoral Area “O” (Lower North Thompson), with boundaries between the Little Fort Fire Department and the Clearwater Fire Department service boundaries. For more information about Thompson-Nicola Regional District fire departments, visit: tnrd.ca/fireprotection.
For information about fire safety at home, visit: gov.bc.ca/firesafety.
Media Contact:
Mike Savage, Fire Chief
Blackpool Fire Rescue
Tel.: 250 587-6252
Email: blackpoolvfd@tnrd.ca