Working smoke alarm will save your life As Fire Prevention Month rapidly draws to a close, the Oakville Fire Department is once again calling on residents to ensure their smoke alarms are working. Oakville Fire Prevention Officer Michael Harrison said the importance of this message was tragically emphasized with three fatal house fires in Ontario this year, where residents might have been able to escape had their homes had functional smoke detectors. Despite such tragic stories, Harrison said approximately 66 per of Ontario families have non-functional smoke alarms in their homes. "People think that when a fire breaks out in their home that they have a lot of time and, in fact, it's just the opposite," said Harrison. "You have less than two minutes to get out and the only thing that is going to wake you up from a sleep or alert you to a fire -- at night especially -- is a working smoke alarm. They can usually detect the smoke before you can see it." Harrison said people do not realize that when they go to sleep they are not going to wake up because they smell smoke. "Their body may start to cough and gag and that may wake them up, but in a lot of situations you just don't wake up," said Harrison. "You need that loud sound from the smoke alarm with an escape plan so that if you do wake up for the smoke alarm you remember exactly what to do to get out. The working smoke alarm and the escape plan the family has practiced go hand-in-hand." If self-preservation and the safety of one's family are not enough reason to have functional alarms, Harrison pointed out -- it is also the law. In Ontario, smoke alarms are legally required on every level of a residence and outside every sleeping area. They are also required in RVs, trailers and cottages. Harrison emphasized all smoke alarms, whether powered by batteries or receiving power directly from the home, must be replaced after 10 years. The penalty for not having a smoke detector, or having a non-functional or expired smoke alarm in a residence is $235 for each alarm. A second incident of non-compliance could result in a fine of $50,000 for individuals and $100,000 for a corporation. Harrison said the Oakville Fire Department wants to make not having a working smoke alarm socially unacceptable. 3 · Thursday, October 20, 2011 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com Michael Harrison THIS SATURDAY! Trade in your vehicle an d SAVE AN EXTRA $500 ON ANY NEW MAZDA! OFFER EXPIRES SOON! WE NEED YOUR TRADE! All Makes and Models Welcome Call 1-888-309-7136 to book your appointment! TOP DOLLAR FOR ALL TRADE-INS 2011 Mazda 3 D4XS51 AA00 - Order Yours Today! $ 18,024 1 18 8 024 0 Minus plus HST S Or $ FINANCE CASH OFF: $ $ Minus 3,000 TRADE-IN OR DOWN PAY P MENT 6,500 TRADE-IN OR DOWN PAY P MENT 0 %FINANCING FOR UP TO 84 MTHS NEA EAT DRY R CLEA EANERS R , is proud to announce that every Thursday a is a Senior Day a with an instant = $ 6,500 Third r Line i e ONLY 8,524 $ plus HST S 32 2 /Week + HST Dorval v Dr. Dr r. Lo Located ocated at the QEW and Third Line Exit a North Ser S vice Road o 10% DISCOUNT ON ALL SERVICES! *Off f er is valid on Thursdays. In-store services only and cannot be transferred to other family members. QEW View e o our entire ent t inventory online at www.qewmazda.com 1-8 1 88888888 309 309-7 -7 7136 15 1501 01 Nor North th Ser Servi vi ic ce Roa oad d Wes est t, Oak Oa vil ville le e · Mon o day y - Thu ursd sday: ay ay: y 9am 9a -9p 9p pm · Fri Friday day y & Sat Sa urd u day ay y 9am 9a -6p 6p pm QEW Mazda Trade-in Event ends October 31ST 2011. Save an extra $500 on Trade-in must be requested at time of offer and $500 savings is included on all advertised prices. 2011 Mazda D4XS51 AA00 5 Speed manual transmission without a/c is priced with a $6500 down payment plus tax or equivalent trade-in worth $6,500, $3,000 cash off is available for cash price only. 0% 84 Months $32/Week plus HST, cost of ownership 11,648 plus $6500 down payment plus tax or $6,500 trade-in. 478 Dundas St. W, W Unit #15, Oakv k ille Phone: (905) 257-2956 CALIFORNIA & PLANTATION Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed · Serving Oakville with Shop at Home Service Wood & Vinyl Shutters, Supplied & Installed · High Quality at Affordable Prices SHUTTERS Authorized Eclipse Shutters Dealer FREE Shop at Home Service SHUTTERS ETC. 905.691.4455 www.shuttersetc.ca www shuttersetc ca