By Dave Johnson, The Tribune

Thursday, November 1, 2012 11:31:18 EDT AM

Port Colborne Fire and Emergency Services firefighters battle a garage fire at 501 Stanley St. in Port Colborne last week. Fire Chief Tom Carwright says a working smoke alerted homeowners and prevented the fire from being worse than it was.

PORT COLBORNE - People still aren't getting the message that working smoke alarms are mandatory, says Port Colborne Fire and Emergency Services Chief Tom Carwright.

"Obviously in the last number of years we've promoted the use of smoke alarms and our people are out on a daily basis installing or providing them to people who need them," says Cartwright.

But, says the chief, it seems every time firefighters go and flood an area they find a very high percentage of non-compliance with the fire code. Under the provincial fire code, smoke alarms are mandatory in a home and should be outside every sleeping area and on every level of a home.

"This week alone out guys were out on four calls and in every instance had to install smoke alarms. During fire prevention week we installed 32 smoke alarms in a two block stretch. That's incredibly high. Our people are going to go back and do that area again."

Cartwright says its discouraging and disheartening the lack of smoke alarms or working ones continues to be an issue in the city.

Asked why he believes it's an issue in the city, the chief says it's the 'it won't happen to me' syndrome.

"But when it does happen, it's too late."

A perfect example of an instance where a working smoke alarm made a difference was the recent garage fire on Stanely St. last week.

Carwright says the homeowners were sitting in a room adjacent to a sunroom, which is attached to a garage. That sunroom had a smoke alarm which went off when a fire broke out in the garage. Thanks to the alarm, the homeowner went to check what was going on and found the fire.

"The fire was very heavy when we arrived and, quite frankly, if he had noticed the alarm and notified us as soon as he did, more of the home would have been burnt."

The chief says the fire service is taking a zero tolerance approach to the issue.

"If we catch you, we can charge you. We can write just under $300 tickets on the spot and have fines up to $2,500."

Those who have rental properties, like homes, apartments or apartment buildings, also face stiff penalties if there are no smoke alarms.

Cartwright says firefighters have gone into buildings and found a significant number of apartments without alarms, though it's not always landlords at fault. The chief says sometimes tenants will remove batteries from alarms, but as long as the landlord has records showing alarms were installed, then tenants could be charged.

"People need to wake up …"

With clocks moving back an hour this weekend, Cartwright says it's the perfect time for people to check their smoke alarms and change the batteries. If an alarms is more than 10 years old, it should be replaced, too, he adds.

Anyone with questions about smoke alarms can contact the fire service at 905-834-4512.