Fall time change is time to think about fire safety

By Lethbridge Herald on November 1, 2025.

Alejandra Pulido-Guzman
Lethbridge Herald

As clocks “fall back” this weekend, Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services is reminding residents to check and maintain their smoke alarms and prepare their homes for the colder months ahead.

Troy Hicks, Chief Fire Marshal with LFES said the time change serves as a reminder for people to check their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, change their batteries and perform tests. 

“If you haven’t changed the batteries, if you didn’t do it in the spring, this is the time of year to remember to change your batteries and make sure you recycle your batteries. Don’t just throw them in the garbage,” said Hicks. 

He said with these detectors people should check the expiry date as all detectors whether hardwired or battery operated, have an expiry date. 

“There should be a sticker, or a date written on them somewhere. They do have a 10-year expiry. If you’ve lived in your home for a long time and you haven’t changed your detectors, then it might be a good idea to get in there and have a look at them and possibly replace them,” said Hicks. 

He said another thing to remember about these detectors is to test them. People should be testing their detectors once a month. 

“The majority of detectors have a test button on them. It lets the people in your home, whether adults or children, know what they sound like. This way, they won’t be so scared when it goes off,” said Hicks. 

He added that the test itself also provides an opportunity for families to have a conversation about their emergency evacuation plan, and what they need to do if a fire detector goes off. 

“Because the amount of time we had to escape a home 10 years ago has been cut more than half now with the materials used to make products and furniture. So, every second does counts,” said Hicks. 

And now that the colder weather is around the corner and people are starting to use their heating equipment, Hicks said there are multiple ways to make sure their homes are safe. 

“It’s a good idea to contact a company that can come in and have a look at all your hookups in your home and give you a report card for your natural gas lines, your furnace, and hot water tank, just to make sure everything is safe,” said Hicks. 

He said LFES recommends getting those checks done once a year, or once every couple of years.  

“With your furnace, make sure you change your filter. I changed mine every 30 days. It’s just better for your furnace, and make sure you change it especially if you have pets or if you live in areas of the city where is dusty,” said Hicks. 

He said changing the filters regularly not only helps the furnace keep running smoothly and safely, but it also helps people save money as it will not be consuming extra energy. 

“Other things you want to do is make sure that your air intake and your exhaust that are outside, are clear from debris. Don’t stack anything in front of them. And when the snow does come, make sure they are not covered with snow,” said Hicks. 

When it comes to space heaters or heating blankets, Hicks said the most important things to remember is to unplug them when there is nobody around to check on them, and to keep them away from flammable materials. 

“You want to make sure to plug space heater directly into a wall, avoid the use of extension cords. And keep them three feet away from any combustibles like your curtains, sheets, blankets, anything like that,” said Hicks. 

He said heating blankets should be unplugged unless they are being used, as they can overheat the surfaces they are on and start a fire, especially if left plugged, on and unattended on fabric, like on a recliner chair. 

“Also, check the cord, make sure the cords are not damaged. And if different parts of the blanket aren’t heating up anymore or aren’t working, that’s a good sign to replace it because it means that some of the wiring inside is not working,” said Hicks.