Do you know if your smoke detectors are working? Firefighters in London may be knocking on your door to ask you just that.
Starting Tuesday, firefighters will be canvassing neighbourhoods to check alarms, share fire prevention information and answer any questions from homeowners and tenants.
"The goal is to protect families and keep Londoners safe," said Gary Bridge, Fire Chief of Operations.
"We've seen an improvement in the number of homes that have working smoke alarms, but we're not satisfied there, we believe we can do more."
It's part of the London Fire Department's (LFD) 2026 Sound the Alarm, Stay Fire Safe campaign to help ensure every home in the city has working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Around one in five residential fires in London in 2024 happened in homes without a working smoke detector, Bridge said.
While the 2025 report has not yet been released, he does believe they are making progress, adding that during last year's campaign the LFD visited 15,000 homes.
Although the campaign is focused on education, not enforcement, Bridge stressed it is the law to have working smoke alarms.
Per the Ontario Fire Code, it is the homeowner’s responsibility to install and maintain smoke alarms on every storey of their home and outside sleeping areas. For rental units, it is the landlord's responsibility to ensure the home complies with the law, and tenants should contact their landlord if the rental does not have the required alarms.
Failure to comply with the fire code can result in a $360 ticket or fine of up to $50,000.
Carbon monoxide detectors are also required if a home has a fuel-fired appliance such as a gas water heater or fireplace or an attached garage, Bridge said.
A focus on student housing
The focus of this year's campaign is on student housing, and the LFD will be making sure to knock on doors in residential areas around Western University and Fanshawe College.
While going door-to-door last year, Bridge said crews noticed the risks that students specifically have in their homes.
They found an increasing number of units lacking smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, or alarms with no batteries, he added.
"I think what's occurring is sometimes students are looking to find a battery when a remote control goes dead or something like that," Bridge said. "They're potentially utilizing smoke alarms, which is an important safety device, to power their other devices."
Bridge is hoping the campaign will get the message across to both students and their landlords so they better understand their responsibilities as it relates to fire safety.