The Perry Township Fire Department is launching a door-to-door campaign to equip residents with free smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms, warning that the rapid acceleration of modern fires demands immediate protection.
Perry Mayor Norm Hofstetter said the campaign proves the community’s commitment to safety.
“Perry’s always been an advocate for fire safety within the township,” Hofstetter told Almaguin News. “Having the smoke detectors today just proves one more thing, that we are always stepping out and looking forward towards the future.”
Fire Chief Doug Holland explained that due to materials like plastics and synthetic furnishings in today’s homes, a fire can reach a deadly “flashover” point in under four minutes compared to the 15 to 20 minutes it once took.
The time crunch is made more urgent by the volunteer status of the department.
“We’re not sitting at the fire hall waiting for the call to come in,” Holland said, noting firefighters must wake up, travel to the hall, gear up and meet minimum crew requirements.
Depending on winter weather conditions, the department’s arrival time can be 15 to 20 minutes after a 911 call is placed.
“If you don’t have that working smoke alarm, you’re not going to be notified in the beginning stages,” Holland stressed. “You need to be on the front lawn waiting for us.”
The campaign also addresses carbon monoxide, a toxic, odourless gas that travels throughout a home. CO leaks can occur if furnace vents are blocked by snow, a portable generator is placed too close to a window or a car is running in an attached garage.
To support the initiative, Perry Fire is partnering with Enbridge Gas and the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council through the Safe Community Project Zero. The department has received 90 combination smoke and CO alarms to distribute to homeowners free of charge.
“Carbon monoxide alarms play a vital role as a second line of defence against this invisible threat, often called the ‘silent killer,’” said Andrew Craig, supervisor of operations for Enbridge Gas.
Holland reminded homeowners that as of Jan. 1, 2026, provincial law will require CO alarms on every level of a home with a fuel-burning appliance or attached garage, a mandate similar to current smoke alarm requirements.
Holland emphasized that a working alarm is cheap insurance, overriding any minor nuisance like a beeping battery.
“What’s better, that or being caught in a fire?”