Last year, there were more than 740 reported fire-related incidents in the province, with five fire-related deaths in the province. Now officials are providing fire safety tips, as October 6-12 is Fire Prevention Week in Newfoundland and Labrador.

This year’s theme, Smoke Alarms: Make Them Work for You!, aims to educate residents about the importance of working smoke alarms in the home. The campaign involves three key calls to action:

• Install
  Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area (like a hallway), and on each level (including the basement) of your home.
• Test
  Test smoke alarms at least once a month by pushing the test button.
• Replace
  Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old or stop responding when tested.

On Friday, Minister Davis participated in an event at the Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s Fire Department to kick off the week. He was joined by Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s Fire Chief Fred Hollett as well as representatives from fire departments throughout the region.

To help educate children regarding the importance of a working smoke alarm, and other fire safety tips, visit Sparky the Fire Dog at www.sparky.org for videos, games and other fun activities.