When was the last time you checked your smoke detector? The Dauphin Fire Department is currently working with the Smoke Alarms for Every Family program. Their goal is to make sure that homeowners in Dauphin have a functional smoke detector.

A few years ago, four different agencies got together and purchased a few-thousand smoke alarms and they distributed them to select Fire Departments that applied for the program. Dauphin was one of the Departments that did apply for the program. 

About 30 alarms are still available, free of charge through the program. If you own a home and you believe your smoke detector is older than 10 years, the Dauphin Fire Department will be able to help you. 

"Everyone should be checking their own smoke alarms, we want to have everyone nice and safe," said Cam Abrey, Fire Chief. "Through this program, if you're a homeowner, we will come out and check your smoke alarms and we'll make sure they're functioning. If they are, that's great and we will also check the date. If they're over that 10-year life span, we will install a free one for you."

The alarms that they would install are both smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. 

Just recently, the DFD visited a house with an alarm that was still bright in colour on the outside. However, upon opening the alarm, it was determined that it was more than 10 years old and it needed to be replaced.

"The homeowners had painted the outside of the smoke alarm and that's something we really don't want people doing," continued Abrey.