Red Deer Emergency Services crews will soon be knocking on doors to talk prevention in neighbourhoods that have already experienced fires.
In the new program, After the Fire, the officers will target those areas in an effort to prevent further incidents.
“People tend to be a lot more willing to spend more time with you and learn about home safety because it is fresh in their minds,” said Shane Dussault, a city fire prevention officer.
“They see that it can happen. A lot of people think this can’t happen. When your neighbour’s house burns down you feel more a little more vulernable.”
Dussault said it is a good chance to get out there and relieve some of their anxiety and get in to make sure their houses are safe.
The program will begin as soon as crews get the next call which they feel is appropriate.
“It doesn’t have to be a large fire,” said Dussault.
“It could be a fire that involved a cigarette and a potting plant which is a common problem that we have. It could be a smaller fire but it could have a message to it that we want to get out.”
Emergency Services staff will knock on doors within 72 hours of the incident. Residents can expect the visit to last about 15 minutes.
The program is voluntary.
After the Fire is part of the Home Safety Program, where prevention officers check for fire and injury hazards and install free smoke alarms and batteries. Dussault said they have seen the new program work in other communities.
Crews will share safety tips and important information about the leading causes of fires and how to prevent them.
The number one cause of fires in Red Deer and all of North America is unattended cooking.
Last year the Home Safety Program recorded 27 destructive or major fires.
Of those seven were kitchen fires, three cigarettes in peat moss, six improperly discarded cigarettes and the rest were either suspected arson or unknown.
This year’s figures were not available.
For more information, call 403-343-5511, www.reddeer.ca/emsfire or email prevention@reddeer.ca.
crhyno@www.reddeeradvocate.com