This year's Fire Prevention Week theme is 'Smoke Alarms: Make them work for you', and the importance of having a working smoke alarm in your home.
"Install, test and replace is what they're promoting this year," said Donna Noble, protective services coordinator for Ponoka County, who oversee the regional fire services.
Noble says if they are over 10 years old, make sure to replace them.
"Once they're installed, if you're unsure of how old your smoke detector or smoke alarm is, replace it."
In terms of how many smoke alarms one should have in their home, Noble says you should ideally have them in every bedroom interconnected.
"You're also supposed to sleep with your door closed, so unless they're interconnected and you sleep with your door closed, you may not hear them, so outside each sleeping area in a hallway and on each level of your home, including the basement."
Fire Prevention Week started back in 1871 with what's now referred to as the Great Chicago Fire, and it's the importance of recognizing that a fire can happen to anyone at any time, and just being conscious of that.
Noble said that fire prevention is year round and not just during the one week, but it becomes more in light due to the time of year it is.
"We're getting more into the heaters coming on, the wood stoves being run, the houses being more closed up than they are in the summer time when you've got your windows open," she said, adding that along with the smoke alarms comes the importance of having carbon monoxide detectors as well.
Rimbey will be hosting a movie night on Oct. 10 at the Rimbey fire hall at the Ponoka County West District Fire Department. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. with the movie beginning at 7:00 p.m.
