Fire Safety Tips with Todd Talbot

Just over a year ago, our lives were upended when the devastating wildfires in BC swept through our soon-to-be cottage. For more than three years, we poured our heart and soul into building a cottage on the shores of Lake Okanagan — a true passion project. I never imagined that all our hard work would be lost overnight, along with 190 other homes in our community.

As we watched our home engulfed in flames on CNN, my heart sank. It instantly put things into perspective, and I became conscious of the realities of what happened. Thankfully, everyone was safe. I’ve thought about what would have happened if we had not been evacuated hours before the fire hit and if we had still been inside the house. This experience has allowed us to stop and reflect. It’s taught me a serious lesson: nothing is more important than being prepared in case of a home emergency and, above all, ensuring the safety of my family.

I’ve since partnered with Kidde to support their Cause For Alarm campaign, a national education initiative aimed at addressing gaps in fire safety knowledge and helping families prioritize fire safety. Here are the key lessons I’ve learned and put into practice with my own family – these tips could make all the difference in protecting you and your loved ones.

1. Check your smoke alarms regularly 

Did you know that one in seven accidental residential fire deaths happen in homes without a working smoke alarm?¹ Smoke alarms are a vital component of fire safety, so it’s crucial to have working alarms on every floor of your home. Check each alarm regularly to ensure it’s functioning properly and replace alarms every 7-10 years to keep them in top working condition.

2. Create a fire escape plan

Be sure to practice it at least twice a year with your family, including children. It’s never too early to learn about fire safety, so start as soon as possible. Life changes, like home renovations or the addition of a family pet, may require you to adjust the escape plan. Go over your plan regularly and update it as needed to keep it relevant and effective. 

When preparing your household, remember the twos:

• Always know 2 ways out of every room
• Practice 2 times per year 
• Practice 2 times of the day – daytime and nighttime

3. Monitor carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a gas that is undetectable unless you’ve got the right alarms in your home. It is caused by fuel-burning appliances and poses significant health risks, even death, if undetected. Many times, families don’t know it’s present in the home until it’s too late. 

Just like smoke detectors, you can install and maintain CO alarms in your home. They also need to be tested monthly and have their batteries replaced at least once per year. You can also consider having a licensed technician inspect your furnace, boiler, water heater, and any other fuel-burning appliances yearly to identify leaks or other issues.

There are some things in life that you can’t predict, but what you can control is how prepared you are and how you respond. Break the silence at home and start having the conversations to prepare your loved ones – our family has seen first-hand how important it is.

If you need guidance on how to help make your home safer, check out Kidde’s safety checklist or visit CauseForAlarm.org/Canada for more educational resources.

Todd Talbot is a television personality best known for his role as co-host of Love it or List it Vancouver. After experiencing a residential fire, Todd has partnered with Cause For Alarm, a national education initiative from Kidde, North America’s #1 home safety company. Cause For Alarm aims to address gaps in fire safety knowledge for Canadians across the country.

¹ Statistics Canada. “Unintentional fire-related deaths in Canada.” 2011 to 2020.