BEFORE lighting the Christmas candles and letting tipsy Uncle Joe smoke inside again, all North Shore residents should make sure they have working smoke alarms.
Every house built before 1979 must have working smoke alarms, in keeping with provisions added to the B.C. fire code in May 2010. Homeowners are reminded to test smoke alarms monthly and to replace alarms that are more than 10 years old.
Each home should also have a well practised fire-escape plan, according to a joint release from the districts of North Vancouver and West Vancouver, and the City of North Vancouver.
Battery-operated smoke alarms, which are easier to install and less expensive than hard-wired, interconnected devices, are a good way to make a home safer, according to the three municipalities.
