Cochrane Fire Services is encouraging residents to be proactive when it comes to fire safety.

Fire Prevention Week is kicking off on Sunday (October 7) and runs until October 13th identifying ways in which the community at large can reduce the risk of fire and be prepared if they find themselves in the event of one.

Inspector, Jeff Avery for Cochrane Fire Services shares he particularly likes the theme of this year's Fire Prevention Week as it raises the level of awareness that fires can start anywhere. "It's not just concentrating on smoke alarms or CO alarms it is telling people to be aware of their surroundings and every situation, fire can happen anywhere. Be cautious about what you do."

For instance, Avery says he has attended scenes where the fire was caused by something residents may not give much thought to. "Some of the more strange things are oily rags that have self-combusted. I don't think people are always aware that if you clean up an oily mess and you put an oily rag in a garbage bin and add a couple of more oily rags or cleaned up paint thinner that that stuff could combust.  Those are some of the calls we don't see a lot, but they do happen."

Another particular area of concern for the department is smokers not butting out in proper receptacles. "I always say to the smokers, don't throw your cigarette butts out the window or put out in planters. I still think it is a huge problem and I will keep on saying it until we help."

Call volume continues to rise for Cochrane Fire Services and like Avery states, bad things can happen at any moment. "Be aware of every surrounding, every situation. Fire can happen inside, outside, it can really happen anywhere. So be cautious in everything you do."

While there is no current advisory or ban in the Cochrane area, Avery says he has seen fire bans enforced in almost every month throughout his years of service.

Cochrane Fire Services will be going door to door in some of Cochrane's more established neighbourhoods over the next week. "We pick different communities every year and go door to door asking people if they would like their smoke alarms tested. Hopefully, everyone has one but if they don't we do offer free ones. It is not a smoke alarm to necessarily go by, we would still want you to get one hardwired in as well as one downstairs, one on every level."

One last reminder from the Inspector is to change out batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors during daylight savings which will occur on November 4th. If you have any questions for the department, feel free to reach out to Inspector Avery at 403-851-2543.

National Fire Prevention Week changes themes each and every year hoping to raise public awareness around a variety of issues in hopes to keep communities fire safe.

A huge thank you goes out to all Cochrane Fire Services staff:

David Humphrey Fire Chief, Shawn Polley Deputy Fire Chief, Dot Gillis Administrative Assistant, Shauna Liora Administrative Assistant, Jeff Avery Fire Inspector, Jay Wieliczko Fire Inspector, 

Casual Staff: Sr. F/F Harold Phillips, F/F Wyatt Dennis, F/F Graeme Rydl, F/F Dale Krawec, F/F Bob Beers, F/F Chris Skinner, F/F Sarah Slimmon, F/F Hans Peterson, F/F Cody Esposito, F/F Brad Witcher, F/F Andrew Weaver, F/F Ian Stewart, F/F Matthew Cameron, F/F Bobby Buffalo, F/F Mike Monaghan, F/F Dean Traft, F/F Mark Rollins, F/F Mike Rayton, F/F David Gilhen, F/F Travis Goodbrand, F/F Carson Rowat

A Platoon: LT. Marlin Glaspey, F/F Mike Marianchuk, SR. F/F Dave Levisky, SR. F/F Rob Mclellan, Captain Jory Jenson

B Platoon: F/F Brad Hoey, SR. F/F Leanne Hall, LT. Scott Pletsch, Captain Martin Reuter, SR. F/F Russ Innes

C Platoon: Captain Grant MacKinnon, Sr. F/F Joe Zelmer, Sr. F/F Shelley Jenson, F/F Jason Hamel, LT. Rob Olenick

D Platoon: LT Derek Orr, F/F Alex Vague, Sr F/F Chris Chyka, Captain Huw Jeffries, Sr F/F Jared Wallace

Missing from photos: F/F Kevin Demeter, Sr. F/F Ryan Morrison, F/F Eric Paxman, F/F Kolby Pierce, F/F Josh Tait