Is your home fire alarm working?

That’s what the Nelson fire department wants to know as we roll into fire prevention week, Oct. 11 to 17.

Firefighters have been making their annual visit to local schools to spread the message about having a working alarm and an escape plan for every room of the house.

“What we tell the kids is they need two ways out of every room, incase a fire is blocking one of the exists,” said Marc Thibault. “That may mean rope ladders from second-storey rooms.”

The firefighters left the students with the homework of going home to check their fire alarm and draw up their escape plan with their family.

When they bring the escape plan back to school, teachers submit them into a draw at the fire station. One student will win a pizza dinner with the fire chief and members of the department.

The fire station has partnered with Panago Pizza for the week. Each night they’ll be taking the big fire truck out on a pizza delivery. When the firefighters deliver the pizza they’ll offer the household their order for free if they can show them a working fire alarm. If their fire alarm isn’t working, they’ll give them one that does.

“People need to remember to test their alarm and replace the battery as needed. The whole alarm should be replaced every seven years,” said Thibault.

“Often in the case of fire, it’s the alarm that makes all the difference for people getting out safely.

“But we also want people to have a escape plan they’ve tested.”

On Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 6:30 p.m. the fire department is encouraging everybody to test their fire plan with a fire drill in homes.

“Know how to get out, know where to meet, and know where you’re going to go to call 911,” said Thibault. “It only takes a few minutes and it’s so important for everybody’s safety.”