Montréal, 12 September 2014 - For the fifth year, the Service de sécurité incendie de Montréal (SIM) is launching Montréal Fire Prevention and Emergency Management Month. From September 15 to October 12, SIM personnel will be holding all kinds of awareness-raising activities to increase the fire department’s visibility with Montrealers. This year’s edition will have two main themes: smoke detectors and the 72-hour kit. The idea is to pack a number of essential items (e.g. water, a blanket, non-perishable food) and keep the kit ready for emergencies.

More and more people know about Prevention Month, a unique and tangible initiative demonstrating that the safety of Greater Montréal residents ranks as a priority. The awareness-raising efforts by the SIM help to reduce the risks of fire and major disasters and to save lives.

All month long, the SIM will be deploying crews in public spaces, inspecting a number of public and private elementary schools and daycare centres, giving the public a chance to try out its two fire safety and emergency management simulators, and taking part in La Grande Évacuation on October 8, in addition to visiting thousands of homes to ensure that they have functional smoke detectors.

It can’t be repeated often enough: a smoke alarm is an indispensable, simple and effective tool for preventing fires and saving lives. It is important to test your smoke alarms once a month and to change their batteries twice a year, when you turn your clocks forward and back.

Launch in Parc Maisonneuve

On Saturday, September 13, from noon to 5 p.m., Montrealers are invited to the official launch ceremonies for Montréal Fire Prevention and Emergency Management Month, in Parc Maisonneuve (at Sherbrooke Est and Viau). There will be lots of activities for the whole family and booths with plenty of information!

The complete schedule for Montréal Fire Prevention and Emergency Management Month is available on the SIM website.