S.A.F.E. Family

Smoke Alarm For Every (S.A.F.E.) Family Program


Smoke alarms save lives. But only if they are:

The risk of dying in a reported home fire is reduced by 50 per cent in homes with working smoke alarms. When smoke alarms fail, most of the time it’s because of missing, disconnected or dead batteries.

 
 
 
 
 
 


 

About the program


The Manitoba government, the Office of the Fire Commissioner and the Manitoba Firefighters’ Burn Fund are offering the Smoke Alarm For Every (S.A.F.E.) Family program. The goal of the program is to save lives by protecting at-risk residents with a working smoke alarm and encouraging families to make and practise a home fire escape plan.

Since the program started in 2015, fire departments across the province have installed more than 7,200 smoke alarms in eligible homes.

How it works

All Manitoba fire departments are encouraged to offer the S.A.F.E. Family program in their community. They will promote and deliver the program in eligible homes.

Fire department personnel will visit the eligible homes and install smoke alarms in hallways outside of bedrooms (with a maximum of two smoke alarms per home).

Who qualifies

Eligible homes include those with at-risk residents, including older adults, newcomers to Manitoba, young children, people with disabilities and low-income families.

Only owner-occupied homes qualify for the S.A.F.E. Family program, since landlords are responsible for installing and maintaining smoke alarms in their rental units.

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How to take part


If you are a Manitoba resident and live in a rural community, please contact your local fire department to find out if you are eligible. For individuals who live in the City of Winnipeg, please contact 311.

For all other inquiries regarding the program, please contact the Office of the Fire Commissioner at firesafety@gov.mb.ca or 1-888-253-1488.

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Information for fire departments: S.A.F.E. Family Program support kit


When fire departments take part in this province-wide program, they can help make a difference by reducing injuries and deaths in a fire. By installing and checking smoke alarms in homes, residents and communities will be safer.

The installation program is simple: Fire departments across Manitoba promote the S.A.F.E. Family program in their community using the supplied promotional material and identify homes that have the most at-risk citizens.

Once the fire department has completed their campaign and determined which homes are eligible, they complete the S.A.F.E. Family program application form (PDF 197 KB) and email it to the Office of the Fire Commissioner at firesafety@gov.mb.ca.

There will be a limit of 48 smoke alarms per department per application. All smoke alarms must be installed in eligible homes, and all required paperwork is to be submitted to the Office of the Fire Commissioner within six months after all installations are completed. Prior to smoke alarms being issued, fire departments are asked to ensure all paperwork from previous installations is submitted.

Download the S.A.F.E. Family Fire Department information package (PDF 196 KB). This package contains all the information that your department needs to have a successful S.A.F.E. Family program campaign in your community.

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Program forms


Applying to receive smoke alarm devices

Complete the S.A.F.E. Family application form and submit after fire department has completed your community assessment and is ready to request smoke alarms.

 

Signing the waiver: smoke alarm household installation (PDF 84 KB)

This sample waiver form can be used as a guide. It should be reviewed by the legal counsel for the municipality and revised accordingly. Have the homeowner sign before the installation of the smoke alarm and keep a copy on file at the fire department for future reference.

 

Reporting smoke alarm installations

Complete this form each time your department installs a smoke alarm and submit it to firesafety@gov.mb.ca.  Be sure to keep a copy in your fire department for future reference.  This summary form monitors and evaluates the effectiveness of the smoke alarm program.

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Promotional materials


Here is a selection of customizable marketing materials fire departments can edit, share and download for promoting the program:

 

Media: Sample News Release (PDF 344 KB)

Use this sample news release as a guide to create publicity and campaign awareness.

 

Radio: Public Service Announcement

Enlist the support of your local media by providing them with these ready-to-use PSAs. Make sure you include a contact name and phone number for community members to call if they have questions about the program.

 

Postcard and Direct Mailer (PDF 1.28 MB)

Fire departments can customize and use this postcard to do a local mailer in residential post boxes. Delivered in partnership with the Manitoba fire service.

 

Wall Poster (PDF 675 KB)

Download and customize this poster for posting in areas that are most visited by the local public like libraries or coffee shops. Ensure you have permission to post the information in those facilities. Delivered in partnership with the Manitoba fire service.

 

Pamphlet for Schools (PDF 773 KB)

Take this fact sheet to local schools and ask that they send it home with every child. Consider offering a prize such as a pizza lunch to the classroom that returns the most forms. Delivered in partnership with the Manitoba fire service.

 

Social Media Assets

Use these sharable social media assets to promote the program on all platforms:

 

Post

Download Image

 

Working smoke alarms save lives. Your home could be eligible to receive a free smoke alarm under the Smoke Alarm For Every Family Program. Contact your local fire department today to learn more or visit www.manitoba.ca/safefamily

 



 

 

#DYK that the Smoke Alarm For Every Family Program can provide eligible homes with a free smoke alarm? Learn more or visit www.manitoba.ca/safefamily

 



 

 

#DYK that each year, three out of five home fire deaths result from fires in homes with either no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms? Learn more about the S.A.F.E Family program today. www.manitoba.ca/safefamily

 



 

 

Fire departments across Manitoba are promoting the S.A.F.E. Family Program in their communities and are identifying homes that have the most at-risk citizens. Learn more or visit www.manitoba.ca/safefamily

 



 

Download images (ZIP 2.91 MB)
 

Materials to Leave Behind at Time of Installation

Once your department has installed a smoke alarm in a home, leave a copy of the following resources with the homeowners. You can also hand these out when doing door-to-door smoke alarm checks: 

1.       Home Fire Escape Plan pamphlet (PDF 598 KB)

2.       Home Fire Escape Plan Grid

3.       Smoke Alarm pamphlet (PDF 366 KB)

4.       Carbon Monoxide pamphlet (PDF 664 KB)

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Questions?

For more information, contact:
Manitoba Municipal Relations
c/o Office of the Fire Commissioner
1601 Van Horne Avenue East
Brandon MB  R7A 7K2
Toll Free: 1-888-253-1488
Email: firesafety@gov.mb.ca

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