Skip to content

Nelson homes found without working smoke alarms

Fire chief Len MacCharles says his members found 21 homes in need of alarms
9509696_web1_ThinkstockPhotos-87699823

Nelson’s fire chief is disturbed by the number of inactive smoke alarms in the city’s homes.

Len MacCharles of Nelson Fire and Rescue told city council Monday night in his annual report that his members were allowed to inspect 59 homes within the city this year.

Of those homes, 21 didn’t have working smoke alarms.

“We’re very disappointed about those numbers,” said MacCharles. “Basically 30 per cent of the homes we were in didn’t have working smoke alarms.”

MacCharles said many residents expressed surprised to hear the alarms weren’t active.

Smoke alarms have been mandatory in hotels and public buildings in B.C. since 1979. Changes to the B.C. Fire Code in 2010 extended that rule to include private dwellings as well.



Tyler Harper

About the Author: Tyler Harper

I’m editor-reporter at the Nelson Star, where I’ve worked since 2015.
Read more