The Owen Sound Fire Department is set to begin its annual Home Visitation Program on Friday, May 15, 2026, with firefighters visiting residents in the northeast section of the city. The initiative, which has been running for more than 10 years, aims to promote fire safety and emergency preparedness through direct community engagement.
During the late afternoon and early evening hours, firefighters wearing official department clothing will knock on doors to offer safety inspections. Residents are asked to provide access to their homes so that fire crews can check smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure they are functioning properly.
This year’s visits carry extra importance due to updated provincial regulations that took effect on January 1, 2026. Ontario’s updated Fire Code now requires carbon monoxide alarms to be installed on every storey of homes that have a fuel-burning appliance, a fireplace, an attached garage, or heating supplied by a fuel-burning appliance located outside the home. These alarms must also remain installed in areas adjacent to all sleeping quarters.
The program is voluntary, but it serves as a core part of the department’s effort to keep residents safe. In 2025 alone, local firefighters completed more than 1,400 safety inspections and spoke with over 3,100 people about fire and life safety. Those who would like to request an inspection outside of the scheduled neighborhood visits can contact Fire Prevention Officer Matt Given at 519-376-2512 extension 2233 or by email at [email protected].
