Chatham-Kent fire officials are reminding you to check your smoke and CO alarms -- especially after responding to a rash of residential fires over the past month.
CK fire crews have been called to at least five residential fires since the start of November and all of those calls came in between the hours of 1 a.m. and 7:30 a.m.
While the causes are considered "undetermined" or "under investigation" in most of those cases, Chatham-Kent Fire Public Educator Whitney Burk said there could be some common links.
"We continuously see an increase of fires in the fall/winter months in CK, usually these fires happen in the middle of the night," said Burk. "The cause is commonly linked to heating sources/electrical and most of the time accidental in nature."
Burk said when fires break out overnight, working smoke and CO alarms in the home can be life-savers adding that "they are your best protection, especially when you're sleeping."
She is urging residents to test their detectors and check the expiry dates on them and to contact fire officials for a CHiRP Home Alarm Check by visit ckfire.ca or calling 311 if you have any questions.
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Fires in Chatham-Kent since the start of November:
Nov. 8: Residential fire in Moraviantown
Time of call: 7:30 a.m.
Result: No injuries, no word on a cause or damage estimate
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Nov. 15: Pole shed fire near Bothwell
Time of call: Just after 1 a.m.
Result: No injuries, cause undetermined, and damages estimated at $300,000
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Nov. 17: Apartment fire in Wallaceburg
Time of call: 1:20am
Result: No injuries, cause undetermined, and damages estimated at $200,000
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Nov. 18: House fire in Wheatley
Time of call: 1:15 a.m.
Result: No injuries, cause under investigation, damage reported at $175,000
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Nov. 21: Fire at home on Croton Line
Time of call: Just after 5 a.m.
Result: No injuries, cause is under investigation, damage reported at $100,000
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Nov. 21: Fire on Richmond Street in Chatham spreads to business
Time of call: Around 3:30 a.m.
Result: No injuries, cause is under investigation, damage reported at $100,000
