The high number of fatal fires in Ontario so far this year has raised alarms among local firefighters.
Sarnia Fire Life Safety Educator Mike Otis said through the end of March there were 42 fatal fires across the province. On average there's about 100 in an entire year.
"There's definitely a trend, whether it's here or anywhere you go," said Otis." The number one cause of fires in homes is careless cooking or unattended cooking, but the number one cause of fatal fires is careless smoking."
Otis recommends residents have working smoke alarms not only outside their sleeping areas, but inside bedrooms as well, and sleep with the door closed.
"A closed door can really slow down the spread of smoke and fire and buy you extra life-saving minutes," he said.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, three out of five fire deaths happen in homes with no working smoke alarms.
In 2020, there were three fatal fires in Sarnia.
