Ottawa Fire Services will be knocking on doors September 14 to 21

Ottawa Fire Services (OFS) firefighters will be out in the community during the third week of September to encourage residents to install, test and ensure that smoke alarms in their homes are operating.

September 14 to 21 is the second of two eight-day blitzes OFS planned for 2015 as part of its annual Wake Up campaign.

During this period, homes throughout the city will receive visits from firefighters. The Ontario Fire Code requires a working smoke alarm on each floor of all homes and a working carbon monoxide alarm in each household that has fuel-fired appliances or an attached garage.

Homeowners who need new or additional alarms will be given information on how to acquire one. Homeowners who do not have any working alarms may have one immediately installed for them, or be provided with new batteries.

Visits will take place between 6 and 8 p.m. on weekdays and between 2 and 4 p.m. on weekends. Firefighters will be in uniform and residents are not obligated to provide them access to their home. This is a courtesy call only.

Subdivisions built in the last five years are less likely to receive visits. If no one is home when OFS comes calling, fire safety information will be left in the mailbox.

Firefighters visit Ottawa homes in this manner year round and have been doing so since the Wake Up program began in 2005. For more information, visit ottawa.ca .