The Bradford West Gwillimbury (BWG) Fire and Emergency Services department is warning residents about a recent fire safety scam that has targeted nearby municipalities, including Orillia and East Gwillimbury, and may soon spread to BWG. Individuals identifying as fire safety experts are visiting homes and advising residents that they need to spend large sums of money to bring their homes into "compliance" with fire safety regulations.
In many cases, these individuals suggest replacing hard-wired smoke alarms with battery-operated units, which would not meet the fire code for newer homes. If followed, these suggestions could lead to serious safety risks and costly replacements of smoke alarms that may not meet legal requirements.
Although the Town does send employees door to door as part of routine fire safety inspections and awareness programs, it is crucial for residents to ensure that anyone visiting their home is a certified BWG employee. Always ask for identification, including a badge and employee ID, to verify that they are part of the Fire Department or another authorized Town service.
For more information or to verify fire safety information, residents can contact the Fire Prevention Division at 905-775-7311 ext. 6005 or by email at [email protected].