Hamilton Fire Department stats show jump in deadly residential fires

Cunliffe says the top causal factors continue to be careless smoking and unattended cooking.

“These types of fires are completely preventable, and it’s behaviour, we need people to be mindful of what it is they’re doing,” he said. “On top of that, when you start to look at the stats, relative to the lack of working smoking alarms in these residences where we’re having the fires in.”

As part of fire prevention week, the Fire Chief is reminding residents to check the batteries in their smoke alarms and to create an evacuation plan, complete with meeting place.