The Alarm Assistance Program (AAP) is a free program intended to assist Niagara-on-the-Lake homeowners aged 65 and over and anyone with a disability or limited mobility. A member of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Fire & Emergency Services Community Risk Reduction Division will attend your property to ensure your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are installed properly and are operating as required.
How does the program work?
If you are a senior and own your home or have a physical disability and need assistance confirming your home is compliant with the laws surrounding smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, please contact the Niagara-on-the-Lake Fire & Emergency Services Department by phone, email or fill out the online form linked below.
Phone: 905-468-3266
Email: firedepartment@notl.com
Alarm Assistance Form
Once you have contacted us, we will arrange an appointment convenient for you between Monday and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. On the day of your appointment, a CRR Staff member will arrive to assist with:
- Testing your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, ensuring they are working.
- Confirming smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are installed in the proper locations of your home.
- Replacing any smoke and carbon monoxide alarm batteries (including backup batteries in hardwired alarms). Please have the necessary batteries ready for our staff to use.
- Installing, replacing or relocating battery-operated smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms as required. Please note that there will be a cost recovery fee for alarms that are supplied and installed by Staff.
- Providing homeowners with valuable and important life safety information.
It is important to note that if your home contains hardwired alarms, they must be serviced, replaced or installed by a licensed electrician. CRR staff are not able to replace any defective or expired hardwired smoke or carbon monoxide alarms.
If your home does not comply with the laws surrounding smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, the Niagara-on-the-Lake Fire Department will try to ensure your home is compliant before we leave. Any homes that require new smoke or carbon monoxide alarms to be installed may be subject to a fee. For details regarding smoke and carbon monoxide alarm pricing, please call 905-468-3266.
The Alarm Assistance Program is intended as a continual program with registered participants receiving an annual phone call regarding any required assistance to test, check or replace smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, or batteries. Participants can opt-out or request no further follow-up at any point.
Before Your Visit
It should be noted that most alarms expire after 10 years and must be replaced according to the manufacturer's instructions. If your home has hardwired smoke or carbon monoxide alarms instead of battery-operated alarms, the units must be installed and serviced by a licensed electrician. If you have battery-operated smoke or carbon monoxide alarms, please provide replacement batteries for staff to install during your home visit.
If your home has hardwired smoke or carbon monoxide alarms that need to be replaced, they must be replaced with a hardwired alarm and can not be replaced with a battery-operated alarm. Community Risk Reduction (CRR) staff members will assist as much as they can to ensure your home is safe and compliant with the Ontario Fire Code. If an electrician is required to replace any alarms, CRR staff will follow up to ensure the work has been completed as required at a later date.
Please note: You will be contacted by Staff within 2-3 business days.