So far this year, there have been more than 50 fatal fires in Ontario, and this coming week, the Niagara Falls Fire Department is one of many continuing to spread the word about the importance of smoke alarms and fire escape plans.

The Niagara Falls Fire Department says it doesn’t take long for a smoke detector to sound once a fire starts, and from there, the flames can spread fast.

The main cause of fires in Ontario is residential cooking, and the main cause of fire-related deaths is careless smoking.

You can visit your local hardware or building supply store to buy new smoke alarms or batteries.