Saskatchewan is making smoke and carbon monoxide alarms mandatory in all residential buildings, regardless of the building’s age.

Government Relations Minister Don McMorris said it will better ensure the safety of people in their homes.

“The health, welfare and safety of residents in their homes is a priority in building safe communities and a strong Saskatchewan,” McMorris said in a release Friday.

“Requiring all residential buildings to have working CO and smoke alarms ensures you and your family are better protected against these dangerous substances.”

Smoke alarms were previously only required in homes built since 1988, and CO alarms were required in new builds as of 2009.

Saskatoon fire Chief Morgan Hackl said he welcomed the change.

He told Global News more detectors and alarms mean less harm will come to Saskatchewan residents.

“There will be earlier intervention, there will be technology in place to help human beings get out of buildings sooner,” he said.

“And so with that, this … earlier intervention, technology will make the community safer.”

And having provincial legislation is important, he said, “because we do know carbon monoxide as a silent killer.”

SaskEnergy said an average of 1,200 CO incidents were reported annually between 2018 and 2020.

Earlier this year, a carbon monoxide leak at an apartment building in Saskatoon sickened dozens of residents.

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