On June 1 in Kemptville, a young mother and her infant became fire-fatality statistics. But there is much more to this than numbers.

The mother had stepped outside while preparing dinner. Her daughter was upstairs in her room. A fire started in the kitchen, engulfing the entire room in flames.

The 19-year-old mother ran upstairs to rescue her daughter. She made it into the bedroom at the top of the stairs, where both mother and daughter were found, having taken their last breaths together. The nine-month-old baby girl was in her mother's arms.

My utmost sympathy, condolences and thoughts go out to this family, the community and the firefighters. This is such a tragic story, and similar ones are being told all too often.

Smoke alarms have been available for more than 30 years and have saved countless lives, yet there are still lives lost. Steps must be taken to eliminate these fire fatalities in Ontario.

A combination of working smoke alarms and fire sprinklers reduces the risk of dying in a home fire. Smoke alarms provide early warning, and sprinklers can suppress a fire and minimize smoke before they reach deadly proportions.

Additionally, sprinklers can reduce damage to lives, property and the environment, as well as the spread of fire to other structures. In Scottsdale, Ariz., and Vancouver, B.C., where they are required in all new residential construction, there have been no fire fatalities in sprinklered residences, and more than 90 per cent of all fires were contained by a single sprinkler head.

Increasing fire safety requires a multi-faceted approach. The fire service must educate the public about the value of fire sprinklers. Builders must make them available and promote them like they do carpet and cabinet upgrades. Consumers need to ask for and insist on them. Government needs to look at incentive programs and revised building codes.

If we all do our part, we will make Ontario safer from fire. How many more will die before we are serious about protecting lives and property?

Kevin Foster is chief of the Midland Fire Department.