Smokey conditions from forest fires in BC have been causing some Weyburn residents' smoke alarms to go off, seemingly without cause. 

Weyburn Fire Chief Simon Almond said it might be a factor, but forest fires, of course, aren't always the cause of false alarms.

"It could be that it's contaminated, especially new construction, they do get contaminated by dust from construction and things like that," he explained.

"Your smoke alarms work on different technology," said Almond. "Basically it's a sensor and it's being obscured by something. Typically, smoke obscures it, and that sets it off."

Sometimes, the only solution is to get and install a new smoke detector.

"If you're having constant problems with a smoke detector going off, and there's really no reason for it to go off, then it's time for it to be changed," he said. "Since smoke alarms only have a ten-year lifespan, we recommend that they get changed every ten years, whether they be battery operated or hard-wired."

He said it's also possible that an over-firing smoke alarm could be located in the wrong spot in the house.

"Basically, the law says you have a smoke detector on every level of your home, including the basement," he said adding that that stores do sell detectors that are meant for humid, dank basements.

Chief Almond recommends purchasing the right smoke detector for the right location.

"We urge people to install smoke detectors and smoke alarms, and we urge them to follow the manufacturer's instructions and that will tell them where it needs to go and also the areas it needs to avoid," he explained.