St. Catharines Fire Chief Dave Wood says residents need to play a part in keeping themselves and their neighbourhoods fire safe.
Wood's comments come after a fire last week at a townhouse complex on Rockwood Avenue in the Garden City.
Two units were damaged in the fire that caused about $125,000 dollars in damage and displaced two families.
Wood says charges are pending because the home where the fire started was missing working smoke alarms.
Cause of the blaze remains undetermined, but Wood says proper housekeeping can help prevent these kinds of house fires.
The Rockwood fire marked the 5th fire in two weeks in St. Catharines.