Fire Prevention and Education

Carbon monoxide is an odourless, invisible gas that can severely harm or kill people in their homes. All dwellings that have any fuel burning appliances such as, fireplaces, furnaces, dryers, and hot water heaters are required to have carbon monoxide alarms installed and in working order.

Requirements

Homeowners - Install a carbon monoxide alarm adjacent to each sleeping area in your home. 

Adjacent to each sleeping area means the hallway or area outside the sleeping area. For instance, a CO alarm must be installed in the hallway nearest multiple bedrooms in a house or apartment.

For added protection, install a carbon monoxide alarm on every storey of your home according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Landlords -  Must install and maintain CO alarms in their rental units

They are also responsible for testing CO alarms in rental units annually, or when the battery is replaced, or when changes are made to the electric circuit, or a change of tenancy occurs.

Tenants - If you are a tenant, you must contact your landlord immediately if you do not have the required number of working carbon monoxide alarms. It is against the law for tenants to remove batteries or tamper with the alarm in any way.

Placement, Maintenance and Replacement

Refer to the manufacturer's instructions when installing carbon monoxide alarms for information about correct placement, maintenance and replacement.

Remember to:

• test CO alarms every month by pressing the test button
• replace batteries every year
• replace CO alarms according to the manufacturer's instructions

Always call 9-1-1 before you try to put out a fire.

A portable fire extinguisher can save lives and your property by putting out a small fire or containing it until we arrive. It is only useful if:

• You know how to use the extinguisher.
• The extinguisher is close by, it works and is fully charged.
• You have a clear escape route that will not be blocked by fire.
• The extinguisher must match the type of fire you are fighting. Extinguishers that contain water are not suitable for a grease or electrical fire.
• The extinguisher must be large enough to put out the fire.

All fire extinguishers are labelled. Use the label as a guide to purchase the kind of extinguisher that best suits your needs.

Using a Fire Extinguisher

Remember the acronym PASS:

• P - Pull the pin
• A - Aim the nozzle
• S - Squeeze the trigger handle
• S - Sweep from side to side

Always keep your eye on the fire and your back to the door or exit.

Installing and Maintaining Fire Extinguishers

Install fire extinguishers:

• In plain view.
• Out of the reach of children.
• Near an escape route.
• Away from stoves and heating appliances.

Extinguishers require care:

• Read your operating manual to learn how to inspect the extinguisher.
• Follow the manufacturer's instructions for maintenance.
• Rechargeable extinguishers must be serviced after they have been used.
• Disposable extinguishers can only be used once.

We offer portable fire extinguisher training to groups or businesses. If you would like to book some training, please contact us.

Disposal of Old Fire Extinguishers

When a fire extinguisher has reached its end of service life, it can be dropped off at a local hazardous materials drop-off site.

Please do not bring your old extinguishers to the fire department.

Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, are common in rechargeable products and generally safe to use. However, they have the same safety risks as other kinds of batteries, including:

• overheating
• fires
• explosions

They're more easily damaged than other types of batteries and can become hazardous in certain conditions since they are more volatile.

LiB Safety

Tips for Purchasing Safely Online

Be Aware of What You Buy

Our fire prevention division performs numerous fire and life safety inspections throughout the municipality. We work closely with property owners to ensure their properties are safer and compliant with all applicable laws.

Types of Inspections

General Property Inspections

We conduct property inspections when:

• A fire safety complaint is received. Complaints must be made in writing. Those making the complaint must provide their name and contact information. However, that information will be kept as confidential as possible.
• A property owner or occupant asks for assistance to comply with the Fire Code.

An inspection will be made by our Fire Prevention Officer. During the inspection, the Fire Prevention Officer will show the property owner any violations to the Fire Code and require that they be fixed. A Fire Safety Inspection Report, Inspection Order or other written recommendations will be provided.

Day Care Inspections

Licensed child care programs must meet and maintain provincial standards. These standards are set out in the Day Nurseries Act. The standards help day care operators meet the health, safety and developmental needs of the children in their care. We conduct Home Day Care inspections of child care facilities to assess the fire and life safety of a building. Please contact us to request an inspection.

Vulnerable Occupancy Inspections

Vulnerable occupancies include care occupancies, care and treatment occupancies and retirement homes. These vulnerable occupancies must meet and maintain provincial standards through annual fire drills and inspections according to the Ontario Fire Code. These standards help operators meet fire and life safety needs for the facility and those in their care.  Please contact us to request an inspection or for further information.

Inspection Requests

To request any of the above inspection types, or if you have a question about fire inspections or any fire safety issue, please contact our Fire Prevention Officer by email or by phone at 705-687-3414 Ext. 2523

Our goal is to prevent fires from happening in the first place. We do this through public education. We hope that by talking about fire safety with you that we can change everyday habits to include fire safety in everything that you do.

Our Public Education activities include but are not limited to the following:

• Providing guest speakers for special events
• Static displays at community events
• Local school visits