Fire and life safety starts with you!
The number one cause (40%) of fires in Ontario is cooking, number two (10%) involves cigarettes and rounding out at number 3 (5%) is electric distribution equipment.
There are many things you can do to prevent a fire from starting. For example:
- Always stay in the kitchen when cooking, and never leave stoves unattended.
- Keep things that burn easily away from heat sources like stoves, fireplaces, or furnaces.
- Keep candles in holders and away from anything that can burn, and never leave candles unattended.
- Smoke outside, use a non-combustible ashtray, and wet your cigarette butts before you put them in the garbage.
Make sure you have working smoke alarms on every level of your home and outside all sleeping areas.
Carbon monoxide is a clear, odourless, poisonous gas that can be generated by any fuel-powered equipment like furnaces, wood stoves, vehicles, barbeques, generators, etc. If you have fuel-burning appliances or an attached garage, you must have Carbon Monoxide detectors near all sleeping areas.
Fines may be issued for missing or disabled alarms. Alarms expire every 10 years, so make sure they are replaced before they expire.
Make a fire escape plan and practice it with everyone in your household. To make your plan:
- Draw a map of your home showing all windows and doors.
- Visit each room and find 2 ways out. Make sure all windows and doors function properly.
- Pick a meeting place outside in front of your home.
Once you are out of the house, stay out and contact the fire department.
Never go back into a burning building.
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