Thursday, September 28

Ontario's first Test Your Smoke Alarm Day! Last year there were 133 fire fatalities in the province – the most in 20 years. As part of Test Your Smoke Alarm Day, all Ontarians are encouraged to learn more about smoke alarms, fire safety, and home fire escape planning, which can save the lives of you and your loved ones. Most importantly, we want you to test your smoke alarms! Snap a photo of you or family members testing your smoke alarms and post it to social media using the hashtag #SavedByTheBeep.

October 8 - 14

This year’s National Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention,” works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe when cooking. Follow us on Facebook to learn more about actions you can are in the kitchen to ensure you are your family are fire safe!” and visit the NFPA website.

November 1 - 7

There’s a reason they call carbon monoxide the “silent killer” – it’s colorless, odorless, tasteless and can’t be detected by humans without the help of an carbon monoxide alarm. This week is Carbon Monoxide Awareness week and we are encouraging all Ontarians to test their carbon monoxide alarms and check the expiry date to ensure your alarms are operational. Follow our social media accounts for more information on carbon monoxide.

December 12 - 23

We will be sharing a different fire safety tip each day to help our community stay safe during the Holidays. These 12 tips include:

Day 1: Water fresh-cut Christmas trees daily. Always keep the base of the trunk in water and away from heat sources such as fireplaces, heaters or candles.
Day 2: Check all lights before decorating and replace any worn or damaged cords or loose bulb connections. Follow manufacturer’s instructions for indoor or outdoor use.
Day 3: Make sure there is a working smoke alarm on every storey of your home and outside all sleeping areas.
Day 4: Only carbon monoxide alarms can alert you to the presence of this deadly gas. Install carbon monoxide alarms outside all sleeping areas.
Day 5: Having a home fire escape plan is one of the best ways to ensure you and your loved ones can get out safely. Everyone in your home should know two ways out of all areas.
Day 6: Use extension cords wisely and only as a temporary connection. Never run cords under rugs which can damage the cord and cause a fire. Avoid overloading a circuit with "octopus outlets" (lots of extension cords in one electrical outlet).
Day 7: Portable space heaters and other heating sources are sometimes used to keep the chill out. Keep anything that can burn such as holiday decorations, curtains and upholstery, at least one metre away from heat sources.
Day 8: Keep open flames away from anything that may be combustible. If you can, use an enclosed candle holder or sturdy, burn-resistant container that won’t tip.
Day 9: Matches and lighters can be deadly in the hands of children. Keep all fire-starting materials out of the sight and reach of children.
Day 10: Never leave a stove unattended. If you need to step away for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
Day 11: Encourage smokers to smoke outside and use large, deep ashtrays that cannot be knocked over easily. Always keep ashes away from anything that can burn. Empty cooled ashes into a metal container and store outside.
Day 12: While celebrating this festive time of year, be sure to keep a watchful eye on anyone cooking or smoking while under the influence.

May

Emergency Preparedness Week encourages Canadians to take concrete actions to be better prepared to protect themselves and their families during emergencies. This special week is a national effort lead by Public Safety Canada, provincial and territorial emergency management organizations, Indigenous organizations, non-governmental organizations, and private sector.

By taking a few simple steps, you can become better prepared to face a range of emergencies – anytime, anywhere. It is important to:

• Know the risks – Although the consequences of disasters can be similar, knowing the risks specific to our community and our region can help you better prepare.
• Make a plan – It will help you and your family know what to do
• Get an emergency kit – During an emergency, we will all need some basic supplies. We may need to get by without power or tap water. Be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours in an emergency.