Fire Safety and Prevention

Keeping your family safe from fire starts with knowing the risks and taking simple precautions. Explore the safety tips below to learn how you can prevent fires in your kitchen, at the cottage and around your home in Cornwall.

For even more resources, visit Sparky's website, which is a fun place for children to learn about fire safety through games and activities.

Smoke alarms

Every home in Ontario is required by law to have a working smoke alarm on every storey and outside all sleeping areas. It's your responsibility to keep them in good working order.

To keep your smoke alarms working:

• Test them once a month.

• Replace batteries every year, or as soon as the low-battery warning chirps

• Vacuum the outside once a year with a soft brush attachment

• Replace any alarm that is more than 10 years old or according to manufacturer’s instructions

• Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for installation and care

Where to install alarms:

• Install on the ceiling or near ceiling but not directly in the corner of where the wall and ceiling meet

• Avoid installing an alarm in a kitchen that could produce nuisance alarms

• Do not install an alarm near steam may be generated such as outside a shower/bathroom

Failing to follow these rules can result in:

• A fine up to $360

• A fine of up to $50,000 for individuals or $100,000 for corporations

Carbon monoxide alarms

Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odourless gas that can be deadly. It is produced when fuels like propane, gasoline, natural gas, heating oil or wood do not burn completely. Common sources include:

• Furnaces, fireplaces and hot water heaters

• Gas stoves

• Cars left running in attached garages

• Barbecues used indoors

• Kerosene heaters without proper venting

• Dirty or blocked chimneys or vents

To prevent carbon monoxide buildup in your home, have your furnace and chimney inspected and professionally cleaned at least once a year. The only safe way to detect it in your home is with a working carbon monoxide alarm.

Where to install alarms:

• Install at least one alarm on every storey of a home with a fuel-burning appliance, including furnaces, water heaters and stove. 

• Carbon Monoxide alarms must be installed outside every sleeping area

• These rules ALSO apply to homes with attached garages

• Installed on the ceiling or on a wall

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can feel like the flu and may include:

• Headache

• Nausea

• Dizziness

• Confusion

• Drowsiness

• Loss of consciousness

If you experience symptoms or your alarm sounds:

• Get outside right away

• Call 911 from a safe location

Landlord vs Tenant Responsibilities

In Ontario, both landlords and tenants have important legal responsibilities under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, and the Ontario Fire Code

Landlords 

• Landlords are responsible for installing and maintaining smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in rental properties. 

• Ensure alarms are present and functional before a tenant moves in

• Repair or replace alarms promptly when notified

• Cannot disable or remove alarms

Tenants

• Test alarms regularly

• Notify the landlord immediately if an alarm is not working or is damaged

• Never remove, disconnect, or tamper with any alarm

Both landlords and tenants can be charged or fined for non-compliance.

Home escape plan

Every home needs a fire escape plan, and everyone in your home should practice it. When the smoke alarm sounds, there's no time to think. Your family needs to know exactly what to do and where to go.

Create your escape plan:

• Make sure everyone knows two ways out of every room if possible

• Keep all exits clear and easy to use

• Decide who will help young children, older adults or anyone who needs assistance

• Pick a meeting spot outside, like a tree or lamppost, where everyone can gather

• If there's smoke, get low and crawl under it to the nearest exit

• Call 911 from outside using a cell phone or a neighbour's phone

• Once you're out, stay out as you should never go back inside a burning building

Home safety

Keeping your home safe is easy when you know the basics. Review the safety tips below to help protect your family from common fire and electrical hazards.

Barbecue safety

Follow these guidelines to use your barbecue safely:

• Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for using and maintaining your barbecue

• At the start of each season, clean it thoroughly and check burner ports and connections for rust, dirt or insects

• Test for gas leaks by brushing a 50/50 mix of soap and water onto hoses and connections (If bubbles appear when the valve is open, tighten or repair the leak before lighting)

• Always light the grill with the lid open

• When transporting a propane cylinder, keep it upright and secure on the floor of your vehicle with windows open

• Never use or store a propane barbecue indoors or in an enclosed space like a garage

Candle safety

Candles are a common cause of home fires. To use them safely:

• Blow out candles whenever you leave a room

• Choose candles that are smoke-free and drip-free

• Place them in sturdy, tip-proof holders

• Consider using a glass shade or hurricane chimney

• Keep lit candles away from children, pets, and anything flammable like decorations or wreaths

Cooking safety

Cooking is the number one cause of home fires and injuries in Canada. Follow these simple steps to stay safe in the kitchen:

• Stay in the kitchen while cooking and if you must leave, turn off the stove

• Use a timer to remind you that you're cooking

• Never cook if you are sleepy, have taken medicine or drugs or have consumed alcohol

• Keep an oven mitt and pan lid nearby so you can smother a small grease fire by sliding the lid over the pan

• Create a kid-free zone of at least one metre around the stove and any areas where hot food is prepared

Cottage safety

If you're heading to a cottage, cabin, or hunt camp, keep these fire safety tips in mind:

• Working smoke alarms are required by law on every storey and outside sleeping areas

• Carbon monoxide laws also apply to cottages if there is a fuel fired appliance or attached garage

• Let ashes from your woodstove or fireplace cool completely before emptying them into a metal container with a tight-fitting lid and store it outside

• Keep your roof clear of debris, trim overhanging branches and remove brush from around the building

• Have your chimney cleaned and inspected every year, along with your heating system

• Make sure your property has a clearly visible sign displaying your property number

Electrical safety

Reduce the risk of shock or fire by following these electrical safety tips:

• Check cords regularly for fraying or damage as damaged cords can cause shocks or fires

• Never run cords under rugs, where they can overheat or become damaged

• Use extension cords only temporarily and consider hiring a licensed electrician to install more outlets

• Do not link extension cords together as you should just use one cord long enough for the job

• Plug heavy appliances like air conditioners directly into a wall outlet (If you must use an extension cord, choose a heavy-duty 14-gauge appliance cord)

• Avoid overloading outlets with multiple plugs

• Install ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) near any water source for shock protection

• When replacing a fuse, always use the correct amperage and never substitute a higher amp fuse as it can create a fire hazard

Fire extinguishers

In most cases, the best thing to do in case of fire is get everyone out and call 911 from outside the home. Only use fire extinguishers on small, contained fires, and never let the fire get between you and the exit:

• Consider purchasing a fire extinguisher with an ABC rating as this type works on most common fires

• Only use a fire extinguisher if you have been trained and remember the acronym PASS: 

• Pull the pin

• Aim at the base of the fire 

• Squeeze the trigger

• Sweep side to side

• Store the extinguisher in plain view, out of children's reach and away from stoves or heating appliances

• Most extinguishers empty in under 30 seconds and if the fire isn't out by then, leave right away and call 911

• For stovetop fires, you can often smother flames by sliding a lid over the pot and turning off the stove

Smoking safety

Smoking is a leading cause of fires in Cornwall. If you smoke, please do so safely:

• Smoke outside whenever possible

• Use a deep ashtray or metal can to put out cigarettes completely

• Never butt out in plant pots, gardens, or grass as plant material can catch fire

• Empty ashtrays into a metal container, not the garbage, and place it outside

• Never smoke in bed

• If others have been smoking in your home, check behind your chair and sofa cushions for cigarette butts before going to bed

• Remember that alcohol is often a factor in smoking-related fires

Ready to quit smoking? Check out the Smoker’s Helpline for support.