Fire Safety & Prevention

The Blue Mountains Fire Department offers a variety of youth programs. Fire safety is a serious matter, but practicing with your friends and family can be fun and beneficial.

Kids, parents and teachers can find fire safety-related activities, games, and other fun stuff at Sparky's Firehouse website.

Visit Sparky's Firehouse

Ever wanted to come and check out a Fire Hall or have a Firetruck attend your community event? Well, you can! Please contact the Fire Prevention Officer to schedule a visit.

The Arson Prevention Program for Children (TAPP-C) is an intervention program to reduce fire involvement (intentional firesetting and/or match and lighter play) and to promote fire safety among children aged 2-17 years. 

If you have a child or youth with a firesetting inclination or would like a resource to curb their fire fascination behaviour please contact the Fire Prevention Officer.

Carbon monoxide alarms monitor airborne concentration levels (parts per million) of carbon monoxide over time and sound an alarm when harmful levels are present. They are designed to sense low carbon monoxide concentrations over a long period of time as well as high concentrations over a short period of time.

Carbon monoxide is a by-product of incomplete combustion of fuel such as natural gas, propane, heating oil, kerosene, coal, charcoal, gasoline, wood, or other biofuels. This incomplete combustion can occur in any device that depends on burning fuel for energy or heat.

Examples of fuel-burning devices:

• Home furnace
• Space heater
• Decorative fireplace
• Woodstove
• Kitchen stove or grill
• Gas/charcoal barbeque
• Hot water heater
• Automobile
• Lawnmower

Automobiles left running in an attached garage, a portable generator operating near an open window or in the garage, an outdoor gas barbecue operated inside the house, a grill or kerosene heater that is not properly vented, or a fireplace chimney that is dirty or plugged may create unsafe levels of carbon monoxide.

When these devices are properly installed, maintained and vented, the carbon monoxide produced can be prevented from reaching unsafe levels in the home.

Exposure to carbon monoxide can cause flu-like symptoms such as headaches, nausea, dizziness, burning eyes, confusion, drowsiness and even loss of consciousness, without the elevated temperature associated with the flu. In severe cases, carbon monoxide poisoning can cause brain damage and death. The elderly, children and people with heart or respiratory conditions may be particularly sensitive to carbon monoxide.

Carbon monoxide can poison the body quickly in high concentrations, or slowly over long periods of time.

The popularity of candles brings an increased risk of fires started by candles. The Fire Department is urging everyone to practice safe candle use. Candle fires most commonly occur when candles are left unattended or something that easily catches fire is left too close to the flame. 

• Extinguish candles before leaving the room or going to sleep 
• Keep candles out of reach of children or pets in the house 
• Place candles in sturdy containers at least 0.3 metres (one foot) away from anything that could burn such as clothing, furniture or Christmas trees 
• Do not place lit candles in windows 
• NEVER allow children or teens to have candles in their bedrooms 
• Keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children - up high and preferably locked up 
• Teach children that matches and lighters are only for adults

• If an appliance smokes or smells like it is burning, unplug it immediately and have it repaired 
• Check all of your electrical cords and replace any that are cracked or frayed 
• Do not overload electrical outlets or run extension cords under rugs or carpets 
• Do not tamper with the fuse boxes or use the wrong size fuse 
• Unplug items such as toaster and coffee makers when not in use

Make a home fire escape plan and practice your plan so that everyone knows what to do in the event of a fire emergency. 

• Install smoke alarms on every story and outside sleeping areas. It is the law 
• In case of fire, everyone should know two ways out of every room, if possible. When the smoke alarm sounds, everyone must know what to do and where to go 
• Develop and practice a home fire escape plan with the entire family 
• Determine who will be responsible for helping young children, older adults or anyone else that may need assistance 
• Check that all exits are unobstructed and easy to use 
• Know where to go - choose a meeting place outside, such as a tree, a lamppost, or a neighbour's house where everyone can be accounted for 
• In case of fire, do not try to save possessions - go directly to your meeting place 
• If caught in smoke, get low and go under the smoke to the nearest safe exit 
• Call the fire department from outside the home, from a cell phone or a neighbour's home 
• Get out and stay out 
• Never re-enter a burning building for any reason

The number one cause of residential fires in North America is from cooking. Most kitchen fires are preventable if the following safety tips are followed when cooking. 

• Never leave cooking unattended 
• If a pot catches fire, slide a lid over the pot and turn off the stove 
• Never put water on a kitchen fire or try to move the pot to the sink - Always call the fire department 
• Keep children at least 1 metre away (3 feet) from the stove 
• Keep pot handles turned inward 
• Wear tight-fitting clothing or roll up your sleeves when using the stove to prevent accidental clothing fires 
• Do not reach over hot burners 
• Clear all combustible items such as wooden or plastic cooking utensils, dishcloths, paper towels and pot holders from stovetops - these objects can easily catch fire if they come in contact with a burner 
• Deep frying is a major kitchen hazard - use only thermostatically controlled deep fryers to prevent overheating the oil and the chance of fire 
• Keep appliance surfaces free of spills and grease that may catch fire 
• Cooking requires you to be rested and alert 
• Avoid cooking when under the influence of alcohol or medications 
• If you burn yourself, immediately run cool water over the wound for several minutes 
• If the burn is severe, seek medical attention 
• Do not overload electrical outlets with appliances 
• Use heat-producing appliances away from cupboards, curtains, and other combustible items 
• It is the law in Ontario that all residences have working smoke alarms on every level and outside sleeping areas 
• Test smoke alarms monthly and change batteries when you change your clocks

• Do not use open flames or a charcoal grill indoors 
• Do not use gasoline-fueled appliances indoors 
• If you plan to use a portable generator, do not connect household items to the generator unless you have it wired professionally 
• Do not hook a generator up to your home's electrical system 
• Be sure generators are kept outside where exhaust does not enter buildings 
• Test your smoke alarms before a power outage 
• Remember, if smoke alarms are hardwired they will not function during a power failure - install backup battery-powered smoke alarms for additional protection

• Encourage smokers to smoke outside 
• Provide sturdy, deep ashtrays and make sure cigarette butts and ashes are extinguished before throwing them away 
• Never smoke in bed or when you are feeling drowsy. It is just as dangerous to fall asleep smoking on the couch or in a chair as it is in a bed 
• Before going to sleep, check under and around sofa cushions and upholstered furniture for smouldering cigarettes 
• Keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children; up high and preferably locked up 
• Teach children that matches and lighters are only for adults

Fire can happen anywhere, at any time, it most often strikes when we let our guard down - when we’re distracted by the hustle and bustle of the holidays, by our cellphones, by the kids or by the doorbell.

• Water your Christmas tree daily and keep it away from sources of heat.
• Stay in the kitchen while cooking. If you must leave, turn off the stove. Never leave the oven unattended while baking.
• Go outside to smoke, and use a deep, sturdy ashtray. Never carelessly discard cigarette or cigar butts.
• Don't overcharge battery-powered devices. Use the charging cord and power adaptor that came with the device. Do not cover a charging battery or device.
• Use outdoor-rated LED lights when decorating and hang them with nail-free clips. Check for fraying cords or damage before hanging.
• Install working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on every storey of your home and outside all sleeping areas.
• Create a home escape plan and practice it with your family.
• Extension cords should only be used as a temporary solution. Don't overload electrical outlets.
• Keep combustible materials at least 1 metre away from space heaters and fireplaces. Unplug space heaters before you go to bed.
• Use battery-operated candles whenever possible. Keep open flame candles away from kids and pets. Extinguish all candles before going to bed or leaving the room.
• Keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children.

Fact: Cooking is the number one cause of residential fires in Ontario.

• Keep a proper-fitting pot lid near the stove when cooking. If a pot catches fire, slide the lid over the pot and turn off the stove. Do not move the pan.
• Wear tight-fitting or rolled-up sleeves when using the stove. Loose, dangling clothing can easily catch fire. If your clothing catches fire, stop, drop to the ground and roll over and over to put out the fire.
• Keep combustible items such as cooking utensils, dishcloths, paper towels and pot holders a safe distance from the stove.
• Keep children away from the stove. Make sure electrical cords are not dangling from countertops, where they could be pulled over by small children.
• Cool a burn by running cool water over the wound for 3 - 5 minutes. If the burn is severe, seek medical attention.

Always make sure to:

• Stay in the kitchen and pay attention when cooking!
• Drink responsibly when cooking.
• If a fire occurs, get out immediately and call 911

The Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs share important steps you and your family can take to ensure you stay carbon monoxide safe in your home, and avoid a potentially deadly accident. Watch this carbon monoxide safety video, to learn more.

It’s Fire Prevention Week - The Blue Mountains Fire Department reminds residents that working smoke alarms, combined with a residential sprinkler system, offer families the highest level of protection and the best opportunity for survival during a home fire. By responding to a fire while it is still small, sprinklers control the spread of deadly heat, flames, and toxic smoke.

Did you know that in 36% of residential fires where there was a fatality, there was no smoke alarm warning? Only working smoke alarms provide those precious seconds you and your family need to safely escape. Check out this smoke alarm safety video.