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Location:  Publications > Press > Pack Fire Safety Into Holiday Weekend Plans

Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services Office of the Fire Marshal	Ministère de la Sécurité communautaire et des Services correctionnels Bureau du commissaire des incendies
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Attention News & Assignment Editors

PACK FIRE SAFETY INTO HOLIDAY WEEKEND PLANS

TORONTO - May 16, 2007 – To minimize the risk of fire and burn injuries, the Fire Marshal of Ontario is urging Ontarians to include fire safety in their holiday weekend plans.

“Fire safety is not just for homes, it’s for cottages, cabins and seasonal homes too,” says Pat Burke, Ontario Fire Marshal. “This weekend, consider purchasing new smoke alarms and batteries in case they need replacing at the cottage and check heating appliances and chimneys before using them. In addition, the fire service recommends attending public fireworks displays hosted by your municipality. Fireworks are extremely dangerous and for this reason, the fire service does not recommend family fireworks or informal cottage displays.”

“Fireworks are extremely dangerous and for this reason, the fire service does not recommend family fireworks or informal cottage displays,” continued Burke. “Instead, plan to attend public fireworks displays hosted by your municipality or other responsible organization.”

This holiday weekend is often the first for people to open up their cottages. The Office of the Fire Marshal recommends the following fire safety tips:

• Install smoke alarms on every storey and outside all sleeping areas of your cottage, cabin or seasonal home: it’s the law in Ontario.

• Test smoke alarms to ensure they work. Pack a new smoke alarm and extra batteries for the cottage.

• Clean heating appliances and barbecues before using them. It’s also important to keep an eye on your barbecue and ensure all combustibles, as well as children and pets, are kept well away.

• Keep barbecue lighters and matches out of sight and reach of children.

• Check with your local fire department, municipality, or the Ministry of Natural Resources for any restrictions on burning before starting campfires or burning brush.

To get more information about fireworks and cottage safety, visit www.ofm.gov.on.ca and download the Fireworks Safety Tips fact sheet and the Cottage Fire Safety Tips fact sheet.

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To arrange interviews contact:
Carol Gravelle, Office of the Fire Marshal, 416-325-3138
Bev Gilbert, Office of the Fire Marshal, 416-325-3178
 

Fireworks Safety Tips

From the Office of the Fire Marshal

	To minimize the risk of fire and burn injury, the fire service does not recommend family fireworks or informal neighbourhood displays.
	The fire service recommends attending public fireworks displays hosted by your municipality or other responsible organization.
	If you still choose to have a family fireworks or an informal neighbourhood display, check with your local fire department about regulations regarding fireworks. Here are some important safety tips to be followed:
		Appoint a responsible person to be in charge. Only adults who are aware of the hazards and essential safety precautions should handle and discharge fireworks.
		Carefully read and follow the label directions on fireworks packaging.
		Always keep a water hose or pail of water close by when discharging fireworks.
		Discharge fireworks well away from combustible materials like buildings, trees and dry grass.
		Keep onlookers a safe distance away, upwind from the area where fireworks are discharged.
		Light only one firework at a time and only when they are on the ground. Never try to light a firework in your hand or re-light dud fireworks. For dud fireworks, it is best to wait 30 minutes and soak them in a bucket of water. Dispose of them in a metal container.
		Discharge fireworks only if wind conditions do not create a safety hazard.
		Keep sparklers away from children. Sparklers burn extremely hot and can ignite clothing, cause blindness and result in severe burns. As the sparkler wire remains hot for some minutes after burnout, it should be immediately soaked in water to avoid injury.
		If someone gets burned, run cool water over the wound for three to five minutes and seek medical attention, if necessary.

Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal Copyright 2007

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For more information, please contact:
Carol Gravelle, Office of the Fire Marshal, 416-325-3138
Bev Gilbert, Office of the Fire Marshal, 416-325-3178

 

Cottage Fire Safety Tips

From the Office of the Fire Marshal
 

To minimize the risk of fire and burn injury, the fire service recommends the following cottage fire safety tips:

• Install smoke alarms on every storey and outside all sleeping areas. It’s the law for all Ontario homes, cottages, cabins and seasonal homes to have working smoke alarms on every storey and outside all sleeping areas.

• Test smoke alarms at least monthly or each time you return to the cottage. Pack a new smoke alarm and extra smoke alarm batteries in case they need replacement.

• Install and ensure carbon monoxide alarms in your cottage if it has a fuel-burning appliance.

• Develop and practice a home fire escape plan to ensure everyone knows what to do if the smoke alarm sounds.

• Know the telephone number for the local fire department and your cottage’s emergency sign number, in case of emergency.

• Clean barbecues before using them. Keep an eye on lit barbecues and ensure all combustibles, as well as children and pets are kept well away from them. Fires can happen when barbecues are left unattended.

• Keep barbecue lighters and matches out of sight and reach of children.

• Remember to bring a flashlight with extra batteries.

• Check heating appliances and chimneys before using them.

• Check with your local fire department, municipality, or Ministry of Natural Resources to determine whether open air burning is permitted before having a campfire or burning brush. If open burning is allowed, fires should be built on bare soil or on exposed rock. Remove leaves and twigs from around the fire to keep it from spreading. Always keep a bucket of water, sand, or even a shovel close by and supervise the fire at all times.

• If you must smoke, do so outside. Keep a large can with water nearby so cigarette butts can be safely discarded. If you drink, do so responsibly. Tobacco use and excessive alcohol consumption are contributing factors in many fires and can lead to serious injuries.

• Burn candles in sturdy candleholders that will not tip and are covered with a glass shade. When you go out, blow out!

Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal, Copyright 2007

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For more information, please contact:
Carol Gravelle, Office of the Fire Marshal, 416-325-3138
Bev Gilbert, Office of the Fire Marshal, 416-325-3178