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Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services Office of the Fire Marshal |
Ministère de la Sécurité communautaire et des Services
correctionnels |
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Place Nouveau Building 7th Floor 5775 Yonge Street North York ON M2M 4J1 Telephone 416-325-3100 Facsimile: 416-325-3162 |
Édifice Place Nouveau |
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Target fire safety
for upcoming hunting seasons
TORONTO (September 11, 2008) - In
August, 2007, three people died tragically in a fire at a hunting and fishing
camp in the County of Haliburton. In June of 2008, two separate fires in trailer
homes resulted in the deaths of four people. There was no evidence of working
smoke alarms in any of these fires.
The Ontario Fire Code requires every ‘dwelling unit’ in Ontario to have working
smoke alarms on every storey and outside all sleeping areas. The term ‘dwelling
unit’ includes seasonal homes such as park model trailers, cabins and cottages
and also includes trailer homes, motor homes and other recreational vehicles.
“To prevent further fire injuries and fatalities, anglers and hunters should
remember to pack a new smoke alarm and some extra smoke alarm batteries.” urges
Pat Burke, Fire Marshal of Ontario. “Fire safety is not just for homes, it’s for
cottages, cabins, seasonal hunt camps, RVs, trailers, and mobile homes too.
It’s the law in Ontario to have working smoke alarms in every dwelling.”
In addition to working smoke alarms, anglers and hunters are encouraged to
thoroughly check and clean all heating appliances, (i.e., woodstoves, propane
heaters, kerosene heaters, naphtha stoves and lanterns) in their cabins, camps,
trailers and recreational vehicles before using them. Chimneys also need
to be inspected for any damage or obstructions prior to use and cleaned if
deposits of creosote are present. Other important safety tips for anglers and
hunters include:
Bring a flashlight with extra batteries and a carbon monoxide alarm.
Ensure standby and portable generators are properly maintained in good working order
Ensure combustibles are kept well away from heating appliances, stoves and lanterns.
Smoke outside and keep a large can with water nearby so smoking materials can be safely discarded. Tobacco use and excessive alcohol consumption are contributing factors in many fires and can lead to serious injuries or death.
Check with the local fire department, municipality, or the Ministry of Natural Resources for any restrictions on burning before starting campfires or burning brush.
Failure to comply with the applicable Fire Code smoke alarm requirements can result in a ticket for $235 or a fine of up to $100,000. If you require more information about smoke alarms or fire safety, please contact your local fire department or the Office of the Fire Marshal, at (416) 325‑3100. Additional information is also available at the Office of the Fire Marshal website at www.ofm.gov.on.ca.
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For more information, or to arrange an
interview with the Fire Marshal, contact:
Gina Pontikas, Office of the Fire Marshal, 416-325-3138
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