Fire Safety

General safety tips

• Purchase and use devices that are listed by a qualified testing laboratory.
• Always follow manufacturer’s instructions that come with the device.
• Only use the battery that is designed for the device.
• Put batteries in the device the right way.
• Only use the charging cord that came with the device.
• Do not charge a device under your pillow, on your bed, or on a couch.
• Avoid excessive charging. Constantly charging a device can reduce the battery’s life or cause the battery to stop working.
• Keep lithium ion batteries at room temperature.
• Do not place lithium ion batteries in direct sunlight or keep them in hot vehicles.
• Avoid using a device in a highly damp or humid environment.
• Store lithium ion batteries away from anything that can catch fire.
• Avoid crushing, bending, or dropping a device and charger.
• Stop using the lithium ion battery and contact the manufacturer if you notice any of the following problem signs.
  • Odour
  • Change in colour
  • Too much heat
  • Change in shape
  • Leaking
  • Odd noises

If you notice the battery or device is sparking or smoking call 911. If it is safe to do so, move the battery or device outside and away from anything that could catch fire.

Battery disposal

• For proper battery disposal, do not put lithium-ion batteries in the trash.
• Do not put discarded lithium-ion batteries in piles, one damaged battery can lead to other damaged batteries quickly, which will intensify the potential fire and or explosion of the batteries.
• Hazardous waste recycling is always the best option. Be sure to take them to your local household hazardous waste depot (Lindsay or Fenelon landfill) or contact the Waste Management team for instructions.

Improperly disposing of lithium-ion batteries, or electronics containing lithium-ion batteries, in your household recycling or waste is very dangerous and can lead to fires.

Hover boards, electric scooters and e-bikes

• Many hover boards, e-bikes and electric scooters have been linked to fires. Some of these fires have involved the lithium battery charger. Exercise caution if you are using these devices.
• Choose a device that is listed by a qualified testing laboratory.
• Read and follow manufacturer’s directions.
• An adult should be responsible for charging the device.
• Do not leave a charging device unattended.
• Never leave the device plugged in overnight.
• Only use the charging cord that came with the device.
• Stop using the device if it overheats.
• If you notice any odour, leaking, excessive heat or odd noises stop using the device and contact the manufacturer.
• If you notice any sparking, smoking, or flames call 911. If it is safe to do so, move the device outside and away from anything that could catch fire.

• Keep your cooking space clean and free of anything that can burn;
• Don't store anything on the back of your stove;
• Reaching over hot burners and pots can cause burns;
• Roll up your sleeves or wear a short sleeved shirt;
• Keep pot lids close to the stove while you cook;
• If there is a small fire you can slide lid onto the pot or pan and turn off burners to put it out.
• In the summer of 2019, the Kawartha Lakes Fire Rescue Service has received a grant from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation of Canada for $8,972.20 to go towards a Fire Hazard Kitchen Simulator. The Kitchen Simulator is a tool that Fire Prevention Inspectors use to promote kitchen safety during public education initiatives throughout the municipality.

• Keep anything that can burn at least one metre away from furnaces, baseboard heaters, woodstoves and fireplaces;
• Make sure you have working carbon monoxide alarms outside sleeping areas in your home;
• Get regular maintenance on your heating equipment from a qualified professional;
• Turn off portable heaters every time you leave the room and when you go to bed;
• Put ashes into a metal bucked far from combustible materials to cool down;
• It can take three days for ashes to cool completely;
• Maintain chimneys to make sure there are no blockages.

• Draw a floor plan of your home
• Mark all windows and doors
• Plan two ways out of every room, the primary escape should be the door and the secondary could be an alternate door or a window
• Make sure all windows and doors can be opened easily
• In a two-storey building, plan your escape through a window onto a roof or porch
• If you must use an escape ladder, be sure everyone knows how to use it. Children should practice with an adult
• Choose a meeting place for family members outside and mark it on the floor plan, a good meeting place would be a tree, a telephone pole or a neighbours house
• Make sure everyone understands the planned escape routes
• Practice your escape plan at least twice a year with everybody in your home
• Remember to practice with visitors and guests too

• Always stay in the room when candles are burning, put out the flame every time you leave the room or go to bed;
• In a power outage use battery powered lanterns or battery powered candles to reduce the risk of fire;
• Keep candles away from anything that can burn such as furniture or curtains;
• Keep candles away from pets;
• Keep candles in sturdy candle holders that won't tip or burn.

• Keep fire hydrants visible and accessible;
• Keep grass and vegetation away from fire hydrants;
• In winter make sure there is one metre of clear space around fire hydrants and clear paths to reach fire hydrants.

• Make sure cottages, boats with sleeping areas, trailers and recreational vehicles have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms;
• Follow the city fireworks by-law (download) and all manufacturer's directions when you use fireworks;
• Keep your barbecue clean and inspect hoses and burners, make any needed repairs and have it inspected by a licensed gas professional;
• Follow open air by-law regulations (download) when you have a fire.

 Learn what to do if a fire happens in your building. This is the best way to protect yourself and those around you.

 Fire safety begins with you

• Talk to your landlord, superintendent or building manager
• Know the emergency procedures outlined in the building’s fire safety plan
• Create a home escape plan and practice it with everyone in your home
• Every fire is different. You must act quickly when you hear the alarm or discover a fire
• Remember, most people die from the smoke, not the fire. Here is what to do:

If there is a fire in your unit

If there is a fire in your suite, it is not safe to stay inside! Stay away from poisonous smoke!

• Everyone evacuate immediately
• Close, but don’t lock, all doors behind you
• Pull the red fire alarm pull station next to the stairwell on your floor and yell “fire”
• Leave the building using the nearest exit stairway
• Do not use the elevator
• Never go to the roof, smoke rises! Doors to the roof are locked and you could become trapped
• Call the fire department at 9-1-1 from a safe location outside. (Never assume this has been done)
• Meet the firefighters when they arrive and tell them where the fire is
• Once out, stay out
• Do not go back into the building until the fire department tells you it’s safe

When you hear the fire alarm

To go or to stay?

Most of the time the best thing to do in a fire is leave the building as soon as possible. But in some cases you may not be able to leave and you may have to stay in your apartment. In either case you must act quickly. No matter what you decide, you must protect yourself from smoke.

Leaving the building:

• Check the door to your apartment, if it is hot or smoke is entering from around the door, do not open it. Stay in your unit and protect yourself from smoke
• If the door is cool and there is no smoke, brace yourself and open the door a little
  • If you see smoke or feel heat, close the door quickly and protect yourself
  • If the corridor is clear, exit your unit and go to the nearest stairway
• Do not use the elevator
• Open the nearest stairway door carefully
  • If there is no smoke, use the stairway to leave the building
  • If there is smoke, do not enter. Close the door and go to another stairway and open the door carefully
  • If there is no smoke here use this stairway to leave the building
  • If there is smoke, do not use this stairway. Ff there are other stairways try them. If there are not, return to your unit and protect yourself from smoke

If you remain in your apartment:

You must protect yourself from smoke. Stay in your apartment until you are rescued or told to leave. This may take a long time. Do not try and leave your apartment a long time after the alarm has sounded. The longer you wait, the more risk there is that heavy smoke will have spread into stairways and corridors. Your chances of survival are less. Keep smoke from entering your unit use duct tape to seal cracks around the door and place towels at the bottom. Seal vents or air ducts the same way.

When you are inside the stairway

•  If you find smoke on your way down the stairs, leave that stairway as soon as you can
• Use another stairway if it is clear of smoke
• if you can't use another stairway, return to your apartment if you can, or go to any corridor and bang on apartment doors until you find a place to take shelter
• Never go to the roof. Smoke rises to the top of the stairway. Doors opening onto the roof are locked and you could be trapped
• Remember, wherever you are, if there is smoke get low and go under the smoke to safety. The air is cleaner near the floor

 If smoke enters your unit, protect yourself

 If smoke starts to enter your suite (and you are unable to evacuate):

1. Call the fire department at 9-1-1 and tell them where you are and then move to the balcony. Close the doors behind you.
2. If you don’t have a balcony, go to the most smoke-free room, close the door and seal it with wide tape and towels. If necessary, open the window for fresh air. Show emergency personnel where you are by hanging a sheet from the window or balcony.
3. Keep low to the floor where the air is cleaner.
4. Listen for instructions from authorities

• Ontario Fire Marshal's Office

• Ontario Municipal Fire Prevention Officers Association

• National Fire Protection Association

• Sparky the Fire Dog

• Canadian Fire Safety Association

• Government of Canada, Safety Tips

• Wood
• Propane
• Natural Gas
• Heating Oil
• Coal
• Kerosene
• Charcoal
• Gasoline

Many Ontario homes have an average 4–6 fuel-burning appliances that produce carbon monoxide.

• Stove
• Furnace
• Fireplace
• Dryer
• Water heater

• Barbecue

• Portable fuel fired generator
• Portable fuel heater
• Vehicles

Regularly maintained appliances that are properly ventilated should not produce hazardous levels of carbon monoxide.

• Install a carbon monoxide alarm near all sleeping area(s) of the home
• Install the carbon monoxide alarm(s) in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions
• Ensure fuel-burning appliances, chimneys and vents are cleaned and inspected by professionals every year before cold weather sets in. Visit COSafety.ca to find a registered contractor near you

• Ensure vents for the dryer, furnace, stove, fireplace and other fuel-burning appliances are clear of snow and other debris
• Gas and charcoal barbecues should only be used outside, away from all doors, windows, vents, and other building openings
• Never use barbecues inside garages, even if the garage doors are open
• Portable fuel-burning generators should only be used outdoors in well-ventilated areas away from windows, doors, vents and other building openings
• Ensure all portable fuel-burning heaters are vented properly, according to manufacturer’s instructions
• Never use the stove or oven to heat your home
• Open the flu before using a fireplace for adequate ventilation
• Never run a vehicle or other fueled engine or motor inside a garage, even if the garage doors are open. Always remove a vehicle from the garage immediately after starting it

Know the Sound of the CO Alarm:

• Your CO alarm sounds different than your smoke alarm. Test both alarms monthly and make sure everyone in your home knows the difference between the two alarm sounds.

• Know the difference between the CO alarms' low-battery warning, end of life warning and an emergency alarm – consult the CO alarm manufacturer’s instructions.

What to do if the CO Alarm Sounds:

• Exposure to CO can cause flu-like symptoms such as headaches, nausea and dizziness, as well as confusion, drowsiness, loss of consciousness and death.

• If your CO alarm sounds, and you or other occupants suffer from symptoms of CO poisoning, get everyone out of the home immediately. Then call 9-1-1 or your local emergency services number from outside the building.

• If your CO alarm sounds, and no one is suffering from symptoms of CO poisoning, check to see if the battery needs replacing, or the alarm has reached its "end-of-life" before calling 9-1-1.