Remember Fire Safety when opening and returning to your cottage

Remember Fire Safety when opening and returning to your cottage

Kawartha Lakes –May is when many Ontarians get a jump on summer by opening their cottages and other seasonal homes. The Kawartha Lakes Fire Rescue is urging residents to add safety and prevention to their cottage plans.

“Cottages and other seasonal homes are vulnerable to unsafe conditions that can arise over the winter such as smoke and carbon monoxide alarms that no longer work and chimneys that have become blocked,” says Fire Chief Mark Pankhurst.

 “Those travelling to cottages, cabins and seasonal homes should take new smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and batteries in case they need replacing when you arrive. We want everyone to enjoy the summer, and that includes staying safe,” adds Chief Pankhurst.

Other cottage fire safety tips include:

• Install smoke alarms on every storey and outside all sleeping areas of homes, cottages, cabins and seasonal homes
• Install carbon monoxide alarms outside all sleeping areas if your home, cottage or cabin has a fuel-burning appliance, fireplace or attached garage
• Develop and practice a home escape plan to ensure everyone knows what to do if the smoke or carbon monoxide alarm sounds
• Clean barbecues before using them and keep barbecue lighters and matches out of sight and reach of children
• Inspect heating appliances and chimneys before using them
• Check the Kawartha Lakes Burn Ban Status 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
• Always keep a bucket of water or sand and a shovel close by and supervise the fire at all times
• If you drink, do so responsibly
• Burn candles in sturdy candleholders that will not tip and are covered with a glass shade. When you go out, blow out!

To learn more about the Kawartha Lakes Fire Rescue and fire safety, visit our website.

For more information, please contact:

Kawartha Lakes Fire Rescue
705-324-5731
fireprevention@kawarthalakes.ca kawarthalakes.ca/fire
@KLfirerescue

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