Fire Safety in the Home

Give Your Space Heater some...Space!

The leading factor contributing to space heater fires in general was heating equipment too close to things that can burn.  Heating equipment continues to be the second leading cause of home fires behind cooking and the second leading cause of home fire deaths behind smoking.  Give your space heater some space and practice the following simple safety hints.

Remember that smoke and carbon monoxide alarms (CO) are required in every home in Ontario.  Find more on home early warning systems here.

Heating

• All heaters need space. Keep things that can burn, such as paper, bedding or furniture, at least 1 metre away from heating equipment.
• Use heating equipment that has the label of a recognized testing laboratory.  In Canada an example is ULC  (Underwriters Labratory of Canada). 
• Never use your oven for heating.
• Install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment, according to the local codes and manufacturer's instructions.    

Portable electric space heaters

• Turn heaters off when you go to bed or leave the room.
• Use and purchase portable space heaters with an automatic shut off so if they're tipped over they will shut off.
• Place space heater on solid, flat surface.
• Plug power cords directly into outlets and never into an extension cord.
• Inspect for cracked or damaged, broken plugs or loose connections. Replace before using.

Wood burning stoves

• Wood burning appliances are required to be installed under a building permit in Ontario. 
• In wood stoves, burn only dry, seasoned wood. In pellet stoves, burn only dry, seasoned wood pellets.
• Start the fire with newspaper or kindling, never with a flammable liquid, such as lighter fluid, kerosene or gasoline.
• Keep the doors of your wood stove closed unless loading or stoking the live fire.
• Allow ashes to cool before disposing. Dispose of ashes in a tightly covered metal container and keep the ash container at least 10 feet away from the home and any other nearby buildings. Douse and saturate with water.
• Chimneys and vents need to be cleaned and inspected at least once a year.

Can emergency services find you when you need them?

Emergency services can only help you if they can find you. To ensure that happens, a number must be posted on every building. The numbers must be:

• Plain, legible and at least 12.5 cm (five inches) high

• Located at the main entrance or on the building side facing the roadway

• Legible from the roadway

• On individual apartments, indicating each apartment number

Help us find you when you need us most!

For more information, view the Numbering Your Home By-law.

Seniors Safety

When it comes to fire, adults over age 65 are at greater risk than any other group. As most fire deaths occur in the home, it is important that older people know how to protect themselves.

Common fire scenarios involving adults 65 years and older:

• People smoking in their living area or bedroom while sleepy. Burning cigarettes or ashes ignite furniture/bedding or clothing.
• People reaching over a hot burner on the stove and igniting clothing.

Make sure a fire never starts by following these simple tips:

• If you smoke use large, deep ashtrays. If anyone in the home smokes, smoke outside. Never smoke in bed.
• Don't reach for danger! Wear tight-fitting or rolled-up sleeves when cooking and don't reach over a hot burner. Always stay in the kitchen when you are cooking.
• Always blow out candles before leaving the room.  Better yet replace with battery operated candles.
• Ensure items that can burn are one metre away from space heaters.
• Avoid overloading the electrical outlets. Extension cords should be used only as a temporary connection.
• Avoid running cords under rugs, which can damage the cord and cause a fire.
• Install a smoke alarm on every storey of your home and outside all sleeping areas. Test smoke alarms once a month and replace the battery once a year, or whenever the low-battery warning sounds.
• Know exactly what to do and where to go if there is a fire. Plan and practice your escape! Develop a home fire escape plan or refer to your building's fire safety plan.

People with Disabilities

People with disabilities face unique challenges during a fire. Contact an Orillia Fire Prevention Officer to discuss those challenges.

The City of Orillia Web site includes links to Web pages or sites operated by third parties that will take you away from our site to destinations over which we have no control. Our privacy statement does not apply to the sites of third parties and we do not assume any responsibility for the actions of third parties. We encourage you to review the policies of these sites yourself upon your arrival.

We attempt to make our website documents accessible however, some of these documents may not completely meet the AODA Accessibility requirements. If you require assistance or communication support, please contact us (705)-325-5215.