Fire Safety and Prevention

• Risk Watch brochure

For more fire safety information, please visit our Fire and Public Safety Education page.

By properly selecting, placing, testing and maintaining your smoke alarm, you will greatly increase your chances of surviving a home fire. When you head to the store, you'll find there are many different types of smoke alarms on the market. There are battery-operated detectors and others that run on electricity. There are "ionization" sensor smoke alarms and "photoelectric" smoke alarms.

No matter what type of smoke alarm you purchase, make sure it is approved by an independent testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories Canada (ULC) or Canadian Standards Association (CSA).

• All Ontario single family, semi-detached and town homes, whether owner occupied or rented, must have a working smoke alarm on every level, and outside all sleeping areas.

• If anyone in the household sleeps with the bedroom door closed, install an alarm inside their bedroom.

Remember! Your vacation trailer or cottage needs a smoke alarm too!

Installing a smoke alarm is simple. A screwdriver and a drill are all you need to install a battery-operated smoke alarm. For smoke alarms that plug into an electrical outlet, be certain to use a restraining device so the plug can't be accidentally jarred loose. Smoke alarms can also be hardwired directly into your home's electrical system. A qualified electrician should do Hardwire installations. Never connect a smoke alarm to a circuit that can be turned off by a wall switch.

Always follow the manufacturer's installation instructions and be sure your smoke alarms are held securely in place. Because smoke rises, smoke alarms should be mounted high on a wall or on the ceiling.

• Wall mounted smoke alarms should be installed so the top is 10 to 30 centimetres from the ceiling.

• Ceiling-mounted units should be installed at least 10 centimetres from any wall.

• If a room has a pitched ceiling, mount the smoke alarm at or near the ceiling's highest point.

• In stairways with no doors at the top or bottom, position smoke alarms in the path smoke would follow up the stairwell.

• Mount smoke alarms at the bottom of closed stairways, such as those leading to a basement. Dead air trapped near the door at the top of a stairway could prevent smoke from reaching a smoke alarm located at the top.

• Don't install a smoke alarm too close to windows, doors or forced air registers, where drafts could interfere with the smoke alarm's operation.

• If you have questions about the best places to install smoke alarms, contact the Public Education Division.

Batteries

• Never remove the batteries from smoke alarms. If nuisance alarms are a problem, try moving the alarm to another location or purchase an alarm with a “hush feature” that temporarily silences the alarm.

• Change the batteries when you change the time on your clocks.

• Replace smoke alarms every ten years.

Testing

Test your smoke detectors at least once a month, following the manufacturer's instructions. Both battery-operated and electric smoke alarms become less effective with age. If your smoke alarm does not respond to the recommended test procedure (usually pressing a "test" button), change its batteries. If it still does not perform, replace it.

Cleaning

Follow the manufacturer's instructions for cleaning your smoke alarms. Cobwebs and dust can generally be removed using a vacuum cleaner attachment. If you are doing work around a smoke alarm that could send dust into the air, cover the smoke alarm (don't forget to remove the cover when you're through). Never paint any part of a smoke alarm.

Detect and protect

Once your smoke alarms are up and running, make sure everyone in the household is familiar with the sound of the alarms and that they can be heard behind closed bedroom doors.
Plan escape routes and review them with all family members. Have at least two ways to get out of every room in your home. Agree on a meeting place outside your home where everyone can gather after they escape. Practice your escape. When an alarm sounds, leave immediately. Go directly to your outside meeting place. Call the 911 and ask for the fire department.

Get out and stay out. Never return to a burning building.

In Ontario, over 65% of all injuries and deaths due to carbon monoxide occur in homes. Many homes in Ontario have on average 4-6 fuel burning appliances that produce carbon monoxide including a fireplace, gas dryer, stove, water heater, portable fuel heater, and furnace. 

How do I protect my family?

• Ensure all fuel-burning appliances and vents are inspected annually. Find a registered contractor on the CO Safety website.

• Install carbon monoxide alarms outside all sleeping areas if your home has a fuel burning appliance, fireplace or attached garage.

• For best protection, install carbon monoxide alarms on every storey of the home. 

• Test carbon monoxide alarms monthly and change the batteries at least once a year. Replace alarms according to manufacturers' recommendations. 

Carbon monoxide alarms

Homeowners and landlords are responsible for ensuring their properties have working carbon monoxide alarms.

This includes:

• Testing

  • It is recommended that carbon monoxide alarms be tested monthly or in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

• Batteries

  • Replace batteries in carbon monoxide alarms once a year or whenever the low-battery warning sounds.

  • Know the difference between a low-battery warning and an emergency alarm - consult the carbon monoxide alarm manufacturer's instructions.

• Replace carbon monoxide alarms

  • In accordance with the manufacturer's instructions

  • Know what the "end-of-life" warning sounds like - consult the carbon monoxide alarm manufacturer's instructions.

• Landlords

  • Landlords are responsible to ensure working carbon monoxide alarms are installed and maintained in their rental properties.

  • The law requires landlords to test carbon monoxide alarms in rental units annually and when the battery is replaced, changes are made to the electric circuit, or a change in tenancy occurs. Carbon monoxide alarms must be tested by pressing the test button.

  • The law requires landlords to provide carbon monoxide alarm manufacturer's maintenance instructions to tenants.

• Tenants

  • The law requires tenants to notify the landlord if the carbon monoxide alarm is inoperable.

  • It is against the law for tenants to remove the batteries or tamper with the alarm in any way.

Exposure to carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide is often referred to as the silent killer. There is no odour, no colour and no taste. Exposure to carbon monoxide can cause flu-like symptoms. 

If your carbon monoxide alarm sounds, and you or other occupants suffer from symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, get everyone out of the home immediately. Then call 911 or your local emergency services number from outside the building. If your carbon monoxide alarm sounds, and no one is suffering from symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, check to see if the battery needs replacing, or the alarm has reached its "end-of-life"' before calling 911.

For further information contact Captain Mark Burger at the Halton Hills Fire Department.

In-home consultation is available to residents to help address and solve problems relating to smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, fire escape planning and general fire prevention measures. All members of the family are encouraged to be a part of this information sharing process.

Contact the HHFD Public Education Division.

For further information, please go to the Halton Region Seat Safety website and Car Seat Coalition.