Residential Safety Tips

Stay fire smart...in the kitchen!  

Did you know that unattended cooking is the number one cause of home fires?

Most kitchen fires occur because:

• Leaving the kitchen to do another chore such as lau​ndry
• Distracted by phone calls
• Doorbell rang and forgot about food on the stove
• The children needed attention
• "I laid down for just a moment"
• Catching up on reading or watching your favourite show

Know the hazards in your kitchen:

• Never pour water onto a grease fire.  Slide a lid on the burning pan and turn off the heat control switch.
• Keep your stove clean from grease and oil
• Keep pot handles turned inward
• Keep toddlers and their toys out of the kitchen
• Make sure electrical cords are in good working condition and secured over the countertop. Never overload electrical circuits.
• Wear clothing that is fitted while cooking

What to do if there is a fire in your kitchen:

• PUT A LID ON IT!  Slide a proper fitting lid onto the pot/pan, then turn off the heat source
• While cooking, always have oven mitts and proper-fitting lids nearby
• If there is a fire in the oven or microwave:  close the door, turn the power off, and open doors and windows to ventilate
• If you are in danger at anytime, alert others in the home while evacuating, exit the home, and go to your meeting place.  Call 911 from a safe location.

Home Heating Appliances

Your home furnace can become a hazard if not properly maintained. An annual inspection will ensure that your heating and venting systems are operating safely and efficiently. Contact a qualified heating contractor to provide the most important annual check-up.

Carbon Monoxide Safety

If you have gas-fueled appliances in the home, be aware they are potential sources of Carbon Monoxide (CO). Carbon Monoxide is a product of incomplete combustion, which essentially means the product isn't burning as intended. For information about an inspection and proper maintenance of your appliances, contact TSSA (Technical Standards and Safety Authority).

Wood-Burning Appliances

If you have a wood-burning stove or wood-burning fireplace, have a W.E.T.T. certified technician (Wood Energy Technology Transfer) conduct an inspection once per year. They can also educate you on proper cleaning and maintenance to prevent carbon monoxide risks.

Portable and Baseboard Heaters

• Keep portable and baseboard heaters clear of items that can burn.
• Always turn off portable heaters when leaving the home to reduce the risk of fire.

Smoking materials are the leading cause of fire deaths.

These fires are preventable. Here are some tips to help keep our home and loved ones safe:

Smoking Safety

• If you smoke, use only fire-safe cigarettes.
• If you smoke, smoke outside. Most deaths result from fires that started in living rooms, family rooms and dens or in bedrooms.
• Keep cigarettes, lighters, matches, and other smoking materials up high out of the reach of children, in a locked cabinet.

Put it Out

• Use a deep, sturdy ashtray. Place it away from anything that can burn.
• Do not discard cigarettes in vegetation such as mulch, potted plants or landscaping, peat moss, dried grasses, leaves or other things that could ignite easily. 
• Before you throw away butts and ashes, make sure they are out, and dousing in water or sand is the best way to do that.

Smoking and Medical Oxygen

Do not smoke or allow anyone to smoke where medical oxygen is used. Medical oxygen can cause materials to ignite more easily and make fires burn at a faster rate than normal. It can make an existing fire burn faster and hotter.

Electronic Cigarettes

Fires have occurred while e-cigarettes were being used, the battery was being charged,

or the device was being transported. Battery failures have led to small explosions.

• Never leave charging e-cigarettes unattended. 
• E-cigarettes should be used with caution.
• Never charge e-cigarettes with a charger that has not been provided by the manufacturer of that specific device.