Be fire safe this New Year’s Eve!

The countdown to 2025 is on, which means you may be getting ready to ring in the new year with friends and family. Whether you’re going out or staying in, the City of Vaughan is reminding everyone to keep fire safety top of mind this evening.

To help ensure your New Year’s Eve festivities are fire free, follow these safety tips from Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service:

• Stay in the kitchen while cooking. Turn off the stove if you must step away even for a moment and remove all items from the stovetop when you are finished cooking. 
• Use battery-operated candles, flashlights and glow sticks instead of traditional candles as decorations. If you must use candles, use non-flammable candle holders. Never leave them unattended, and place them well away from children, pets and anything flammable.
• Remember to keep exits clear of decorations to ensure nothing blocks your escape routes in the event of a fire. 
• Teach children to recognize the sound of your home's smoke alarm and what to do when it goes off. Make sure they know to go to the designated meeting spot outside so everyone is safely accounted for.
• Remember, extension cords are for temporary use only. Use the right one for the job – there are special extension cords for outdoor use.
• Never overload electrical outlets by plugging in too many devices – use an approved power bar marked with a ULC or CSA symbol.
• Check the cords of your decorative lights closely – discard any sets that are frayed or damaged. 
• Test your smoke alarms to make sure they work, and ensure the batteries are new.

Remember, fireworks are only permitted tonight if you have a permit. As outlined in the City’s Fireworks and Pyrotechnics By-law 089-2022 (PDF), the only days Vaughan residents may set off fireworks without a permit are Victoria Day and Canada Day. That means a permit must be obtained from the City to light fireworks in a private, at-home display in Vaughan on all other days of the year, including New Years Eve. They must end by 10 p.m. on the permitted day (except on Victoria Day and Canada Day when they must end by 11 p.m.).

For more fire safety tips, visit vaughan.ca/fire. 

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