Bring fire safety to the cottage

Are you heading up north for the Labour Day long weekend? Whether it’s your last trip to your cottage before closing up for the season or you plan to spend time up there through to the fall, Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service is providing the following tips to help make sure your cottage remains fire safe any time of year.

At the cottage

• Test all smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms at least once a month.
• In Ontario, a CO alarm is required in every residence that has a fossil fuel-burning appliance, such as a gas furnace, propane barbecue, stove or dryer. Install a CO alarm near each sleeping area.
• Ensure you have a backup CO alarm near the fossil fuel-burning appliance or furnace.
• Develop and practise an emergency escape plan (PDF) – establishing all exits, including windows – with everyone staying at your cottage, so they know how to get out in case of a fire. 

Outdoor fireplaces, chimineas and fuel-burning appliances

• Store combustible material and flammable liquids away from all fuel-burning appliances.
• Maintain a minimum of three metres between the fireplace and combustible objects and surfaces, and use appropriate insulating material, such as a metal or stone fire pit pad, under the unit if used on a wooden deck. 
• Remove debris from all chimneys and vents, and check the unit regularly for cracks or other physical deterioration.
• Burn clean, dry firewood only and limit the amount of firewood burning to ensure the flames are confined to the unit and do not extend into the chimney. 

Constantly supervise the fire unit when in use and follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions. Just in case, keep a method of fire snuffing nearby (e.g. a fire extinguisher, pail of water, garden hose) and avoid using an outdoor fireplace during strong winds. For more guidelines on backyard firepits and chimineas, visit vaughan.ca/fire.

Barbecues

• Use barbecues outdoors only. They produce CO, a scentless, poisonous gas that can be fatal in an enclosed space. 
• Remove rust, dirt and cobwebs from all burner ports. Use a pipe cleaner or wire to ensure they are clear of any obstructions.
• Check hose and cylinder connections to make sure they are in good condition. To look for leaks, brush a mixture of 50 per cent soap and 50 per cent water onto all hoses and connections and look for bubbles. Replace, repair or tighten any connections until bubbles are gone. Never use a match or lighter to check for leaks.
• Clean out grease traps and remove debris from grill areas.
• Place the barbecue in a safe area away from combustible materials, buildings and fences. Radiant heat from a barbecue can damage the siding on the exterior of a home or shed.
• Turn off the gas and wait five minutes if the burner does not ignite. Keep the lid open, then try again.

When using charcoal grills, only use charcoal briquettes (a compressed chunk of coal dust or charcoal) explicitly designed for that purpose and charcoal lighting fluids to ignite. Sprinkle the briquettes with lighter fluid and allow it to soak in, then wait approximately 10 minutes. Never add fluid after igniting the barbecue, and never use gasoline to light a barbecue.

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

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