'Tis the season for fire safety

Dec. 6, 2016 12:00 a.m.
Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service offers tips to protect your family
 
With the holiday season upon us, we are entering one of the most festive times of the year. But it can also be full of fire risks.
 
Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service (VFRS) is urging everyone to pay special attention when cooking during the holidays, and to drink responsibly. Provincial statistics reveal that careless cooking is the number one cause of fires and the second leading cause of fatal fires.
 
VFRS is also reminding citizens about the law requiring working smoke alarms on every level of the home and outside all sleeping areas. Take a few minutes to test your smoke alarms and make sure people in the home know exactly what to do if the smoke alarms sound in an emergency. Develop and practice a home escape plan with everyone in the home.
 
Enjoy a fire safe holiday season by following these tips:
 
  • Stay in the kitchen when cooking. Cooking is a major cause of home fires, so don’t leave the kitchen if there’s something on the stove. If a pot catches fire, don’t try to move it. Cover the pot with a lid to smother the flames and turn off the burner. Make sure the stove is off before going to bed.
  • Keep things that can burn, such as cooking utensils and paper towels, a safe distance from the stove as they can easily ignite if they are too close.
  • Keep an eye on people consuming alcohol in your household to ensure they are being fire safe.
  • Make sure all cigarettes are properly extinguished before going to bed. Cigarettes can smoulder among upholstered items for hours before igniting. Check sofas and chairs for cigarettes that may have fallen between the cushions. Provide large, deep ashtrays for smokers.
  • Drink responsibly. Excessive alcohol consumption is a contributing factor in many residential fires.
  • Install and maintain working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms outside all sleeping areas of the home. Smoke alarms also are required on every level. Failure to comply with the smoke and carbon monoxide alarm requirements can result in a ticket for $360 or a fine of up to $50,000 for individuals and $100,000 for corporations.
QUOTES
 
“The holidays bring family and friends together to celebrate and share in the joys of this special time of the year. The safety of our citizens is a top priority and we want to ensure that you and your family have a happy and safe festive season. I encourage everyone to use care when celebrating and follow the important safety advice from Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service. We all have a role to play in keeping our city safe.”
— Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua, City of Vaughan
 
“The safety and security of Vaughan residents is our number one priority. During the holiday season we’re asking residents to pay special attention and follow our safety tips to help prevent fires in the home. Ensure all of your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are working, and never leave candles or your cooking unattended. These simple tips can save lives.”
— Fire Chief Larry Bentley, Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service
 
“The holidays are one of the most festive times of the year, but they can also be one of the most dangerous times for fires in our homes. Far too often we see fires resulting from careless or unattended cooking, and in many cases alcohol is involved. Stay in the kitchen and pay attention when cooking, and always drink responsibly.”
— Ross Nichols, Ontario Fire Marshal and Chief of Emergency Management
 
“York Regional Police has laid more than 1,400 impaired-related charges so far this year and with the holiday season upon us, we know that number will rise. We all have the ability to make an impact on these terrible statistics. I urge everyone to ‘Be THAT person.’ The person who speaks up against impaired driving. The person who commits to driving sober. The person who, if you see a suspected impaired driver, calls 9-1-1. We can all make a difference in our community.”
— Police Chief Eric Jolliffe, York Regional Police
 
QUICK FACTS
 
  • Last December, there were 64 injuries and three fatalities in residential fires in the province.
  • The top five causes of fires in December are cooking, heating equipment, electrical distribution equipment, cigarettes and appliances.
  • One in five residential fires in December are a result of cooking, typically because of cooking left unattended.
LEARN MORE
 

 

 
This demonstration shows what to do if a pot catches fire. Slide the lid over the pot and turn off the stove. Don’t move a burning pot.
 



 

 

 

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