It is important to prepare in advance and know what actions to take in the event of a forest fire.

Keep safe

If feeling dizzy, weak or overheated:

• go to a cool place.
• sit or lie down.
• drink water.
• wash face with cool water.
• avoid exercising during the warmest parts of the day.

If these tips do not help, seek medical help immediately. Be sure to check on elderly family members by phone or video call. 

Never leave pets or children in hot cars.

Emergency Shelters

An emergency shelter provides evacuees access to food, clothing, lodging, pet sheltering, mobile device charging, washroom/bathing facilities and services to support recovery from the situation.

To provide a place of refuge for evacuees, the City has designated all community centres as emergency shelters. Three community centres have pre-positioned cots and linen sets and are the first sites opened depending on the location of the emergency.

What to do

Before an emergency

• Put together a pet emergency survival kit.
• Complete a pet record (PDF) for each pet and store it in your emergency kit.
• Ensure pets are microchipped.
• Make a list of pet-friendly places:
  • kennels
  • veterinary facilities
  • hotels and motels
• Find out which hotels allow pets in emergencies.

During an emergency

Earthquakes occur when energy is released underground through the shifting and breaking of rocks. This can cause rapid and sudden shaking of the earth which last for seconds or several minutes and can cause damage to buildings, roads and bridges, and trigger landslides. Aftershocks can also happen – they are small earthquakes occurring hours, days or weeks after an earthquake.

If this is the case, use these tips to keep safe:

• Place a wet towel under the door frames.
• Place duct tape or foil wrap over doors and vent openings.
• Whistle and use a flashlight to signal for help.
• Hang a brightly coloured cloth out of a window or a balcony to identify location.
• Write messages with an ink marker on cloth or on windows.
• Wet a cotton bed sheet – make a tent with it and stay near a window when the smoke is heavy.
• Use a plastic pail with a lid to fill with water during a fire.

Firework safety

Fireworks can only be set off on your own property. It is illegal to set off fireworks in a park, roadway, sidewalk or any other public property.

The following safety precautions must be taken while operating fireworks:

Recognizing potential threats and empowering ourselves with the right knowledge and tools makes our community safer for everyone. Discover more fire prevention and safety tips below.

If you or a member of your household require special assistance in an emergency and would like to have your name and address placed on the registry, please complete and submit the form below.

To ensure you or a member of your household is always on this list, remember to:

Based in the city of Vaughan with a population of more than 335,000, Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service (VFRS) strives to operate as efficiently and effectively as possible, while maintaining what is most important: the safety of firefighters and those who live in, work in and visit the city.

As a leader in the industry, it is VFRS’s responsibility to enhance its understanding of the needs of its growing city. The service seeks forward-looking analytic techniques to create greater value for citizens and the community through data-driven decision-making.