Awareness Resources

Are you and your loved ones safe from fire? Would everyone know what to do if a fire occurred in your home?

Most fatal fires occur in the home, where everyone feels safe and secure. What makes this worse is that many of these victims could still be alive today if they had taken a few simple steps to prevent these fatal fires. A home fire can start in many different ways and you must try to eliminate all possible fire hazards.

Take some time to fill out the following checklist and make sure your household is fire safe.

Fire Safety Checklist

Fire and Emergency Service Locations

St. Catharines
Jim Waycik
Chief Fire Prevention Officer
St. Catharines Fire Services
905-688-5601, ext. 4235
jwaycik@stcatharines.ca
Welland
Cheri Busch
Fire Prevention Officer
Welland Fire and Emergency Services
905-735-9922 ext.224
cheri.busch@welland.ca
Fort Erie
Kellie Kubik
Fire Prevention Inspector
Fort Erie Fire Department
905-871-1600, ext. 2605
kkubik@forterie.on.ca
West Lincoln
Kevin McIntyre
Deputy Chief
West Lincoln Fire & Emergency Services
905-957-3361
kmcintyre@westlincoln.com
Grimsby
Administrative Assistant
Grimsby Fire Department
905-945-2113
gfd@town.grimsby.on.ca
Niagara Falls
Todd Maiuri
Fire Prevention Officer
Niagara Falls Fire Department
905-356-1321, ext. 2233
tmauiri@niagarafalls
Pelham
Saskia Holditch,
Fire Prevention Officer
Pelham Fire Department
905-892-3943
sholditch@pelham.ca
Niagara-On-The-Lake
Joseph Zambito
Deputy Fire Chief
Niagara-On-The-Lake Fire and Emergency Services
905-468-3266
JZambito@notl.org
Thorold
Larry Robertson
Fire Prevention Officer
Thorold Fire Department
905-227-6613
fpo@thorold.com
Port Colborne
Michael Bendia
Fire Prevention Officer
Port Colborne Fire And Emergency Services
905-834-4512, ext. 22
mikebendia@portcolborne.ca
Wainfleet
Chris Cole
Fire Chief
Township of Wainfleet Fire Department
905-899-1281
chiefcole@township.wainfleet.on.ca
Lincoln
Trevor Doomernik
Fire Prevention Officer
Town of Lincoln Fire and Rescue Service
905-563-8205, ext. 255
tdoomernik@lincoln.ca

PARENTS

You have prepared your child the best you can, but when they leave home for the first time, are you sure they have everything they need to be safe? While the cost of an apartment or room may be the first consideration for many people, do you think about smoke alarms? What about exits?

We often hear about the person who drew the shortest straw, or was last to rent and was delegated with the basement bedroom beside the furnace.

Here are some things to take into consideration when helping choose a new place. If your child has already moved in a place and you are concerned about their fire safety, contact your local fire inspection division. We have also added a link to information basics which will help to make decisions about renting apartments.

  • Smoke Alarms
  • Carbon Monoxide Alarms
  • Fire Separations
  • Exits
  • Fire Escape Plans
  • Security
  • Electrical Safety
  • Decisions When Renting

Also check with your insurance agent to see if any coverage is extended to your children or if they should have their own coverage.

If your child is attending an educational institution in the United States we have added links to some proactive fire safety sites.

BUILDING OWNERS / LANDLORDS

So, you have just bought a house or an apartment building and are looking to rent it out. You know about everything about the Residential Tenancies Act, however, what about the Ontario Fire Code or the Ontario Building Code?

Does your building comply with the Ontario Fire Code? There is zero tolerance in Ontario when it comes to having working smoke alarms. Fines for not having smoke alarms installed and maintained according to the Fire Code can be up to $50,000.00 and up to a year or imprisonment for a term of not more than one year, or both. A corporation convicted of a Fire Code offence is liable to a fine of up to $100,000.

Ontario Fire Code

Some municipalities such as Niagara Falls have carbon monoxide (CO) by-laws requiring the installation of CO alarms. Contact your local fire department for more information.

And, if you are renovating or adding rooms a Building Permit may be required. Contact your local building department to ensure any renovations are done safely.

Ontario Building Code

Renters

Whether you are a student moving into a college or university residence, or just decided that you would like your own place to live, there are a multitude of decisions to be made. Every year we hear about a number of major fires affecting young adults in the Niagara Region. While there are several causes for these fires, including arson, you need to be prepared in the event of fire.

What can you do?

If your building has a fire alarm system, become involved in fire drills. If you have not been instructed by the building owner about fire protection features in the building - ask.

Test your smoke alarms at least monthly, or when you have been away for more than a couple of days. If it doesn't work when you push the test button, contact your landlord or administrator immediately. Don't assume that just because there is one installed, it will work forever; they need maintenance just like any other appliance.

Reduce false alarms. Apathy is prevalent when the fire alarm or smoke alarm activates frequently. See the following web site if you have nuisance alarms from your smoke alarm. http://www.makeitstop.ca

Know your address. The 9-1-1 system in Niagara has an enhanced 911 system which means your name, phone number and address will be shown on the dispatcher's screen if you call from a traditional phone line. Cell phones and newer internet based phone lines may not provide the dispatcher with all the emergency information... such as the location of the emergency.

The following contains more information on how to be prepared in case of fire: Fire Safety 101