Prevention

Every home is required by law to have working smoke alarms on every level and outside all sleeping areas. Smoke alarms provide early warning and give you and your family the time needed to escape safely in the event of a fire. Most fatal home fires happen at night while people are sleeping. Working smoke alarms can save your life.

When inspecting your smoke alarms, do the following:

1. Inspect the manufacture date
   • Smoke alarms expire after 10 years. Check the manufacturer’s date on the back of the alarm and replace it if it’s expired.
2. Test your smoke alarm monthly
   • Press and hold the test button until you hear the alarm sound
   • If it doesn’t sound, replace the batteries or the alarm right away
3. Check the power
   • For battery-operated alarms, replace batteries at least once a year (or when you hear the low-battery chirp)
   • For hardwired alarms, make sure the backup battery is in place and working.
4. Inspect for dust
   • Gently vacuum or wipe around the alarm to remove dust that may block the sensor

It's the law to install carbon monoxide (CO) alarms next to all sleeping areas if your home has:

• Fuel-burning appliances
• Fireplace
• An attached garage

When inspecting your carbon monoxide alarm, do the following:

1. Test the Alarm
   • Press and hold the "test" button until you hear a loud beep. This confirms the alarm's speaker and electronics are working
2. Check the Power Source
   • Ensure the batteries are fresh and correctly installed, or confirm the alarm is receiving power if it's hardwired. Replace the batteries every 6 months
3. Inspect the Unit
   • Inspect the alarm for dust, dirt, or damage. Gently vacuum around the openings to keep the sensors clear
4. Check the Expiration Date
   • CO alarms have a limited lifespan (usually 7-10 years). The manufacture or expiry date is printed on the back. Replace the alarm if it has expired
5. Placement Check
   • Make sure the alarm is installed in the right location: outside sleeping areas and on every level of your home

Quick facts about carbon monoxide

Here are some quick facts about CO:

• CO is a colourless, tasteless and odourless gas
• Fuels that do not have enough air to burn completely produce CO gas
• Any device that burns fuel can produce CO gas, including stoves, fireplaces, generators and engines
• Exposure to CO gas can cause flu-like symptoms
• At high levels, CO gas can cause loss of consciousness or death

For more information on carbon monoxide alarms, click here

Remember that if it's an emergency, dial 9-1-1 immediately.

Use an extinguisher only if:

• The fire is small, confined, and not spreading.
• Everyone else has left or is leaving the building.
• The fire department has been called.
• You can fight the fire with your back to a safe escape route.
• The extinguisher matches the type of fire.
• You know how to operate the extinguisher.

Do try to fight the fire under any other circumstance. Leave the building immediately, close the door behind you and call 9-1-1.

Dryden Fire Services provides hands-on fire extinguisher training upon request to industry, workplace or community groups for a fee.

To book fire extinguisher training for your workplace or organization, click here

A building's Fire Safety Plan includes information related to building construction and fire safety equipment. It also includes fire safety information and fire emergency procedures for the occupants in the building.

It is the building owner's responsibility to ensure that a Fire Safety Plan has been prepared and is implemented in the building. Fire Safety Plans must be reviewed at least every 12 months.

Fire Safety Plans are required for buildings that contain one of the following:

• an assembly occupancy;
• a care occupancy;
• a care and treatment occupancy;
• a detention occupancy;
• a residential occupancy where the occupant load exceeds 10 people;
• a retirement home;
• a business and personal service occupancy where the occupant load exceeds 300;
• a mercantile occupancy where the occupant load exceeds 300;
• a high hazard occupancy where the occupant load exceeds 25;
• a medium hazard occupancy where the occupant load exceeds 100; or
• a low-hazard occupancy where the occupant load exceeds 300.

The Fire Prevention Officer or Fire Chief can also order a Fire Safety Plan for a building if it does not meet any of the above requirements, if they believe a Fire Safety Plan would improve fire safety for the building.

There are federal rules and regulations related to the use of fireworks. These laws include regulations for the sale, usage, and storage of fireworks, as well as a mandate for absolute safety.

The Dryden Fire Service displays one show every year during Canada Day. The City of Dryden suggests leaving fireworks to the professionals and attending the Canada Day fireworks display, but if you're planning to use fireworks at home, please take these safety precautions:

• Appoint a responsible person to be in charge
• Carefully read and follow the label directions on fireworks' packaging
• Always keep a water hose or pail of water close by when discharging fireworks
• Discharge fireworks well away from combustible materials such as buildings, trees and dry grass
• Keep onlookers a safe distance away, upwind from the area where fireworks are discharged
• Light one firework at a time. Never light a firework in your hand or relight dud fireworks
• Discharge fireworks only if wind conditions do not create a safety hazard
• Keep sparklers away from children. AS the sparkler wire remains hot for some minutes after burnout, it should be immediately soaked in water to avoid injury
• If someone gets burned, run cool water over the burn for three to five minutes

For more information on fireworks, click here

FireSmart your property using the principles and tools provided by FireSmart Canada is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of wildfire damage. By taking proactive steps, such as clearing flammable debris, using fire-resistant building materials, and maintaining defensible space around your home, you not only protect your property but also support the safety of your entire community. FireSmart Canada offers proven, science-based guidelines that empower homeowners to make informed, practical changes that can make a real difference when wildfire strikes.

For more Information, check out the following links:

Fire Smart at Home Guide

Home Ignition Zone Self Assessment

Evacuation Checklist

For more information on fire safety and other topics, visit the following websites:

• The Officer of the Fire Marshal (OFM)
• National Fire Protection Act (NFPA)
• Sparky.org
• Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry