Fire Prevention

Smoke alarms

Seconds count in a fire. Give your family the best head a start and make sure you have smoke alarms installed as required by law - smoke alarms must be installed on every level of your home and outside of all sleeping areas. For added protection, install smoke alarms inside every bedroom. 

For more information on smoke alarms visit the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs' Smoke Alarms webpage. 

Carbon monoxide (CO) alarms

Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless, tasteless and toxic gas. CO is often referred to as a "silent killer" since it cannot be detected without an alarm. CO alarms are required outside all sleeping areas if you have a fuel burning appliance in your home or an attached garage.

For more information on carbon monoxide visit the TSSA's CO Safety website. 

Where does CO come from and what are fuel burning appliances?

Carbon monoxide is produced by incomplete burning of fuels such as:

• wood
• propane
• natural gas
• heating oil
• coal
• kerosene
• charcoal
• gasoline

Any appliance, equipment or vehicle that uses one of these fuels can create CO. Fuel burning appliances can include (but are not limited to):

• wood or gas burning stoves
• gas refrigerators
• gasoline engines (such as vehicles or generators)
• kerosene heaters
• gas water heaters
• gas dryers

Woodstove ashes can remain hot for a long time, which makes them both a fire hazard and a CO hazard. If you burn wood in your home, make sure the ash bucket is made of a non-combustible material and is kept outside, away from the house and anything else that could catch fire. 

All of your fuel burning appliances must be maintained on a regular basis. A qualified service professional should inspect all of your appliances at least once a year. 

Is your smoke or CO alarm celebrating its 10th year in your home? It's time to replace it! 

Check the back of your alarms for the manufacture date. Many alarms expire after 10 years, but some may expire before that so check with the manufacturer if you aren't sure when the alarm expires. Replace any alarms that have expired. 

Once you've checked the date, test the alarm. All alarms in your home should be tested monthly by pressing the test button. If they fail, replace them. If they fail well before their expiration date, contact the manufacturer to see if they have a replacement program. 

Cooking is the leading cause of home fires in Ontario. Follow these tips to avoid accidentally starting a cooking fire:

• Always stay in the kitchen when cooking and turn the stove completely off if you must leave.
• Keep a timer handy to remind you when the oven and burners should be switched off.
• Keep a proper fitting lid near the stove. If a pot of oil catches fire, slide the lid over the pot and turn off the stove. Do not move the pot. Never throw water on a burning pot.
• To avoid burning yourself while cooking:
  • Remove lids carefully to avoid steam burns
  • Use potholders or oven mitts to remove pots from the stove, oven or microwave
  • If you burn yourself while cooking, run cool water over the wound for three to five minutes. If the burn is severe, seek medical attention.
• Keep anything that burns - plastic utensils, dishcloths, paper towels - a safe distance from the stove.
  • Even though the handle on the front of oven doors seems like a perfect place to hang dish towels, it's not, keep towels away from the stove. 
  • Do not leave anything on or beside the stove top, even when all the burners are turned off or during a power outage - burners may accidentally get turned on and ignite whatever has been left on the stove.
  • Wear tight-fitted clothing or roll up your sleeves when using the stove. Loose, dangling clothing can easily catch fire or get caught on put handles (resulting in a spill).
• Check plug-in appliances like kettles and toasters for damaged electrical cords and thermostats - if you have an appliance that isn't working, replace it. If possible, use and purchase appliances with an automatic shut-off.
• Do not overload electrical outlets with too many kitchen appliances.
• Microwave responsibly, do not put paper towels or metal in the microwave

• BBQ responsibly
  • BBQs and charcoal grills should be placed well away from the home, deck or any other combustible items. 
  • Check and maintain propane BBQ lines. If you find or smell a leak, turn off the tank and grill and have a professional inspect the unit before you use it again. 
  • Keep the grill and grease trap clean
  • Ensure coals are completely cooled before disposing of them in a metal bucket, away from combustible structures and items.
• Avoid cooking if you are tired or distracted, or under the influence of medications, alcohol or recreational drugs. If you able to be 100% alert, then order out or enjoy cold meals and snacks. 
• Keep young children and pets at least one meter away from the stove - turn pot handles away from the stove's edge so pots can't easily be knocked off.
• Have smoke alarms installed in your home and test them monthly! 

• The Gear Firefighters Wear - Introduce kids to the gear firefighters wear, with Sparky the Fire Dog! 
• Hot, Not Hot or Sometimes Hot - Do you know what's hot? Learn more with Sparky the Fire Dog! 
• Let's Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety from a Fire Truck! - Our neighbours in Selwyn share the sounds of a fire truck!
• Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety - I spy fire safety, and you can too! 
• Beep, Beep, Beep - Fire safety song for kids.
• Get Outside and Stay Outside - Fire safety song for kids.
• Fire Safety Minute - Plan your home fire escape with the family.
• Making a Home Fire Escape Plan - Making the fire escape plan.

For more videos, games and activities for kids please visit sparky.org.

For the teenagers and their parents, the video No Time to Spare shows the dramatic difference having working smoke alarms makes, the importance of fire prevention, home escape planning and how quickly a fire can escalate in a home. 

For many families the fall is an exciting time as students head back to school, and for some, that means leaving home for the first time. Make sure your children are prepared: talk with them about safety in their new accommodations, maybe even take a tour and ask questions of the property owners or building managers. 

Student Accommodations: A parent's guide to finding fire-safe accommodation for students attending college or university 

FireSmart™ Canada is a national program that helps Canadians increase neighbourhood resilience to wildfire and minimize its negative impacts. Ember the Fox helps engage our young community members too! Visit the Ember page for colouring pages and games.  

 The 2024 contests went online. The theme: Test Your Smoke Alarms!

 OAFC Test Your Smoke Alarm Contest - Closed

From September 1st to October 10th, the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs (OAFC) invited you to take a picture testing your smoke alarm for chance to win 1 of 5 $100 Amazon gift cards. Winners were chosen at random on Friday October 11th, 2024. #savedbythebeep

What is Saved by the Beep?

In response to 133 fire fatalities Ontario suffered in 2022 – the most in 20 years – Test Your Smoke Alarm Day was launched to encourage all Ontarians to learn more about smoke alarms, fire safety, and home fire escape planning, which can save the lives of you and your loved ones. Most importantly, we want you to test your smoke alarms!

DDFS Test Your Smoke Alarm Contest - Closed

We joined the OAFC and offered a local version of the Test Your Smoke Alarm Contest! From Test Your Smoke Alarm Day (September 28) until October 18, 2024, households in Douro-Dummer could enter this contest for a chance to win $100 and a fire safety swag bag! 

A winner was drawn at random on Friday, October 18, 2024. 

Terms and Conditions: 

One entry per household. Open to all residents of Douro-Dummer - proof of residency in Douro-Dummer will be required to claim the prize. Parental permission is required for anyone under 18 years of age.

DDFS School Contest: Test Your Smoke Alarm - Ongoing

Are you a student at Warsaw Public School or St. Joseph's Catholic Elementary School? We created a contest just for you!

UPDATE: Due to the school visit being postponed at St. Joseph's CES, the deadline for St. Joseph's students to enter the contest is Friday, November 8, 2024!

 Warsaw Public School - Contest Closed

From October 9, 2024 until October 18, 2024, students at Warsaw PS in Douro-Dummer could enter this contest for a chance to win $100 and a fire safety swag bag! 

A winner from Warsaw Public School was drawn at random on Friday, October 18, 2024. 

 St. Joseph's Catholic Elementary School - NEW DEADLINE: November 8, 2024

From October 30, 2024 until November 8, 2024, students are St. Joseph's CES can enter this contest for a chance to win $100 and a fire safety swag bag! 

To enter, follow these steps:

1. Take a picture of you testing your smoke alarm.
2. Submit your picture to us by either:
• Posting the picture on your Facebook page and tagging us @DouroDummer, or
• Emailing your entry to fire@dourodummer.ca
• Receive a bonus entry by including #savedbythebeep

Make sure you include which school you attend! 

Terms and Conditions: 

One entry per household. Open to all students of Warsaw PS and St. Joseph's CES. Parental permission is required!

The 2023 Fire Prevention Week theme was "Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention."

OAFC Fire Prevention Month Contest (for children up to 12 years of age)

Children up to 12 years of age were invited to complete an entry form for the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs (OAFC) Fire Prevention Month Contest about kitchen safety.

2023 DDFS poster contest winner!

The 2023 Douro-Dummer Fire Services (DDFS) poster contest winner was a grade 8 student at St. Joseph's CES who created an original poster to teach families how to practice safe cooking. 

The student won a prize package including a $100 worth of gift certificates from Lansdowne Place Mall! 

Thank you to the Douro-Dummer Firefighters Association for donating the prize. 

The winner of our

2nd annual Fire Prevention Week poster contest was selected!

The contest was open to all students 12 years of age and older at St. Joseph's CES and Warsaw Public School. 

The theme in 2022 was "Fire won't wait. Plan your escape." Students were asked to create a poster that encouraged families to make and practice a home escape plan.

The student received a prize package that included $100 worth of gift certificates from Lansdowne Place.

Thank you to the Douro-Dummer Firefighters Association for donating the prize!

 2021 Fire Prevention Week OAFC home escape plan contest winner

 

From October 1 to December 2, 2021, the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs (OAFC) held a home escape plan contest that challenged entrants to find two ways out of every room of their home and to know where to meet outside in the event of an emergency.

Douro-Dummer Fire Services (DDFS) personnel distributed the OAFC contest entry sheets to eligible students at Warsaw Public School and St. Joseph’s Catholic Elementary School during Fire Prevention Week in October.

A winner was selected by the OAFC from all the entries in Ontario, and we are thrilled to announce that Emmet from Douro-Dummer won the grand prize! On a blustery day in February, DDFS personnel met Emmet and his family to present his prizes. Fire Chief Chuck Pedersen presented Emmet with a framed copy of his entry, complete with a first prize ribbon.

“We are grateful for all the children that took the time to prepare a plan to ensure they know two ways out of their home in the event of a fire. We are so proud of Emmet who submitted a great picture, showing just that, and won first place in the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs’ contest” says Fire Chief Pedersen.

Emmet received a gift basket and cheque from the OAFC, as well as a gift certificate from the Douro-Dummer Firefighters’ Association to use at the Kawartha Buttertart Factory. To top it all off, Emmet, his sister Mya Lynn and aunt Andrea got to take a ride in a fire truck with their favourite firefighter, Wayne Greystock.

Emmet completed the entry with his sister Mya Lynn and nana Jen, making this a family activity. By taking the time to complete this contest together as a family, they have all learned the routes to get out of their home and where to meet outside in the event of an emergency.

Are you interested in submitting an entry for the OAFC or DDFS contests this year? Please watch our website during Fire Prevention Week in October for details! 

 2021 DDFS poster contest winner

 

The 2021 Douro-Dummer Fire Services (DDFS) poster contest winner was a student from St. Joseph's Catholic Elementary School who received a prize package that included $100 worth of gift certificates from Lansdowne Place!

Thank you to the Douro-Dummer Firefighters Association for donating the prize!