Fire Prevention & Education

The Fire Prevention Week occurs every October.  During Fire Prevention Week, firefighters, teachers, parents/guardians and safety educators use the resources offered by the Office of the Fire Commissioner to provide their communities with lifesaving information. There are often great contests for B.C. students!

The theme for Fire Prevention Week in 2023 is Cooking safety starts with You. Pay attention to fire prevention. This years theme focuses on the important actions you can take to keep yourselves and those around you safe when cooking. Visit the National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) official Fire Prevention Week website for tons of great information, activities, ideas, resources and more!

Last years theme reinforced the importance of developing a home escape plan with all household members. Download a fire escape plan template to get your family started

Some factors to consider include: 

• Make sure your home escape plan meets the needs of all your family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities.
• Smoke alarms should be installed inside every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of your home. Smoke alarms should be interconnected so when one sounds, they all sound.
• Know at least two ways out of every room, if possible. Make sure all doors and windows open easily.
• Have an outside meeting place a safe distance from your home where everyone should meet.
• Practice your home fire drill at least twice a year with everyone in the household, including guests. Practice at least once during the day and at night.

Find more information and resources at www.nfpa.org/fpw

Too many people in B.C. die, or become seriously ill, because of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. CO is colourless, odourless and tasteless. Many household appliances can produce CO so installing a CO alarm can warn you of CO exposure. 

While the effects of CO poisoning can be devastating, they are preventable.

CO Safety Tips

Although CO alarms are designed to be mostly maintenance free it is a good idea to make sure they are doing their job.  With little more than a vacuum cleaner and some canned air, you can keep your carbon monoxide detector clean and in good operational order. When cleaning your carbon monoxide detector, take the opportunity to perform other maintenance tasks such as changing the detector’s batteries and pressing the detector’s test button.

How to Clean Carbon Monoxide Detectors

We like to hear from you if you have any question or suggestions. 

Contact our Fire Prevention & Education Officer

Closed doors can reduce fire growth, limit damage to a home, keep temperatures down, and save lives. The Close Before You Doze campaign, through the Province of BC,  includes free teaching and education resources to increase awareness in your community, school or home.

• The best way to protect your pets from the effects of a fire is to include them in your preventative plan. This includes having their own disaster supplies kit and arranging a safe place for them to stay if they need to leave your home. When you practice your escape plan, practice taking your pets with you. Train them to come to you when you call.
• Pets are generally curious and investigate cooking appliances, candles, or even a fire in your fireplace. Ensure your pet is not left unattended around an open flame, and thoroughly extinguish any open flame before leaving your home.
• Keep collars on pets and leashes ready if firefighters need to rescue your pet. When leaving pets home alone, keep them in areas or rooms where firefighters can easily find them.

More Pet Safety Tips

Fire is a deadly threat to any household. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends installing smoke alarms on every level of the home, inside every bedroom, and outside each sleeping area. In the basement, smoke alarms should be installed at the bottom of the stairs leading up to the next level.

Smoke Alarm Tips

For Kids

Sparky the Fire Dog

Sparky® and Sparky the Fire Dog® are registered trademarks of the NFPA

For Teachers and parents

Sparky School House