Fire Safety Checklists

Installing smoke detectors

Follow these tips for installing smoke detectors in your home:

• Use both ionization smoke detectors (which are quicker to warn about flaming fires) and photoelectric detectors (which are quicker to warn about smouldering fires).
• Use interconnected smoke detectors so that when one sounds, the others go off as well.
• Install smoke detectors inside and outside of each bedroom and sleeping area, on every level of the home including the basement.
• Install extra smoke detectors if you have a large home.
• Install smoke detectors either on the ceiling or high on a wall.
• Install smoke detectors near the kitchen or at least 10 feet from the stove to reduce false alarms.

Testing and cleaning smoke detectors

• Test all smoke detectors at least once a month to ensure they are working by pressing the test button and replace batteries when required.
• Clean smoke detectors monthly.
• There are other types of alarms such as strobe lights or bed shakers for those who are hard-of-hearing or deaf.
• Replace all smoke detectors when they reach 10 years of age.

Heating/furnace

Review these safety tips for heating and furnaces to help prevent fires in your home.

• Clean and inspect your furnace annually and chimney twice a year.
• Clean or replace your furnace filter three to four times a year to avoid heavy emissions of carbon monoxide and to prevent fires.
• Furnaces that require lubrication on the motors and bearings should be checked by a qualified heating technician once a year.
• Keep furniture a minimum of three feet from fireplaces, wall heaters, baseboards and space heaters.
• Keep combustible items a minimum of six inches away from vents.
• Do not plug space heaters into extension cords.
• Ensure your heater is approved by a national testing laboratory and has an auto shut-off feature in the event it tips over or gets bumped.

Fireplace and wood stove

If you have a fireplace or working wood stove in your home, follow these safety tips to help prevent fires:

• Do not burn green/moist wood, cardboard, milk cartons, or artificial logs (unless specifically manufactured for this purpose).
• Do not use gasoline, charcoal starter fluid or other flammable liquids to start your fire.
• Keep your wood stove burning by frequently adding smaller pieces of wood rather than infrequent large amounts of wood.
• Keep a fire extinguisher in a central location known to all household members.
• Place a smoke detector in the room where the wood stove is located and install a carbon monoxide detector in your bedroom.
• Keep the area around the heating unit and flue clear.
• When re-fueling, open the door slowly to prevent smoke spillage.
• Children must be supervised at all times when wood stoves are in use.
• Place ashes from fireplaces and barbecues outdoors in a covered metal container at least three feet from anything that can catch fire.
• Never use a vacuum cleaner to remove ashes, allow it to cool thoroughly before disposing of it.