Home Fire Safety

• Smoke alarms
• Carbon monoxide (CO) alarms
• Get Alarmed program
• Fire safety in apartments and condos

If your alarm sounds, go outside and call 9-1-1.

Smoke alarms sound when they detect smoke. They are designed to be loud enough to wake you from your sleep. According to the Ontario Fire Code, you must have a working smoke alarm on every storey of the home and outside all sleeping areas (bedrooms) of the home.

Smoke alarms expire every ten years. After their expiration date they cannot be trusted to protect you and your home. Consider purchasing smoke alarms with a 10-year “worry free” battery that does not require any battery changes.

If your smoke alarm makes a single beep or chirp every minute, the battery could low. Start by changing the battery and, if the chirping doesn’t stop, replace the alarm.

Test your alarms monthly and know how to differentiate the sound of your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

If your carbon monoxide alarm sounds, call 911 immediately from outside of your home.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odourless, and tasteless gas produced by the burning of any fuel that inhibits your body from absorbing oxygen. Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning can be fatal and the presence of carbon monoxide in your home is a serious emergency.

Some common household appliances that produce carbon monoxide are fuel-buring appliances like a fireplace (wood or gas), gas water heater, gas furnace, gas stove/oven, and barbeque grills with propane tanks. Cars also produce CO as a byproduct of fuel combustion, and leaks in the exhaust system can lead to CO buildup.

According to the Ontario Fire Code, if your home has a fuel-burning appliance or a fireplace, you must have a carbon monoxide alarm installed outside of all sleeping areas (bedrooms) inside the home.

If your home has an attached garage, a carbon monoxide alarm must be installed outside of all sleeping areas (bedrooms) that share a common wall, floor or ceiling with the garage.

Have your appliances serviced regularly and ensure exhaust vents are not blocked by snow or other elements to prevent carbon monoxide from building up inside your home.

Test your alarms monthly and know how to differentiate the sound of your carbon monoxide and smoke alarms.

The Huntsville/Lake of Bays Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Division offers free home visits to assist with inspection and testing of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

As part of this program, we may also provide free smoke and/or carbon monoxide alarms or batteries to residents in need.

Call 705-789-5201 (option 2) to book an appointment with Fire Prevention.

Important note for renters

If you rent your home or apartment, your landlord is responsible for installing and maintaining working smoke and CO alarms.

If you’re a renter and have concerns about alarm maintenance or installation, please contact the Fire Prevention Division at 705-789-5201 (option 2) or submit a fire safety concern form.

Know the evacuation procedures and all exits from your unit. If you have any questions about the evacuation procedures, ask your landlord for a copy of the procedures.

The owner is responsible for the maintenance of all fire protection measures in the building. If you have a concern that your landlord is not maintaining any fire protection system, you can file an anonymous fire safety compliant with the Fire Prevention Division. The Fire Prevention Division will not disclose your name to your landlord.