Pack fire safety into your holiday weekend plans

Posted on behalf of the Waterloo Fire Rescue

(Waterloo, Ont. – May 15, 2013) To minimize the risk of fire and burn injuries, Waterloo Fire Rescue is urging residents to include fire safety in their Victoria Day weekend plans.

“Fire safety is not just for homes, it’s for cottages, cabins and seasonal homes too,” said public education officer John Percy. “This weekend, consider purchasing new smoke alarms and batteries for the cottage in case they need replacing, and check heating appliances and chimneys before using them.”

This holiday weekend is often the first for people to open up their cottages. Waterloo Fire Rescue recommends the following fire safety tips:

Install smoke alarms on every storey and outside all sleeping areas of your cottage, cabin or seasonal home. It’s the law in Ontario.

Test smoke alarms to ensure they work. Pack a new smoke alarm and extra batteries for the cottage.

Make sure you and your family have a home fire-escape plan. You must have two ways out in case of a fire.

Clean heating appliances and barbecues before using them. Please remember to apply a 50/50 solution of water and dish soap to all fuel and hose connections on your barbecue before using it for the first time this year.

Make sure that all combustibles, as well as children and pets, are kept well away from barbecues when they are in use. Check with the local fire department, municipality or Ministry of Natural Resources

For more information on fire and life safety, please visit the Waterloo Fire Rescue website at www.waterloo.ca/fire.
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For more information, John Percy
Public Education Officer
519-884-6030, ext. 3009
TTY: 1-866-786-3941
Email: john.percy@waterloo.ca