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A home fire can cause devastating damage or worse — injury or even loss of life — but many people think it won’t ever happen to them.
Windsor Fire and Rescue Services Chief Stephen Laforet spoke to the Windsor Star about ways to prevent fires and protect lives.
Acknowledging risk
“Most people, if you were to ask them, they would think that a fire’s not going to happen in their home,” Laforet said.
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“Where people are getting injured, it’s in their home — whether it’s an apartment, whether it’s a single family home.
“So, it’s really important that as an individual, we take fire safety seriously,” he said. “And we also know that the number one best thing you can do to prevent yourself from being injured in a fire is to have a working smoke alarm.”
Working smoke alarms
It’s law in Ontario that every home has a smoke alarm on every floor and near sleeping areas.
“If you own your own home, that’s your responsibility to have a working smoke alarm on every level of your home and near the sleeping areas,” Laforet said.
“And that gives you the early warning that something is happening in your home.”
The chief said because fires today burn very fast and very hot, and homes are so well-built, the heat generated inside rises rapidly.
“So you have this tremendous amount of smoke,” he explained. “The smoke is not coming from things like wood. It’s coming from foam, from synthetics, from other types of textiles.
“They burn much, much hotter, much faster. And the toxins that come from that smoke can kill you long before the heat does.”
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In a rental property, the landlord is responsible to provide the smoke alarm. The renter needs to ensure that it is provided, that it is not tampered with and if there’s a problem, that it’s reported to the landlord as soon as possible.
“If they’re having problems with their landlord … they can reach out to our fire prevention division and we can help them fix that problem,” Laforet said.
Carbon monoxide alarm
In Ontario, a carbon monoxide alarm is required if there is a fuel-burning appliance in the home or if there is an attached garage.
Carbon monoxide can’t be seen or smelled or tasted.
“You may not notice you’re having any issues until it’s too late,” Laforet said. “So that early warning for carbon monoxide when you have a fuel-burning appliance in your home or attached garage is essential.”
Lithium battery dangers
Fires related to lithium or lithium–ion batteries are on the rise throughout the province. They are found in a variety of consumer products — from cellphones to scooters or e-bikes.
Laforet said with any device that uses a lithium-type battery, it’s important to only use batteries approved for the device and only use a charging cord or charging device designed and approved for the item.
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“Shopping online, getting something from overseas, does not mean that what you’re getting is ULC (Underwriters’ Laboratories of Canada) or CSA (Canadian Standards Association) approved,” he warned.
“And we know that if you’re improperly charging your device or using the wrong charger, or you’re tampering with the charger, that can lead to the device overheating while it’s being charged.”
Laforet also recommends placing a cellphone on a hard surface to charge.
“Don’t charge it on your bed. Don’t stick it under your pillow overnight,” he said. “(You) shouldn’t be charging it when you’re on the sofa where it (can) fall between the cushions because they do generate heat and that can result in a fire.”
And if there is any damage to the charger or the device, get it repaired or replaced.
General home fire prevention
The leading causes of home fires are unattended or inattentive cooking and improperly discarded cigarette butts, and smoking in bed.
“Don’t walk away from the stove,” Laforet advised. “Be attentive to what you’re cooking.
“If you’ve had a night out where you’ve been drinking or you’re under the influence, don’t go near the stove. That’s not the time that you should be cooking.
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“Smoking in bed, that’s an obvious one,” he added. “Unfortunately, we’ve had a number of fires in the last few years where the cause was someone fell asleep while smoking a cigarette.”
And in the event of a power outage, the chief said to make sure stove knobs are turned off.
“That way you don’t have a pot of oil or something that was left on the stove and then the power comes back on and you forget about it,” he said.
Candles should be placed on a sturdy base away from combustibles and keep clutter away from things like the furnace or hot water tank — at least a metre away, Laforet said.
Clean the lint vent on the dryer regularly and don’t dry huge loads of clothes.
Keep areas around sheds or garages or any area with alley access tidy and don’t pile up combustibles in the backyard.
“Don’t make it an inviting target for someone who wants to cause mischief,” he said.
Heating and cooling
Plugging in an air conditioner or space heater with another high-demand appliance on the same circuit can overload the circuit. As well, it’s recommended appliances are plugged directly into an electrical outlet — not an extension cord.
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Laforet said fires can occur when a circuit is overloaded or an extension cord isn’t the right gauge for the appliance.
If there are black marks around the openings of an outlet or a breaker, or fuse trips regularly, it’s recommended a licensed electrician check out what’s going on.
And keep the area around a space heater clear, ensure it’s on a stable surface and only use CSA-approved devices.
“That’s the big thing, especially when we’re talking heating appliances,” Laforet said. “Make sure that they’re ULC or CSA approved. That way, you know that they’ve been tested and approved for use in Canada.”
Vehicle fires
All vehicles, EV, gas or diesel, can catch on fire.
With an attached garage, ensure self-closing doors into the home close tightly and that the drywall separation between the garage and the wall of the home has not been compromised.
“Make sure that no one’s cut into that drywall or tampered with it,” Laforet said. “Drywall has a tremendous fire rating on it. But if we remove it, if we alter it, if we punch holes in it, then we’re defeating the purpose.”
EV chargers need to be installed by a licensed electrician and the manufacturer’s instructions must be followed.
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Information sources
Windsor Fire and Rescue Services has a whole section on its website (www.windsorfire.com) that deals with fire prevention and offers information for building owners, carbon monoxide information, public education programs, high-rise fire safety, home fire safety, resources for smoke alarms, sprinklers, etc.
If more information is needed, reach out to the department directly at 519-253-3016 and ask to speak with a fire prevention officer.
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And have an escape plan
“Make sure everyone knows where to go and what to do (in case of a fire) and they have a home escape plan,” Laforet said.
“If you have a fire in your home, get everyone out. Don’t go back in.
“There isn’t any possession in your home that is worth more than your life or the life of someone in your family.”
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