Fire Prevention Week puts the spotlight on home fire escape plans

Thu, 06 Oct 2022

It’s Fire Prevention Week from October 9 to 15, and the Oakville Fire department is asking residents to create and practise their home fire escape plans, and ensure smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are in working condition.

The National Fire Protection Association set the theme for this year, “Fire Won’t Wait. Plan Your Escape.” to raise awareness on preparation of a fire escape plan. The plan can be as simple as sketching a floor plan of the home including rooms, windows and exits, and identifying two ways out of every room. Oakville Fire staff will be at Oakville Place on October 15 from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on October 16 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. to engage with residents about fire escape plans and other fire safety information.

The Fire department is also distributing educational materials and kids’ activity books courtesy of Co-operators and CanOps as part of their Fire Prevention Week in a Box kits to remind residents about the simple but important steps they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe.

Fire Escape Plan checklist

• Keep all exits clear and easy to access
• Make sure all doors and windows open easily
• Discuss the escape plan with everyone in your home and frequent visitors
• Discuss how to escape safely from upper and lower levels
• Practise your home fire escape plan regularly, both during the day and night
• Practise two ways out of each room, if available
• Train children and teenagers to wake to the sound of the smoke alarm 
• Practise getting low and moving along the floor, below the smoke, to the closest safe exit
• Determine who will be responsible for helping young children, or others requiring assistance
• Teach children to escape on their own in case you cannot help them during the emergency
• Identify a meeting place outside, where everyone can be counted and call 911 from outside the house

For more information about Fire Prevention Week and fire videos and tips, visit our Fire Safety page and follow @oakvillefire on Facebook and Twitter.

Quotes

“Knowing what to do in a fire emergency can save lives, and that takes some preparation and a plan. This Fire Prevention Week, I encourage everyone in our community to update and refresh their knowledge of fire safety so we can be prepared and ensure the safety of our households in the event of an emergency.”
- Mayor Rob Burton

“Public safety matters most in a fire emergency when every second counts. Fire and smoke spread quickly, so it’s important that our residents know how to exit as safely and quickly as possible. This, and more such safety information will be shared throughout Fire Prevention Week.”
- Fire Chief Paul Boissonneault, Oakville Fire Department