Keep safety in mind when enjoying the fall season!

Heating your home

• Check all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they work, and to change the batteries.

• Get your central heating system cleaned, inspected and serviced by a certified HVAC (heating, venting and air conditioning) contractor every year before using it.

• Keep flammable materials a minimum of one metre away from your furnace or space heater. This includes clothing, paint products, toxic materials, cardboard and more.

• Turn off space heaters when you leave the house or go to bed. Do not place space heaters near foot traffic, furniture or drapery. Plug the heater directly into the wall outlet, not an extension cord. Choose a heater with a seal of qualified testing laboratory, thermostat, overheat protection and auto shut-off. Learn more electrical wiring tips.

Cooking safety

• Cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and home injuries. Be sure to stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling or broiling food. Turn off the stove if you need to leave the room.

• If you are simmering, baking, roasting or broiling food, check it regularly and remain in the home while food is cooking.

• Keep anything that can catch fire - oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains - away from your stovetop.

Fall clean up

• Contact your utility company if trees or branches are not clear of power lines. 

• Store firewood a minimum of 10 metres from any structure. The FireSmart outlines ways individuals can help protect their property from wildfire. 

• Prune branches from the base of your trees to reduce the chances of a fire running up the tree.

• Plant fire resistant trees like aspen, birch or poplar instead of highly flammable varieties like spruce and pine.