Smoke alarms

Most fatal fires occur at night when people are sleeping. A working smoke alarm will detect smoke and sound to alert you. 

In Ontario, it's the law for all homes to have a working smoke alarm on every storey and outside all sleeping areas. This covers single family, semi-detached and town homes, whether owner-occupied or rented.

Learn more about smoke alarms, including how to install and maintain them, by vising the Ontario Association of Fire Chief's smoke alarm information page.

Carbon monoxide alarms

Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless, toxic gas that enters the body through the lungs, while you are breathing. Carbon monoxide poisoning can lead to severe injury and even death.

Ontario's Fire Code states that carbon monoxide alarms are required near all sleeping areas and service rooms in homes and adjacent sleeping areas in multi-residential units. You can hardwire carbon monoxide alarms, insert batteries or plug them into an outlet.

Learn more about where carbon monoxide comes from, how to install and maintain an alarm, and how to tell if there is a leak in your home with the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs' carbon monoxide information page.

Fire extinguishers

The Ontario Fire Code outlines the locations and usage of fire extinguishers in buildings. There are different types of fire extinguishers. Learn where to place fire extinguishers and how to operate them.

Our Fire Department offers fire extinguisher training for a small fee. The training takes about an hour and includes classroom learning and live training. Email the fire department or call 705-848-3232 to book a training appointment.

A fire class letter marks each type of fire extinguisher and its coloured geometric symbol tells you what type of fire it is meant for.

• Fire Class A – Green symbol and meant for ordinary solid combustibles
• Fire Class B – Red symbol and meant for flammable liquids and gases
• Fire Class C – Blue symbol and meant for electrical equipment
• Fire Class D – Yellow star symbol and meant for combustible metals
• Fire Class K – Black symbol and meant for cooking oils

Fire safety plans

The Ontario Fire Code requires a fire safety plan for most buildings. This plan is used as a resource for all building owners, property managers or those controlling properties. The plan outlines what is needed to protect people if there is a fire. Fire safety plans also ensure an orderly evacuation during an emergency.

Pick one up a fire safety plan at the fire station.

Fire Prevention Week October 6-12, 2024 - Smoke Alarms: Make them Work For You!

Fire Prevention Week™ (FPW™) is October 6–12, 2024. This year’s campaign is “Smoke alarms: Make them work for you!” and strives to educate everyone about the importance of having working smoke alarms in the home. The campaign works to educate everyone about the importance of having working smoke alarms in the home.

According to NFPA, smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by more than half. Meanwhile, roughly 60% of fire deaths happen in homes with either no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

Smoke alarms serve as the first line of defense in a home fire, but they need to be working in order to protect people. This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign helps to better educate the public about simple but critical steps they can take to make sure their homes have smoke alarms in all the needed locations and are working properly.

The Elliot Lake Fire Department encourages all residents to actively participate in this year’s theme and check their smoke alarms. Working smoke alarms can make a life-saving difference in a home fire, giving people the time to get out safely.

The Elliot Lake Fire Department offers these key smoke alarm safety tips and guidelines:

• Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area (like a hallway), and on each level (including the basement) of the home.
• Make sure smoke alarms meet the needs of all family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities.
• Test smoke alarms at least once a month by pushing the test button.
• Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old.

For more information about Fire Prevention Week and smoke alarms, visit fpw.org.