Oshawa Fire Services challenges families to plan and practice their home fire escape plan as part of Fire Prevention Week. This year’s Fire Prevention Week runs from October 6-12, and the theme is “Not Every Hero Wears a Cape. Plan and Practice Your Escape!”
In a fire, you may have just seconds to safely escape your home. Be prepared in advance with these simple steps for home fire escape planning:
• Assess the needs of everyone in your home: Identify anyone who requires assistance to get out of the home safely, such as small children or older adults.
• Make sure that you have working smoke alarms on every storey of the home and outside all sleeping areas: Make sure everyone in the home knows the sound of the smoke alarm.
• Identify all possible exits (doors and windows) and make sure they work: Know two ways out of all areas, if possible.
• Everyone must know what to do when the smoke alarm sounds: Assign someone to help those who need assistance; Identify a safe meeting place outside; Call the fire department from outside the home – from a neighbour’s home or a cell phone.
• Practice your home fire escape plan at least twice a year: Have everyone participate. Make changes to your plan if necessary.
In support of Fire Prevention Week, Oshawa Fire Services will be in the community providing information on fire safety, smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers and fire equipment.
You can visit Oshawa Fire Services staff at the following locations:
• Monday, October 7 – Canadian Tire, 441 Gibb Street from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Tuesday, October 8 – Fire drills throughout the City
• Wednesday, October 9 – Oshawa Centre from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Thursday, October 10 – Oshawa Centre from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Friday October 11 – Walmart, 680 Laval Drive from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Saturday October 12 – Costco, 130 Ritson Road from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Additionally, Chief Derrick Clark and Deputy Chiefs Todd Wood and Stephen Barkwell will be assisting in Domino’s Pizza deliveries on Wednesday October 9. If the Fire Chief or Deputy Fire Chiefs accompany your pizza to your home and your smoke alarms are in working order and you review a home escape plan with the chief, your pizza will be free! The door-to-door visits are for educational purposes and voluntary.
“Family fire safety is critical in every family situation. Taking the time to have a practiced safety plan is a must. Having the Fire Service’s information available will help ensure the lives of your loved ones are taken care of,” said Councillor Rick Kerr, Chair of the Community Services Committee.
“Prevention and planning are the best ways to avoid experiencing loss from fire, so I hope families will take some time together during Fire Prevention Week to ensure their households are putting fire safety measures into practice,” said Councillor Derek Giberson, Vice-Chair of the Community Services Committee.