Brockville Fire Department

The guidelines for an outdoor fireplace can be viewed by clicking the link below.

Outdoor Fireplace Guidelines

When you dial 911 for a fire emergency, information containing the phone number, the service address and the municipality of the service address are sent to the 911 fire dispatch communications centre.  This information is matched with our existing databases and provides the dispatcher with information on the owners, occupants and other vital data regarding the source of the call.

Our databases reflect the information provided to us by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC).  It is essential that your property information be current in order for our emergency services to respond effectively. If you would like to contact MPAC regarding your records, you can visit their website www.mpac.ca.

If you have any further questions regarding our emergency services, please email us at 911@brockville.com.

There are smoke alarms available with different features and applications, so choosing the right alarm can be confusing.  Some of the features to consider include:

• Power Source: Smoke alarms can be electrically powered, battery powered, or a combination of both. If you are installing an electrically powered alarm it is recommended that it have a battery back-up in case of power failures.

• Technology: most smoke alarms employ either ionization or photo-electric technology.  Ionization alarms may respond slightly faster to flaming-type fires, while photo-electric alarms may be quicker at detecting slow, smoldering fires.

• Hush feature: Smoke alarms with a hush button are highly recommended as it permits the alarm to be temporarily silenced without disconnecting the power source.

In accordance with the Ontario Fire Code, in the case of a rental suite, the landlord shall be considered to be the owner and is responsible to provide and maintain smoke alarms.

Tenant to notify landlord

A tenant of a rental suite shall notify the landlord as soon as the tenant becomes aware that

(a) a smoke alarm in the unit is disconnected,

(b) a smoke alarm in the unit is not operating, or

(c) the operation of a smoke alarm in the unit is impaired.

Disabling prohibited

No person shall disable a smoke alarm.

Penalty

Any person found guilty of failing to install a smoke alarm, failing to maintain a smoke alarm or disabling a smoke alarm may be subject to a fine of not more than $50,000 or imprisonment for a term of not more than one year, or both.

Smoke alarms save lives – don’t live without them!

Notify the building owner/superintendent that there is not a functional smoke alarm in the apartment. Should a smoke alarm not be provided or repaired within a reasonable time (24 hours) contact your local Fire Department.

A smoke alarm shall be installed

(a) if a sleeping area in a dwelling unit is served by a hallway, in the hallway,

(b) if a sleeping area in a dwelling unit is not served by a hallway, between the sleeping area and the remainder of the dwelling unit,

(c) if a sleeping room is not within a dwelling unit, in the sleeping room, and

(d) on each storey without a sleeping area in a dwelling unit.

Steam from the shower or cooking in the oven, stove or toaster can cause smoke alarms to activate. If these types of nuisance alarms occur, do not remove the battery. There are several options you can try to reduce nuisance alarms.

• Relocate the alarm. Sometimes moving the alarm just a few inches can make the difference.
• Install a smoke alarm with a pause button that will allow you to temporarily silence the alarm.
• Replace alarms located near kitchens with photo-electric types.
• The alarm may just need to be cleaned. With a soft brush on the vacuum, gently vacuum the smoke alarm to remove any dust or other foreign objects.

Test your smoke alarms every month by using the test button on the alarm. When the test button is pressed, the alarm should sound. If it fails to sound, make sure that the battery is installed correctly or install a new battery. If the alarm still fails to sound, replace the smoke alarm with a new one.

A fire extiguisher can be a lifesaver.  Placed near an exit, in an easy-to-grab spot, it can put out a small fire before firefighters arrive, or at least suppress the flames while you escape.

All household extinguishers are classified A, B, or C (or a combination of these) on the label to indicate which types of fires – ordinary combustibles, flammable liquids, or electrical – you can use them on.  Many of the ones sold at home are classified A:B:C and fight all three types of fires.

No matter how carefully they are selected, fire extinguishers won’t be of any use if they can’t be accessed in an emergency. Locate extinguishers where they are readily available for use while a fire is still small. However, don’t locate them where they could be a hazard to the person attempting to retrieve it.

Here are some general pointers to locate extinguishers in your home.

Install them;

1. So that they are visible. (In the bracket or on the wall hook that was supplied with the extinguisher).
2. Where they can be easily reached (not in the cabinet under the kitchen sink).
3. In or near corridors leading to exits.
4. Close to potential fire hazards, but not so close that they could be damaged or cut off by a fire.

Careless cooking is the leading cause of residential fires.

As of April 15, 2015, you must install a carbon monoxide alarm adjacent to all sleeping areas of your home if your home has a fuel-burning appliance, a fireplace or an attached garage.

• For detached or semi-detached and multi-unit residential buildings;

If a fuel-burning appliance or a fireplace is installed in a suite of residential occupancy, a carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed adjacent to each sleeping area in the suite.

• For multi-unit residential buildings;

If a fuel-burning appliance associated with building services is installed in a building, but not within a suite of residential occupancy, a carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed

(a) in the service room or area where the appliance is installed,

(b) adjacent to each sleeping area in each suite of residential occupancy that has a common wall or common floor/ceiling assembly with the service room or area where the appliance is installed, and

(c) adjacent to sleeping rooms that are not within a dwelling unit.