Fires can happen at any time. The Township of Uxbridge Fire Department has resources to help prevent fires and protect you and your family in the event of a fire.
Contact the Public Education Officer for all fire and life safety questions.
Take the time to read through our Fire Safety Self-Inspection Checklist.
Fire Safety Facts
Smoke alarms are required by law on every level of the home including the basement and outside all sleeping areas. It is recommended to install smoke alarms in every bedroom.
Homes built after 2015 require interconnected smoke alarms and strobe lights in every bedroom.
CO alarms are required by law outside all sleeping areas of the home if the home has fuel burning appliances, a fireplace, or an attached garage.
Hardwired interconnected smoke alarms expire every 10 years ( or as per the manufacturer’s instructions ) and must be replaced with hardwired interconnected alarms.
Smoke Alarms must be replaced every 10 years (or as per the manufacturer’s instructions ).
CO Alarms must be replaced every 7 years (or as per the manufacturer’s instructions ).
In Ontario between 2011 and 2015 involving fire fatalities, 36% had no working smoke alarms or none present.
Careless cooking is the #1 cause of home fires in Ontario. Remember to stay in the kitchen and monitor cooking.
With modern building supplies and furnishings, you may have as little as 2 minutes or less to safely exit your home in the event of a fire.
The Uxbridge Fire Department has an average response time of 9 minutes. That is from the Alarm time to the arrival of the first responding apparatus.
The last two facts make home escape planning the most important precaution a family can take to ensure their own safety in the event of a fire.
Home Fire Escape Planning
Creating a home fire escape plan can save lives. Follow these tips to create an evacuation plan:
- Draw a floor plan of your home
- Include all possible exits
- Find two ways out of every room in your house, if possible
- Identify if any family members need help to escape
- Choose a meeting place outside (should be a safe distance from the home)
- Contact emergency services once you are safely out of your home
- Practice the escape with your family and make sure that everyone knows all exit routes
- Watch this fun video to learn more.
Fire Safety Tips
CO Awareness
Contact Us