Prevention and Safety

Springwater Fire and Emergency Services wants everyone to be safe. Protect your home with working carbon monoxide and smoke alarms. Be prepared and have a fire escape plan.

Fire safety

When properly installed and maintained, smoke alarms can be the difference between life and death. It's the law to have working smoke alarms installed on every storey of your home and outside all sleeping areas. Follow these tips to keep your family safe:

Test alarms at least once a month
If using battery-powered alarms, remember to replace batteries as needed, at least twice a year
Replace alarms every ten years
Install alarms according to manufacturer's instructions

Fire escape plans

There's no time to waste during a fire. That's why it's so important to make a step-by-step plan to help you escape. Everyone in your home needs to know what to do and where to go when the smoke alarms sound.

Creating a plan

Take a few minutes with everyone in your home to make a fire escape plan using the steps below or this escape plan template.

Draw a floor plan of your home with all possible emergency exits
- Show two ways out of every room, if possible
Identify special needs
- Decide who will assist the very young, older adults, people with disabilities or pets
Choose a meeting place outside that's a safe distance from your home and easily remembered
Practice your escape and review the plan with everyone in your household

Fire safety training

We provide fire safety training to hundreds of people each year, including the "learn not to burn" program at area schools. If you or your group is interested in fire safety training, please contact the Fire Department.

Alarmed for Life program

Alarmed for Life is a program where firefighters visit homes in the community and test smoke detector and CO alarms. Firefighters focus on making sure that homes have the right number of alarms and that the alarms are properly placed and working. Firefighters also take this time to answer any questions that homeowners may have about alarms or fire safety.

Carbon monoxide safety

Carbon monoxide (CO) is known as the “Silent Killer” because you can't see it, taste it or smell it. It's the law for any home at risk of CO to have a working CO alarm installed. CO poisoning can be avoided with preventative measures. Follow these tips to keep your family safe:

Install alarms near sleeping areas
Test alarms at least once a month
Replace alarms every seven to ten years, depending on the brand
Have a licensed technician inspect your fuel burning appliances annually (e.g. furnace, fireplace, water heater) to ensure they are in proper working order and vented correctly.

If your fire or CO alarm sounds, get everyone out of the house and call 911.

Recycling your used alarms

Our Fire Department teams up with First Alert to deliver Zero Waste, an exciting program that allows Canadians to recycle their used smoke, CO and combination alarms. Drop off your used alarms at the Township Administration Centre or Fire Station 3 in Minesing.

Find more safety tips on a variety of topics, from fireworks and cooking to heating and electrical fires, on the Office of the Fire Marshal website.