The Fire Safety Checklist provides some helpful tips on how you can protect your home from fire, and how your family can
be better prepared in the event of an emergency.
For more information, please contact the Assistant Chief of Fire Prevention at or email vfd@victoriaca.
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If a fire occurs in your home, remember to:
• Alert everyone in your home and follow your escape plan.
• Never go back inside for any reason.
• Call the Fire Department (9 -1-1) as soon as possible from a safe location.
• Meet firefighters and tell them of any people or pets who may still be inside.
Fire Extinguishers
Purchase multi-purpose (ABC) fire extinguishers. Have a minimum
of one for your kitchen and one for your furnace room or near any
woodstoves or fireplaces.
Install fire extinguishers near an exit so that you don’t have to pass
the fire to get the extinguisher.
Inspect extinguishers once a year.
Learn how to use it. Remember the acronym P.A.S.S.:
• Pull the pin
• Aim at the base of the fire
• Squeeze the lever
• Sweep from side to side at the base of the fire
Fire Escape Planning
Develop a fire escape plan and ensure it includes:
• Crawling under smoke and heat
• Two exits out of each area of your house
• A meeting place outside
Practise the plan with your family at least twice a year.
Teach your family how to:
• Dial 9-1-1 in an emergency (give your name, address
and type of emergency)
• Stop, Drop, and Roll if clothes catch on fire
CITY OF VICTORIA
|
Victoria Fire Department
Home Fire Safety
Checklist
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Victoria Fire Department
Fire Prevention Division
1025 Johnson Street, Victoria, BC V8V 0G7
250.920.3360
1 Centennial Square
Victoria, BC V8W 1P6
victoria.ca
Smoke Alarms
Ensure one smoke alarm is installed on every storey of your home,
in every bedroom and in each hallway outside sleeping rooms.
Ensure all smoke alarms are maintained by:
• testing once a month
• changing the batteries at least once a year (recommend
changing when you change your clocks)
• vacuuming every six months
Replacing smoke alarms that are more than 10 years old
is recommended.
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
In homes with fuel burning appliances or heating, at least one
carbon monoxide detector is required in each bedroom and
sleeping room, or within five metres of the door.
Maintain carbon monoxide detectors by:
• testing once a month
• changing the batteries at least once a year
• vacuuming every six months
Replace carbon monoxide detectors as per manufacturer
instructions.
Home Exterior
Ensure your house numbers are visible from the street.
Trim trees away from chimney.
Remove needles and leaves from roof and rain gutters.
Trim trees, hedges and low overhanging branches to allow
emergency vehicles easy access to your driveway.
Have someone qualified trim trees away from electrical wires.
Chimneys and Heating Equipment
Have your chimney inspected and cleaned annually.
Install a spark arrestor on your chimney cap.
Ensure your wood burning stoves comply with all applicable codes,
and your wood burning fireplaces have a close-fitting screen.
Dispose of ashes in a metal container.
Maintain a one metre clearance around any heating appliances
such as furnaces, hot water tanks, and portable heaters.
Clean lint from your clothes dryer filter after each use and ensure
that the outside vent is not blocked.
Electrical
Inspect electrical cords and appliances for damage and ensure they
are CSA approved.
Do not overload electrical circuits.
Use extension cords only as a temporary measure. Have additional
outlets installed by a qualified electrician if required.
Do not tack cords to walls, run them under rugs,
or under furniture.
Cooking
Never leave cooking unattended.
Keep stove clean and free of grease.
Avoid wearing clothing with long, loose-fitting sleeves
while cooking.
Turn pot handles inward to avoid spills and burns.
Keep combustible items such as paper towels, tea towels, curtains,
etc. away from the stove.
For barbeques, maintain the manufacturer’s recommended
clearance between it and any combustible items.
Never use barbeques indoors. Dispose of coals and ashes in
a metal container.
Smoking Materials and Candles
Never smoke in bed.
Never leave lit cigarettes or candles unattended.
Use candles in sturdy non-combustible containers.
Empty ashtrays into non-combustible containers.
Store matches and lighters out of reach of children.
Hazardous Material
Store hazardous materials in approved containers with tight-fitting
lids and correct labels, and away from heat sources.
Use and store hazardous materials in well ventilated areas away
from children, sparks and heat.
Properly dispose and recycle hazardous materials.
Place oily rags in metal containers with tight-fitting lids.
CITY OF VICTORIA
|
Victoria Fire Department
Home Fire Safety Checklist
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Victoria Fire Department
Fire Prevention Division
1025 Johnson Street, Victoria, BC V8V 0G7
250.920.3360
1 Centennial Square
Victoria, BC V8W 1P6
victoria.ca
