Fire Prevention Week – Every Second Counts

Daily tips and advice from local fire services

WHY EVERY SECOND COUNTS

So you’d think if a fire broke out in your house you’d be quick to get out…that there might be some sense of panic. Barrie’s Fire and life Saftey Officer Samantha Hoffman says, uh, no there isn’t…

Hoffmann notes with the way homes are built these days, and with the materials used in home furnishings, things catch fire very quickly…there’s no time to be foraging through the house for mementoes. With maybe three minutes before your house is consumed by smoke an flames it’s best, she says, to grab the family and get out…fast.

Listen below for more on why you need to get out quickly, and how best to do that…

THE BEST WAY TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON FIRE SAFETY IS TO GET ‘EM WHILE THEY’RE YOUNG

Fire Prevention Week is at its heart an educational exercise; fire services across the board trying to teach folks to be fire safe, fire prepared, and the best way to do that is to get ’em while they’re young. Might be why many services opt for a Fire Chief for a day program, including Clearview Fire. They’ve sworn in two junior chiefs today, which means Chief Colin Shewell will be stepping aside while his replacements ride to school in style.

He says the two young Chiefs’ names were randomly drawn from entries in a contest designed to get kids talking to their parents.

SALUTE TO VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS

Our Fire Prevention Week coverage continues in Gravenhurst, a town like many that relies on volunteer firefighters. Fire Prevention Officer Robert King says that means this week’s theme of every second counts carries a lot more weight…

It’s a challenge says King, but they adapt and overcome.

CHALLENGES IN RURAL AREAS

We talked earlier about how firefighters tackle fires in high-rises, but what about those remote fires in rural areas of our region? There’s certainly a lot of rural land in Simcoe County, including in the Town of Innisfil. It’s pretty spread out, but Fire Chief Jon Pegg says they make due…

He adds the fire halls aren’t the only thing strategically positioned…

But despite all this, Chief Pegg reminds everyone the onus is on residents…

LIVE IN A HIGH-RISE? 

You live in a high-rise, the fire alarm sounds, whaddya do? Barrie Fire’s Samantha Hoffman says high-rise dwellers should try to get out of the building, but if they encounter smoke and flames it’s best to stay put. Really…

Duct tape the gap around doors, close as many doors between you and the smoke as possible and seal those doors with duct tape, block vents with newspapers and magazines, if you have a balcony
get out onto it.

Listen below for more about high-rise fire safety…

THE ROLE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

They can’t exactly use smoke signals to get information out there, so how do fire services educate the public? Aside from radio features like this one, many fire services around our region gravitate towards social media. And ask any firefighter in the region, they’ll tell you the most active fire service on social media is Clearview Fire. Chief Colin Shewell says not only can he and his service get educational material to the public faster, it may prevent someone getting stuck in traffic.

He adds it really shows he and his fire service aren’t just sitting on their collective keisters all day.

You can follow Chief Shewell on Twitter via @ClearviewFire

TWO WAYS OUT

If a fire erupts in your house will you be able to get out? Do you have two possible ways of getting out, in case one is blocked? You should, says Oro-Medonte’s Fire Prevention Officer John Wigle. And make sure those routes are clear…

The other thing you need, says Wigle, is a meeting place…

The theme for this year’s Fire Prevention Week is Every Second Counts.

Listen below for more tips and advice from John Wigle…

Check back for more tips and advice from other local Fire Chiefs and Fire Prevention Officers.

Below is a list of Fire Prevention Week Activities in Barrie:

Movie Night at Galaxy Cinema South
Tuesday October 10, 6:30 – 8:30pm
It is important to know 2 ways out no matter where you are! Barrie firefighters will take you through a brief fire safety presentation before your movie and will hand out copies of the fire safety movie No Time To Spare.
October 10–22

 

TVO Kids Push 2 Buttons Campaign!
October 10–22

BFES, the Office of the Fire Marshal and TVOKids are teaming up to encourage everyone to test their smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Kids can visit www.tvokids.com to enter the number of alarms they’ve tested and print a special certificate.
October 11 Home Escape Night Neighbourhood Party
Wednesday October 11, 6–8pm
Timberwalk Condo Complex, 1 Saw Mill Road

Fire trucks will tour the street with lights and sirens blazing. Once you hear the sirens, families are encouraged to practice their home escape plan and join BFES in the community room. There will be free pizza from Domino’s, fire truck tours, fire safety activities and, of course, Sparky!
 October 12 Domino’s Pizza Partnership
Thursday October 12, 6–8pm 

Dinner is on us – if your alarms are working! BFES has partnered with Domino’s Pizza to deliver pizza and make sure residents have functioning smoke and CO alarms.  If the alarms are present and working, the pizza is FREE!
 October 13 Fire Drill Friday Day
All Day October 13, City-Wide

All residents, businesses and community organizations are encouraged to practice their fire drill, take a photo and tag Barrie Fire on social media with the hashtag #FireDrillFriday. All participants will be entered to win a pizza lunch for up to 40 people.Facebook: Barrie Fire And Emergency ServiceTwitter: @Barrie_Fire
October 14

 

The Great Escape at Home Depot
Saturday October 14, 9am12pm
10 Barrie View Drive

Come tour the Home Depot home maze and experience what it is like to have a fire in your home. Realize why it is so important to have an escape plan and two ways out.
 October 15

 

Fire Station Headquarters Open House
Sunday October 15, 10:30 am – 1:30 pm

Fire Station 1, 155 Dunlop St W
Enjoy a pancake breakfast cooked up by the firefighters and the Butcher Shop (served until 12 pm noon). Tour the station, check out the fire trucks, meet firefighters and get answers to all your fire safety questions.
Movie Night at Galaxy Cinema Southday October 10, 6:30 – 8:30pm
It is important to know 2 ways out no matter where you are! Barrie firefighters will take you through a brief fire safety presentation before your movie and will hand out copies of the fire safety movie No Time To Spare.
October 10–22

 

TVO Kids Push 2 Buttons Campaign!
October 10–22

BFES, the Office of the Fire Marshal and TVOKids are teaming up to encourage everyone to test their smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Kids can visit www.tvokids.com to enter the number of alarms they’ve tested and print a special certificate.
October 11 Home Escape Night Neighbourhood Party
Wednesday October 11, 6–8pm
Timberwalk Condo Complex, 1 Saw Mill Road

Fire trucks will tour the street with lights and sirens blazing. Once you hear the sirens, families are encouraged to practice their home escape plan and join BFES in the community room. There will be free pizza from Domino’s, fire truck tours, fire safety activities and, of course, Sparky!
 October 12 Domino’s Pizza Partnership
Thursday October 12, 6–8pm 

Dinner is on us – if your alarms are working! BFES has partnered with Domino’s Pizza to deliver pizza and make sure residents have functioning smoke and CO alarms.  If the alarms are present and working, the pizza is FREE!
 October 13 Fire Drill Friday Day
All Day October 13, City-Wide

All residents, businesses and community organizations are encouraged to practice their fire drill, take a photo and tag Barrie Fire on social media with the hashtag #FireDrillFriday. All participants will be entered to win a pizza lunch for up to 40 people.Facebook: Barrie Fire And Emergency ServiceTwitter: @Barrie_Fire
October 14

 

The Great Escape at Home Depot
Saturday October 14, 9am12pm
10 Barrie View Drive

Come tour the Home Depot home maze and experience what it is like to have a fire in your home. Realize why it is so important to have an escape plan and two ways out.
 October 15

 

Fire Station Headquarters Open House
Sunday October 15, 10:30 am – 1:30 pm

Fire Station 1, 155 Dunlop St W
Enjoy a pancake breakfast cooked up by the firefighters and the Butcher Shop (served until 12 pm noon). Tour the station, check out the fire trucks, meet firefighters and get answers to all your fire safety questions.
Movie Night at Galaxy Cinema South

day October 10, 6:30 – 8:30pm
It is important to know 2 ways out no matter where you are! Barrie firefighters will take you through a brief fire safety presentation before your movie and will hand out copies of the fire safety movie No Time To Spare.

October 10–22

 

TVO Kids Push 2 Buttons Campaign!
October 10–22

BFES, the Office of the Fire Marshal and TVOKids are teaming up to encourage everyone to test their smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Kids can visit www.tvokids.com to enter the number of alarms they’ve tested and print a special certificate.
October 11 Home Escape Night Neighbourhood Party
Wednesday October 11, 6–8pm
Timberwalk Condo Complex, 1 Saw Mill Road

Fire trucks will tour the street with lights and sirens blazing. Once you hear the sirens, families are encouraged to practice their home escape plan and join BFES in the community room. There will be free pizza from Domino’s, fire truck tours, fire safety activities and, of course, Sparky!
 October 12 Domino’s Pizza Partnership
Thursday October 12, 6–8pm 

Dinner is on us – if your alarms are working! BFES has partnered with Domino’s Pizza to deliver pizza and make sure residents have functioning smoke and CO alarms.  If the alarms are present and working, the pizza is FREE!
 October 13 Fire Drill Friday Day
All Day October 13, City-Wide

All residents, businesses and community organizations are encouraged to practice their fire drill, take a photo and tag Barrie Fire on social media with the hashtag #FireDrillFriday. All participants will be entered to win a pizza lunch for up to 40 people.Facebook: Barrie Fire And Emergency ServiceTwitter: @Barrie_Fire
October 14

 

The Great Escape at Home Depot
Saturday October 14, 9am12pm
10 Barrie View Drive

Come tour the Home Depot home maze and experience what it is like to have a fire in your home. Realize why it is so important to have an escape plan and two ways out.
 October 15

 

Fire Station Headquarters Open House
Sunday October 15, 10:30 am – 1:30 pm

Fire Station 1, 155 Dunlop St W
Enjoy a pancake breakfast cooked up by the firefighters and the Butcher Shop (served until 12 pm noon). Tour the station, check out the fire trucks, meet firefighters and get answers to all your fire safety questions.