The fire prevention division responds to public fire safety inquiries, conducts fire inspections, enforces the Ontario Fire Code and develops and delivers public education programs based on identified community risks.

Inspections are conducted with available resources on a complaint or request basis.

Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Alarms

If your smoke or carbon monoxide alarm sounds, all members of the household should leave the home immediately and call 911 from outside the home. Don't go back inside until the problem has been found and corrected. Kincardine Fire and Emergency Services will inspect your home to find the source of the problem.

In case of fire or emergency, call 911

 

Installation and maintenance

Smoke alarms are required on every floor and adjacent to all bedrooms. Carbon monoxide alarms are required adjacent to all bedrooms if you have any fuel fired appliances or an attached garage. The life span of smoke alarms is typically 10 years from when it was manufactured (battery and hard wired) but refer to ‘manufacturers instructions' for accurate date. Where as a carbon monoxide alarms life span is typically 7 years from date of activation but refer to ‘manufacturers instructions' for an accurate date.

Since smoke rises, smoke alarms are typically installed on the ceiling or highest point. To know exactly where you should be installing them refer to the ‘manufacturers instructions' that accompany the alarm in the package upon purchase. Also, refer to the ‘manufacturers instructions' for installation of carbon monoxide alarms.

If you are having issues with false alarms due to steam or smoke coming from kitchens or bathrooms install a ‘photoelectric' smoke alarm opposed to an ‘ionized' smoke alarm. Under no circumstances should you ever disable any alarms. For more protection, install alarms inside bedrooms.

Homeowners must install and maintain smoke alarms on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas (Must maintain carbon monoxide alarms if needed as well). Landlords must also comply with the same law as homeowners, installing and maintaining smoke alarms and CO alarms for their tenants. Tenants must contact their landlord if they do not have the required smoke alarms or CO alarms, and if at any point they need maintenance. It is against the law for a tenant to tamper with a smoke alarm or a carbon monoxide alarm.

Smoke alarm and carbon monoxide alarm safety checklist

Stay safe by following our smoke alarm/CO alarm safety checklist:

Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms monthly.

Change the batteries at least once per year.

Gently vacuum once a year with soft brush.

Replace smoke alarm and CO alarms when they exceed their recommended life cycle.

Replace an alarm earlier if it is not working correctly or damaged.

Types of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms

There are several types of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms that all must meet a standard before they can be sold on retail shelves. Electricity or battery, or a mix of both can power alarms. Many alarms have a pause feature, which you can use to silence an alarm for a brief period. Smoke alarms with high decibel alarms or strobe lights are available for the hearing impaired. Dual smoke and carbon monoxide are also available.

Public Education

Fire prevention through public education is a priority of the Kincardine Fire and Emergency Services. It is part of the Fire Prevention Officer's responsibility to deliver fire prevention and public safety messages and promote safer behaviours when interacting with the public.

The Kincardine Fire and Emergency Services prioritizes the development and delivery of fire prevention and life safety education programs based on identified community risk.

For general enquiries about public education, please email: kinfirefpo@kincardine.ca

Station Tours

Members of the public can drop by the Kincardine Fire Station for a station tour. For larger groups, please call the station ahead of time to book your visit.

Please note: station tours are conducted by on-duty firefighters who may need to leave the station to respond to emergency calls during scheduled tour times.

Fire Safety Plan and Home Escape Plan

The Fire Safety Plan ensures the effective use of life safety features in a building, to protect people from fire. The required Fire Safety Plan should be designed to suit the resources of each individual building or complex. Below is a Guideline to assist you in creating your Fire Safety Plan.

Emergency Planning is mandated by the Ontario Fire Code and the requirements within apply to, but not limited to, the following buildings containing any of the following:

  • Assembly occupancy or care or detention occupancy
  • Residential occupancy where the occupant load exceeds 10
  • Business and personal services occupancy where the occupant load exceeds 300
  • Mercantile occupancy where the occupant load exceeds 300
  • High hazard industrial occupancy where the occupant load exceeds 25
  • Medium hazard industrial occupancy where the occupant load exceeds 100
  • Low hazard industrial occupancy where the occupant load exceeds 300

If you are unsure whether your business or building requires a Fire Safety Plan or if you have any questions regarding Fire Safety Plans. Please contact Kincardine Fire and Emergency Services.

You should also be thinking about having an escape plan at home and ensuring everyone in your home knows what to do in case of the sounding of alarms. The basic elements of a home escape plan include:

  • Making sure all your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms are in working order
  • Planning 2 ways out of every room
  • Having a meeting spot outside
  • Practicing your home escape plan with everyone in the home

 

Fire Extinguisher Training

Fire extinguisher training can be provided upon request to industry, workplace, or community groups.

The presentation involves an environmentally friendly extinguisher prop that uses real fire and allows for a hands-on experience that teaches effective use of a fire extinguisher.

To arrange training, please contact the Fire Prevention Officer.

Please refer to our consolidated rates and fees.

 

Fire Inspections

Property Inspections

Inspections of properties must be done, or arranged for, when:

  • a complaint is received regarding the fire safety of a property
  • a request is made to assist a property owner or occupant to comply with the Fire Code and the involvement of the Fire Chief or Fire Prevention Officer is required by the Ontario Fire Code

Any inspection conducted must include notification of the property owner or responsible person and appropriate follow-up with enforcement, if necessary.

A Fire Code inspection can be initiated by making a “formal request" or by the Fire Prevention Officer. During the inspection, the property owner will be shown the violations to the fire code, if any, and directed to correct these violations. A Fire Safety Inspection Report, Inspection Order, or other written recommendations will be provided to detail daily, weekly, monthly, and annual fire provisions and equipment maintenance requirements. The Fire Department and property owner can also work effectively together to resolve any compliance issue.

Be advised if the property inspection is for a sale of real estate their will be a fee as well as a signed document stating if any deficiencies are found under the Ontario Fire Code that they will be rectified by the owner in a timely manner.

Please refer to our consolidated rates and fees.

Home Day Care Inspections

Licensed child care programs, whether home-based child care associated with a licensed agency, or centre-based child care, must meet and maintain provincial standards. These standards are set out in the Day Nurseries Act. The standards help program operators to meet the health, safety, and developmental needs of the children in their care. The Kincardine Fire and Emergency Services provides Home Day Care Inspections of child care facilities to assess the fire and life safety of a building.

Please refer to our consolidated rates and fees.

Property File Search

Information in the property file is made available in response to a written request for a property file search. A property file is the Department's physical record held in respect of a specific property and contains a limited amount of information relevant to a property. It may also contain:

  • files of applications for building consents/permits and associated plans and documents,
  • fire safety inspection reports
  • fire plans

File search requests can be made in writing with proof of permission from the property owner. Please refer to our consolidated rates and fees. Send requests by mail with cheques payable to: Municipality of Kincardine

Lock Box Program

Kincardine Fire and Emergency Services relies on a security key lock box system to enter a property quickly and safely during an emergency response. The property owner purchases Lock Box devices and mounts them near the main building entrance. Lock boxes should never contain keys other than for the main lobby entrance, common areas, roof access, stairwells, firefighters' elevator, or other public areas in the building.

Purchase a Lock Box

If you would like to purchase a Lock Box you can contact our Fire Prevention Officer and one will be provided for you for a cost. Please refer to our consolidated rates and fees for our current fees.

Once installed on your building fire department staff will lock the provided keys within the lock box and update our CAD system the location of the box and the keys inside.

What does the Lock Box System do for you?

When responding to an emergency and confronted with a locked entry door, fire department personnel will confirm with communications staff the location of the lock box near the main entry door. Placing keys in a tamper resistant box in a visible location near the main entry door, minimizes delays in gaining access to the building and eliminates damage that may be caused by a forcible entry. The fire personnel will gain access to the keys from the box, after using them for the purpose intended, the Officer in charge will insure the keys are replaced and secure.

Note: When in place, key lock boxes will not be used to gain non-emergency access to a building unless the building owner, manager or agent is present.

Fireworks

The Municipality of Kincardine Council has passed a by-law regulating the sale, storage, display and discharge of fireworks within the community.  We strongly encourage all residents to take a few minutes to read the Sale and Use of Fireworks By-law. Note, that any unlawful use of fireworks are subject to a fine under the Public Nuisance By-law.

 

 

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