Immigrant Community Capacity and Engagement (ICCE) Project Provides information on justice and protection services FIRE SERVICES Presented by: JOHN HOWARD SOCIETY OF LONDON AND DISTRICT
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SMOKE ALARM
The majority of fatal home fires happen at night, when people are asleep. Contrary to popular belief, the smell of smoke may not wake a sleeping person. The poisonous gases and smoke produced by a fire can numb the senses and put you into a deeper sleep
Smoke Alarm Every home in Ontario must have a working smoke alarm it is the law! Household smoke alarms sound an alarm, alerting you to a fire. By giving you time to escape, smoke alarms cut your risk of dying in a home fire nearly in half.
Whose responsibility is it? Homeowners: It is the responsibility of homeowners to install and maintain smoke alarms on every storey of their home and outside sleeping areas. Landlords: It is the responsibility of landlords to ensure their rental properties comply with the law.
How to maintain your smoke alarm Install a new battery at least once a year. If the low battery warning beeps, replace the battery immediately. Never remove the battery for use in other devices. Dust can clog the smoke alarm, so carefully vacuum the inside of the battery powered unit using the soft bristle brush. Smoke alarms do wear out, so if you think your alarms are more than 10 years old, replace them with new ones.
Violation of Smoke Alarm Regulation Based on the Ontario Fire Regulations, failure to comply with the fire code regarding smoke alarm requirements could result in: Minor Cases: a fine of $235 Serious Cases: Individual: a fine of up to $50,000 Corporations: a fine of up to $100,000
OPEN AIR BURNING
REQUIRMENTS OF OPEN AIR BURNING Allow an officer, at any reasonable time, to inspect the location or proposed location of the fire Be the legal property owner or have written owner consent Only burn commercially produced charcoal, briquettes, or clean, dry seasoned wood Have a suitable means of extinguishment available while the fire is burning Ensure it does not create a nuisance Ensure it is constantly attended Completely extinguish the fire before leaving the burn site Prevent potential spread of fire
OUTDOOR FIRE CONTAINERS The Open Air Burning By-law states that a person may set a fire in an outdoor fire container between 4:00 p.m. and midnight, if: The fire container is made from non-combustible material The fire is no larger than 46 cm wide X 46 cm long X 30 cm high It is at least 4 m from any building, structure, property line, tree, hedge, fence, roadway, overhead wire or other combustible article The fire container is placed on a non-combustible surface that extends beyond the container at least as far as the container is high
Cooking Fire The Open Air Burning By-law states that a person may conduct a cooking fire between 11:00 a.m. and midnight. Provided the fire is no larger than 46 cm long X 46 cm wide X 30 cm high. A cooking fire does not include a barbeque being used to cook food, which is permissible at all times.
ALL OPEN AIR BURNINGS ARE NOT PERMITTED WHEN: wind exceeds15 kilometres per hour it is rainy or foggy a smog day has been declared Wind speed is posted at : www.theweathernetwork.com Smog alert days are posted at: www.airqualityontario.com
YARD WASTE Burning yard waste is a violation. Visit www.london.ca for more information, and search yard materials.
OPEN BURNING VIOLATIONS When a complaint is received regarding open burning: an Inspector or a Fire Crew will respond to inspect the burning conditions. If you are found to be violating the terms of the Open Burning By law, an order to extinguish and violation notice will be issued. A subsequent response that is found to be violating the by law will result in an inspection fee of $231.65. You may also be fined subject to fine amounts set out in the bylaw.
OPEN AIR BURNING REGULATIONS The Fire Protection and Prevention Act allows: An Inspector to enter and inspect land and premises for the purpose of assessing fire safety without warrant at all reasonable times. An Inspector also to bring with them anyone he or she considers advisable to assist. (Police, bylaw enforcement, animal control, building Inspector etc.). Obstructing an Assistant to the Fire Marshal is an offence under this Act and anyone doing so may be subject to prosecution.
OPEN AIR BURNING REGULATIONS (Cont.) If during an inspection a violation is found, the owner of the property will be given a Fire Safety Inspection Order noting the violation, possibly the corrective action required and a time line to correct the violation. Issues that affect the immediate life safety of occupants must be corrected immediately or as soon as reasonably possible. An Inspector will re-inspect the property after the allowed time frame to confirm the violation has been corrected. The owner of the property will be subject to a re- inspection fee. If a violation is not able to be corrected within the time frame supplied (awaiting special ordered parts, awaiting service by Fire Protection Company etc, awaiting Building Department approval), a Letter of Commitment spelling out the violations, the steps being taken to correct the violation and the approximate time frame, must be completed and submitted to the Chief Fire Prevention Officer for approval
OPEN AIR BURNING REGULATIONS (Cont.) The maximum fines per violation is $50,000 for an individual or $100,000 for a Corporation and up to a year incarceration. Note: If a violation is found, the provision of time to correct this violation is a courtesy only. The person may be prosecuted at any time.
CONTACT INFORMATION If you have a complaint or concern regarding open burning, please contact: LONDON FIRE SERVICES 400 Horton Street East London, Ontario N6B 1L7 Tel: 519 661-4565 Hours: Monday to Friday: 8:30am 4:30pm After business hours: 519-661-5615 Website: www.london.ca/fire
FOR MORE INFORMATION Contact John Howard Society of London and District 601 Queens Avenue, London, ON. N6B 1Y9 Tel: 519-438-4168 or www. jhslondon.on.ca Visit London Fire Department website at: http://www.fire.london.ca For non Emergency Services call: 519-661-4565 Visit: http://www.settlement.org/index.asp Visit Community Legal Education Ontario website at: http://www.cleo.on.ca/en Visit London Middlesex Local Immigration Partnership website at: http://immigration.london.ca/lmlip/
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