Fire Prevention Week
Sunday, October 8 to Saturday, October 14, 2023
Fire Prevention Week will be held under the theme « Le premier responsable, c'est toi! »
Did you know that Fire Prevention Week is always held in early October in both the U.S. and Canada? The dates were chosen to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of October 9, 1871, which claimed 250 lives, left 100,000 homeless and destroyed 17,400 buildings. In Quebec, the first Fire Prevention Week was held in 1990.
Sobering statistics
Each year in Quebec, fires cause an average of:
- 14 houses damaged per day.
- 400 injuries.
- 29,000 forced evacuations.
Almost 49% of fires that occur in homes are related to human distraction or error. Among fire victims, 45% are over 65 years old.
Protect your family
If a fire were to break out in your home, you would have less than 3 minutes to evacuate your burning house. To be prepared for such an eventuality, you must have:
- Smoke detectors in good working order;
- An evacuation plan;
- 72-hour emergency kit.
Learn what to do if you have to evacuate your home, and do an evacuation drill twice a year.
Fire safe behaviour
- Always keep an eye on heating objects while they are in use.
- Avoid the constant use of extension cords to connect auxiliary heaters.
- Use CSA/ULC-approved electrical appliances. Make sure electrical wiring is not broken.
- Keep exits and stairways clear at all times. Keep personal items such as glasses, hearing aids, telephone and keys close to your bed, in case you need to evacuate quickly at night.
- If you smoke: Completely extinguish your cigarette butts in a deep ashtray with a wide rim, or in a tin filled with sand if you're outside.
- Never smoke in bed or in a position where you might fall asleep.
- Dispose of hot ashes safely.
- Have your chimney swept.
If you've been the victim of a fire, here's what to do.
Fire station open house
To highlight Fire Prevention Week, the Saint-Lazare fire station opens its doors on Saturday, October 14. Find out all the details here.