Fire Safety

Home fires are devastating. Many home fires can be prevented if proper steps are taken to make homes more fire resistant, including having working smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. It is important to understand and follow basic fire safety precautions.

Fires most often happen during the colder months, when indoor heating is required. The use of electric heating units increases the risk of a fire. A fire may occur if a heating unit is defective or if it is placed close to materials that catch fire easily, such as curtains, paper or certain chemicals.

Deaths and hospitalizations from fires among First Nations people range from eight to sixteen times higher than the general population in several provinces. These numbers are likely similar for Inuit populations as they tend to follow the same trend as First Nations people of having higher injury rates than the general population.

First Nations people and Inuit are at a greater risk of fire because of smoking habits, wood frame house construction and the low presence of smoke detectors.

Candles

The use of candles in the home is increasing in popularity. Candles are safe when used responsibly and according to the manufacturer's instructions. Most candle fires are caused by not following basic fire safety precautions. Sometimes the candle holder can also be a fire hazard.

For more information on candle safety, see:

• Is Your Child Safe? - Lighters, Matches and Candles;
• It's Your Health - Candle Safety;
• Health Canada Advisory - Health Canada advises Canadians about potential lead exposure from inexpensive jewellery and candles with lead core wicks;
• Candles; and
• Burning Candles Can Be Dangerous (First Nations)
  Burning Candles Can Be Dangerous (Inuit)
  Burning Candles Can Be Dangerous (Inuit Inuktitut PDF version).

Clothing

All clothing can burn when exposed to an open flame or other intense heat sources, such as a lit candle, stove burner or lit cigarette. Children's clothing sold in Canada must meet strict flammability requirements. Although this improves safety, this does not mean clothing is fireproof.

For more information:

• Is Your Child Safe? - Children's Clothing;
• Children's Sleepwear;
• Children's Sleepwear - Public Education Bulletin (First Nations)
  Children's Sleepwear - Public Education Bulletin (Inuit)
  Children's Sleepwear - Public Education Bulletin (Inuit Inuktitut PDF version); and
• Facts for Garage Sale Vendors.

Cooking Fires

One common cause of fires at home is cooking fires. These are often started when grease or oil catches fire. Extreme caution must be used when cooking with oil. Heat it very slowly and never leave cooking oil unattended. Preparing meals with defective appliances can also increase the risk of fire.

More information is available in the public education bulletin, Stop Cooking Fires Before They Happen (First Nations) (Inuit) (Inuit Inuktitut PDF version).

Lighters and Matches

Lighters and matches can be deadly in the hands of a child. Parents, grandparents and care givers should teach children about the importance of fire safety at an early age. Children should be taught that if they see a lighter or matches, they should not play with them, but should tell an adult right away. A "child-resistant" lighter is not child proof. Nothing replaces adult supervision. Always keep lighters and matches out of the reach of children.

For more information, see:

• Lighters and Matches;
• Be Careful With Lighters and Matches (First Nations)
  Be Careful With Lighters and Matches (Inuit);
• Utility Lighters are Dangerous in the Hands of Children (First Nations)
  Utility Lighters are Dangerous in the Hands of Children (Inuit)
  Utility Lighters are Dangerous in the Hands of Children (Inuit Inuktitut PDF version); and
• Hazardous Lighters Found in Stores.

Smoke Detectors

Smoke detectors should be in every home in Canada. Installing the correct number of smoke detectors in the correct places reduces the risk of fire-related injury or death in the home.

Smoke detectors must be kept in good working order. Health Canada recommends that smoke detectors have the Underwriter's Laboratories of Canada stamp of approval on the product.

For more information, see:

• It's Your Health - Smoke Detectors;
• Smoke Detectors, Carbon Monoxide Detectors and Charcoal; and
• Smoke Detectors Save Lives.

Scald and Burn Prevention for Children and Elders

Children and elders are at a higher risk of suffering from fire-related injuries than a healthy adult.

A child's skin burns more quickly than an adult's, and even minor burns can cover large parts of their bodies. This can increase the severity of the burn.

Some elders with medical conditions or taking certain medications can succumb to smoke easily, are less sensitive to heat or their skin may burn more quickly. Also, in the event of a fire, elders may not be able to react as quickly as younger adults.

Further Information on Burns and Scalds Prevention

Help on accessing alternative formats, such as Portable Document Format (PDF), Microsoft Word and PowerPoint (PPT) files, can be obtained in the alternate format help section.

Some of the hyperlinks provided are to sites of organizations or other entities that are not subject to the  Official Languages Act. The material found there is therefore in the language(s) used by the sites in question.

• Healing Our Spirit see Fire and Burn Fact Sheet (PDF version);
• Injury Prevention Fact Sheets (PDF version);
• Injuries (See burns);
• Home Safety Tips - Bathtub and Fire Safety;
• Scalds and Burns;
• Unintentional and Intentional Injury Profile for Aboriginal People in Canada, 1990 - 1999 (see fire/flames);
• Safe, Healthy Environments; and
• Home: Is Your Child Safe? - Fire Safety.