Seasonal Fire Safety

Fireworks

The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a professional fireworks show. If you do choose to hold a family fireworks show, please do so safely.

Every year thousands of people, most often children and teens, are injured while using consumer fireworks. 

If you do choose to discharge fireworks, please visit Fireworks Application for more details. 

Visit the Office of the Fire Marshal website to learn more about fireworks safety. 

Campfires

Closely supervise all outdoor fires. Make sure the fire is out before leaving the area. The campfire must be at least 7.5 metres (25 feet) from buildings, vegetation, overhead wires, all other combustibles and property lines. 

Avoid burning on windy, dry days. It is easier for open burning to spread out of control when it is windy and dry.  Supervise children around any fire outdoors, including campfires, fire pits, chimineas, and outdoor fireplaces. 

Visit the Office of the Fire Marshal website to learn more about campfire safety. 

Recreational Campfire Permits

Non-approved Burning Devices such as fire pits, campfires and fire rings require a Recreational Campfire Permit.   

Small controlled fires in an Approved Burning Device do not require a permit.  

Please visit Campfires & Open Burns for more information.

Agricultural Open Burns

Avoid burning on windy, dry days. Embers from open burning can ignite nearby structures or cause a brush fire. 

Never burn plastics, construction debris, treated lumber, tires, pesticides, paint, or aerosol containers. These items contain toxins that can be harmful to people and animals when burned.

Open burns are regularly called in and an enforcement officer may prohibit any open-burn activity at your property if they believe it to be unsafe. The municipality may also take further enforcement action if you are not complying with the requirements.

Visit the Office of the Fire Marshal website to learn more about how to safely burn.

Agricultural Burn Permit

All agricultural open-air burns require an Open Air Burn Permit. 

It is your responsibility to ensure you are aware of, and fully comply with, the requirements of the Open Burn By-law.

Winter and Holiday

Your risk of having a fire can increase dramatically over the holidays. Statistics show that in Ontario, 1 in 3 fire deaths occur during the months of November, December and January. 

For information on preventing home fires, visit the Office of the Fire Marshal website at the links below:

CK Water Safe

For many families, summer includes activities such as boating and swimming. But each year, tragic and avoidable water-related fatalities occur

Follow these tips to stay water safe:

Active supervision

• The absence of adult supervision is a factor in most child drownings.
• Whether it's a pool, the bathtub, a water park, or the beach, always watch children actively around water-even if they can swim.
• Consider requiring all non-swimmers to wear a lifejacket to keep them at the surface to assist you while supervising.

Backyard pools

• Backyard pools are especially dangerous for small children. Ensure adequate barriers are in place such as four-sided fencing (recommended at least 1.2 m in height, with gaps no larger than 10 cm) along with a self-closing, self-latching gate.
• Empty portable toddler pools after each use.

Bathing children

• When bathing infants or toddlers, an adult should remain with the child at all times- children should never be relied upon to supervise other children in the bath.
• When a child is in the bathtub, never leave to answer the phone or for any other momentary distraction.

Diving

• Diving headfirst into water should be avoided unless the individual is properly trained and is sure that the water is deep enough.
• Avoid diving in home pools and always enter the water feet-first.

Open water

• Never underestimate the power of the current. Swimmers or waders can be swept away in an instant, particularly if non-swimmers or weak swimmers get caught by current in rivers or out of their depth in abrupt drop-offs.
• Be cautious about swimming in currents, and know what to do if caught in a current.
  

Cottages and RVs

Cottages and RVs burn too! Install smoke alarms on every storey and outside all sleeping areas. It's the law for all Ontario homes, cottages, cabins and seasonal homes to have working smoke alarms on every storey and outside all sleeping areas.

If you have any fuel-burning appliances, a fireplace or an attached garage install a working carbon monoxide alarm.