Public Education

In 2023, fire fatalities reached a record high in Ontario - the highest we'd seen in 20 years. In too many of these cases, it was determined that there were no working smoke alarms in the home.

The Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) set out to create a province-wide campaign to raise awareness about the importance of working smoke alarms. The result? Test Your Smoke Alarm Day and the "Saved By The Beep!" public education campaign every year on September 28.

Join the province-wide movement for a fire-safe Ontario! Take the pledge, grab resources, and get educated on all things smoke alarm safety. You and your loved ones could be "Saved by the Beep!"

Learn More About Saved By The Beep

Take the "Test Your Smoke Alarm" Pledge!

* Changes to the Ontario Fire Code are Coming January 1, 2026

Currently, the law for Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarms in Ontario states that you must have one alarm on the floors of the home you sleep on in houses with any fuel-burning appliances (wood, gas, propane) and an attached garage.

As of January 1, 2026, the law will change in the following ways:

Requiring CO alarms on EVERY floor of the home in houses with fuel-burning appliances and/or attached garages.
Requiring CO alarms in houses that are heated by an outdoor furnace.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is often known as the “Silent Killer” as it is an odourless, colourless, tasteless gas that humans cannot detect and can be fatal if inhaled. CO is produced when fuels are not completely and efficiently burned.

Responsibilities:

Building Owners are responsible for complying with CO alarm requirements under the fire code.
Landlords are responsible for installing and maintaining CO alarms in their rental units, testing the alarms annually, replacing the battery, and providing the tenant with a copy of the alarm’s maintenance instructions.
Tenants are responsible for notifying their landlord if they are aware of any issue with a CO alarm in their unit. It is against the law for anyone to remove the batteries to tamper with a CO alarm in any way.

For more information on the changes to the Ontario Fire Code, please visit www.ontario.ca/page/carbon-monoxide-safety

Centre Wellington Fire Rescue host fire safety seminars at all area schools and public education displays and seminars for children's groups, seniors and other private groups throughout the year.

Public Education

Centre Wellington Fire Rescue provides a variety of residential and commercial fire education programs.

Our goal is to educate everyone from children and youths to adults and seniors the importance of Fire Safety at home, at school and at work.

Some of the available programs are:

School visits
Fire hall tours
Fire safety trailer
Fire extinguisher training
Community engagement talks

For more information, or to inquiry about one of our programs please contact Fire Administration Office.

Kids Zone

There are some great resources to teach kids about fire safety. Teaching kids about fire safety is important to keeping your family safe.

Have fun while learning all about Fire Safety from these websites.

Do not be afraid of firefighters when there is a fire or an emergency, firefighters are your friends!

Kitchen Safety Tips

Cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries.

Thanksgiving is the leading day for fires involving cooking equipment.
The leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking.
Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food.
If you are simmering, baking, or roasting food, check it regularly and stay in the home.
Always keep a lid nearby when cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner. Leave the pan covered until it’s cool.
Keep anything that can catch fire away from your stovetop.
Loose clothing can hang down onto stove burners and catch fire. Wear short, close-fitting, or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking.
Have a “kid-free zone” of at least 3 feet (1 metre) around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.

Fire Safety Tip Sheets In Multiple Languages

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) provides free educational Easy-to-Read Handouts and Safety Tip Sheets on a variety of topics in multiple languages.

Fire Administration Office
250 Queen St W, Fergus,
Ontario, Canada, N1M 1S8
Phone: 519.843.1950
Email Us