Brampton Fire and Emergency Services is reminding residents to stay fire-safe this December as cooking, heating and decorative lights lead to an annual spike in preventable home fires. Launching its holiday fire safety campaign this week, the service says simple precautions can make the difference between a joyful celebration and a dangerous emergency.
The campaign once again aligns with the Ontario Fire Marshal’s “12 Days of Holiday Safety” initiative, which provides coordinated daily safety messages across the province. Brampton’s effort is grounded in the city’s Community Risk Assessment and Master Plan, focusing on the most common hazards found in local homes during the festive season.
Residents are being encouraged to take practical steps to reduce fire risks, starting with checking decorative lighting for broken bulbs, frayed wires or loose connections before putting them up. Real Christmas trees should be watered daily, since a dry tree can ignite in seconds. BFES also stresses the importance of extinguishing candles before leaving a room, or better yet, choosing flameless LED options.
As families gather, officials urge everyone to test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure they are functioning properly. With furnaces and fireplaces in heavy use, winter remains the peak season for CO-related emergencies.
Brampton Fire is also warning against overloading extension cords, leaving cooking unattended and ignoring the risks posed by space heaters, which should be kept at least one metre away from anything that can burn. The service reminds residents to have and practise a home escape plan, know two exits from every room, and establish a safe meeting spot outdoors.
Other reminders include encouraging smokers to smoke outside and properly extinguish cigarettes, and charging lithium-ion battery–powered gifts only with their approved chargers and on hard, flat surfaces.
The holiday season consistently brings an increase in preventable fires, Brampton Fire says, but many incidents can be avoided through awareness and simple safety habits. The service is calling on the community to take shared responsibility for reducing risks and keeping celebrations safe.
More information on household fire safety can be found at bramptonfire.com.