(Montreal) On the occasion of the launch of Fire Prevention Week on Sunday, the Quebec Ministry of Public Security recalls the importance of taking the right steps to protect yourself, when half of residential fires are caused by human error.
Posted at 11:07 a.m.
In all, the province sees “13 homes damaged every day” by fire, the ministry notes, for an annual total of 400 injured and 29,000 people evacuated.
The spokesperson for the Week, host Chantale Lacroix, herself experienced the fire in her house last year. “Did you know that you have less than 3 minutes to evacuate your burning residence?, she recalls in a press release. If we include the time that the smoke alarm starts ringing and wakes you up, you have very little time left to get out! Believe me, it’s worth having a well-known fire escape plan and checking your smoke alarms twice a year. »
Other precautions include keeping an eye on heating objects when they are on, avoiding “permanent use of an extension cord to plug in space heaters”, using “CSA/ULC approved electrical appliances” and keeping emergency exits unobstructed at all times, adds the ministry.
At the City of Montreal, it is recalled that smokers’ articles cause no less than 27% of residential fires, just behind cooking fires (29%).
More and more fires are caused by devices that have lithium-ion batteries, such as cell phones, computers or even scooters or electric bicycles, also informed the municipality, stressing the importance of verifying that the battery n is not damaged, to use chargers that meet Canadian safety standards and to protect the batteries from heat.
“We know that 85% of fires on the island of Montreal are linked to distraction or human negligence,” said Alain Vaillancourt, head of public security on the executive committee, in a press release. Certain daily actions can prevent major material losses, serious injuries and even deaths. We can all make a difference to raise awareness and inform the population of behaviors to avoid”.
During the Week, which will be held until next Saturday, several fire departments will organize open houses so that the population can visit the fire stations and learn more about both the job and prevention. This is notably the case of the Montreal Fire Department, which will also offer emergency situation simulations. Information stands will also be set up in several districts.