Emergency Preparedness in Ontario (especially for summer!)
In the Boreal forest zones of Ontario, along with many other forested and grassland regions of Canada, the risk of wildfires skyrockets during the summer months. These places are especially at risk during dry spells.
If you live in an at-risk area–such as the Boreal forest zone of Ontario–it’s wise to stay tuned in to whether there are fire bans, and what you can do to stay safe, and prevent unnecessary damage.
For up-to-date reports on the fire situation across Canada, visit The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre’s web page. They are operating all day and night, every day and night, during the fire season (May through September).
Important Tips
Some of the most important things you can do, to stay safe, seem really basic but could end up saving your life!
- Never underestimate the power of communication! If you talk to your loved ones about a plan to follow, in the case of an emergency, you are much more likely to come out the other end unscathed.
- Talk about a meeting place.
- Talk about escape exits, from your house.
- Practice fire drills and the “stop, drop, and roll” technique.
- Make sure everyone knows how to contact each other, in the event of a fire.
- Make sure everyone knows where the emergency kits are stored.
- Make sure everyone knows where the first aid supplies, such as our 175 Piece First Aid Kit, are stored.
- Remove fire hazards from in and around your home. This includes dried and crackly branches and leaves.
- Replace hazards with helpful, safety enhancing items such as sprinklers.
- Outfit your home with smoke detectors, and consult your local fire department about creating a fire-resistant home.
When a Fire Approaches
- Close all entrances to your home, and put sprinklers on your roof with the water running. Once again, be sure that all combustibles are removed far away from your house. This includes flammable window curtains, etc., within your house.
- Cover all vents and other openings, and turn off the propane or natural gas.
- Have your car packed up with your emergency supplies, and ready to pull out of your driveway quickly.
- Keep lights on, in your house, to aid visibility in the case of smoke.
- Evacuate, and stay tuned to the reports from your local radio station.
Being prepared for an emergency such as a wildfire can reduce a lot of stress, and even save lives. Remember, communication is key!
Article contributed by Sophie Wooding – Avid gardener and cyclist in Victoria, BC and Content Writer for Frontier.io