WC winter prime time for house fires

WEST CARLETON – It might seem counter-intuitive, but West Carleton residents are right in the middle of prime home fire season.

Don’t let the cold fool you, in fact the cold is a major indirect contributor, but December, January and February are the most dangerous time for house fires of the year, and second only to grass fire season for fire calls for Ottawa Fire Services (OFS).

Last week (Jan. 22), OFS fire prevention officer Leanne Labbee joined West Carleton Online for a coffee at the Ridge Rock Brewing Company for a chat on what makes this time of year so dangerous for house fires and what homeowners (and renters) can do to reduce the risk.

Labbee, who often visits area schools, including Huntley Centennial Public School and Stonecrest Elementary School, says she breaks it down for kids, who get it immediately.

“If your shirt gets wet, we can dry it,” she said. “If it gets dirty, we can wash it. If it gets burned, it’s gone forever. I love being a public educator. What I enjoy with the kids, if I’m going to tell them something, at least five of them are going to go home and tell their parents.”

Labbee has been with OFS since 2007. After 11 years with dispatch, she moved to prevention and is one of four main OFS public educators. The Richmond resident is familiar with firefighting in the rural sections in the City of Ottawa with a dad who spent 40 years with the Goulbourn fire department before amalgamation (and after for a time as well).

With many relatives also firefighters, “the fire service has been in my blood my entire life.”

In 2023, 121 people lost their lives to fire in Ontario.

“Half of them didn’t have smoke alarms,” Labbee said. “Smoke alarms have been the law since the ‘90s. It’s amazing the people I talk to who don’t know smoke alarms expire.”

Labbee says 99 per cent of smoke alarms expire in 10 years.

With a return to winter temperatures this year, Labbee says the OFS “wants to put a freeze on winter fires.”

“In the winter, we need to keep warm, but we have to do it safely,” Labbee said. “Having working alarms truly saves lives.”

What makes winter such a dangerous time for residential fires? Heating equipment.

“It’s one of the top causes right up there with grass fires,” Labbee said. “One of the biggest issues is people are not doing the proper maintenance. Some people aren’t even making sure things are clean. Radiant heat can cause fires. It just the simple things. Taking that extra second to make sure things are safe.”

And her most important piece of advice for those who need added sources of heat during those coldest days.

“Plug them directly in to the wall,” Labbee said. “Don’t use extension cords.”

Labbee says when buying a heating device make sure they are certified by CSA or CUL and have an automatic shut off.

Fireplaces are also a risk.

“People tend to forget to have an appropriate screen in front of their fireplace,” Labbee said. “Sparks can fly. Make sure you are burning good wood.”

The one thing all these increased winter fires have in common is “they are all very preventable.”

Labbee says it is critical to have a carbon monoxide detector and to check it regularly.

“Carbon monoxide is the silent killer,” she said. “Contrary to popular belief it is odourless, tasteless, you’re not going to see it. Make sure you have a detector. These are things people tend to forget or are complacent about.”

Labbee says so far, this winter has been about average for fires.

“We haven’t seen an increase, but unfortunately we haven’t seen a decrease,” she said.

Just a week ago (Jan. 19) a trailer on Upper Dwyer Hill was destroyed by fire with the residents lucky to get out, but not without some fire related injuries.

Last November, Ottawa volunteer firefighters were called to a home near Fitzroy Harbour where a chimney fire was prevented from spreading to the rest of the home.

“You need to be aware,” Labbee said. “Aware your carbon monoxide alarms are working; your smoke alarms are working. In the ‘80s and ‘90s it could take 25 to 30 minutes for a home to become fully involved. Now, with modern construction materials, you have three-and-a-half minutes at most to get out of the home and save yourself from a fire. Most fires occur in the sleeping hours. You need that notification to have the time to get out. Simple actions can save lives. It’s very true.”

So, there’s no time to make a plan during a fire.

“One of the biggest things we teach is have an escape plan,” Labbe said. “Go home and test your alarms. You don’t want to find out the hard way they don’t work.”

And that is especially true in the rural areas.

“Rural areas tend to get more snow,” Labbee said. “Be sure to clean your vents out and make sure your address is visible. We have the 911 signs out here, I wish the whole city had them. Make sure they can be seen. We tend to burn more wood in the rural areas. Make sure you have the chimney checked and the dampers are working. Pipes are connected. Chimneys are connected to the home. If a fire breaks through, now your attic is on fire. Fire likes to eat.”