Fire Prevention and Public Education

All Ontario residences with an attached garage or a fuel burning appliance to have a working carbon monoxide alarm. Carbon monoxide alarms need to be installed outside all sleeping areas. Carbon Monoxide Alarms should be replaced every 5-7 years, or according to the expiry date on the back of the alarm. 

Develop a Home Fire Escape Plan Today: It Could Save Your Life Tonight

If a fire occurred in your home tonight, would your family get out safely? Everyone must know what to do and where to go when the smoke alarm sounds. Take a few minutes with everyone in your household to make a home fire escape plan following the instructions below.

1. Draw a floor plan of your home
2. Include all possible emergency exits
3. Show two ways out of every room, if possible
4. Determine if anyone in the house will need assistance to escape, such as a toddler, a person with a disability, or a senior
5. Choose a meeting palce outside
6. Call the Fire Department from outside your home.
7. Practice your escape

The Dundalk Fire Department is committed to providing public education on fire prevention and safety through fire and life safety public education programming, smoke alarm and carbon monoxide initiatives, distributing public safety messages and many other programs. 

• Book a tour at the Dundalk Fire Department with your family, school or community group to learn about modern fire fighting techniques and equipment and get to know some of your local firefighters. 
• If you are interested in having a Fire Public Educator visit your school, community or educational group, business you can request a visit, here.  

The Fire Chief and Fire Prevention Officer from the Dundalk Fire Department are responsible for enforcing fire prevention regulations through inspection. 

Fire inspections are conducted on a routine basis, by complaint or request.

• Routine: Vulnerable Occupancies are required to initiate routine annual inspections with the Fire Department as part of the Ontario Fire Code.
• Complaint: A request for an inspection can be made on a complaint basis by a member of the public if they have a life safety or fire code violation concern. Requester's information is required, however is kept confidential.
• Request: A request for an inspection can be made by any member of the community. 

Please note that there are fees associated with some types of inspections, for more information visit the Township of Southgate Fee's and Charges By-law. 

Book an Inspection

Firework use in the Township of Southgate is governed by the firework by-law.

Consumer fireworks cannot be set except on the following days: 

• Victoria Day
  • the day immediately before Victoria Day
  • the day immediately following Victoria Day
• Canada Day
  • the day immediately before Canada Day
  • the day immediately after Canada Day

Display fireworks cannot be set except on the following days with a valid permit:

• Victoria Day
  • the day immediately before Victoria Day
  • the day immediately following Victoria Day
• Canada Day
  • the day immediately before Canada Day
  • the day immediately after Canada Day

Fireworks may be sold in the Township of Southgate on the following days with an issued permit: 

• • seven (7) days immediately preceding Victoria Day and Canada Day

Consumer and Display fireworks may be permitted outside of the authorized days and times with an exemption by Council and in accordance with the fireworks by-law. 

To apply for permits, please select the corresponding button. 

Display Fireworks Permit Application

Sale of Fireworks Permit Application

 Display or Consumer Firework Exemption Application

Since 1922, the National Fire Protection has sponsored the public observance of Fire Prevention Week. Fire Prevention Week occurs during the week of October 9th to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire. Each year, the NFPA releases information on relevant fire safety topics to inform and educate the public. 

Only working smoke alarms can save your life! Smoke alarms require some simple maintenance to keep them in good working order. These tips will help to make sure your alarms perform as intended when you need them the most.

Test Smoke Alarms Regularly

Test your smoke alarm every month by using the test button on the alarm. When the test button is pressed, the alarm should sound. If battery-operated smoke alarms fail to sound when tested, make sure that the battery is installed correctly, or install a new battery. If electrically-connected smoke alarms fail to sound when tested, make sure the power is turned on to the unit. If the alarm still fails to sound, replace the smoke alarm with a new one. 

Change the Batteries Every Year

Install new batteries in your smoke alarms at least once a year, or as recommended by the manufacturer. Install a new batter if the low-battery warning sounds, or if the alarm fails to sound when tested. 

Beware of Chirping Smoke Alarms

All battery-operated smoke alarms emit a warning sound, usually an intermittent "chirp" when the battery power is low. When you hear this sound, it is time to replace the battery. The smoke alarm will continue to work even though it is chirping, so do not remove the battery until you replace it with a new one. The warning signal itself will eventually stop after a few days, so smoke alarms should be tested when you return from an extended absence in case the battery has died.

Vacuum Alarms Regularly

Dust can affect your smoke alarms. Battery-powered smoke alarms should be cleaned by opening the cover of the alarm and gently vacuuming the inside with a soft bristle brush. For electronically-connected smoke alarms, first shut off the power to the unit, and then gently vacuum the outside vents of the alarm only. Turn the power back on and test the alarm.

Replace Older Smoke Alarms

All smoke alarms expire. If your alarms are more than 10 years old, replace them with new ones.

Use the "Hush" Feature

Smoke alarms are available with a pause or hush button that can temporarily silence the alarm. This is a convenient way to deal with nuisance alarms, such as those caused by burning toast or opening smoky ovens, without disabling the alarm. The hush button will silence the alarm for several minutes and then automatically reset itself. Smoke alarms with this feature discourage the dangerous practice of removing the battery or disconnecting the power source as a method of dealing with frequent nuisance alarms. When purchasing smoke alarms, look for alarms with a high feature, especially if the alarm will be installed near a kitchen or bathroom. 
It should be noted that many alarms with a hush feature will chirp intermittently while in high mode. The chirping will stop once the alarm resets itself. If smoke continues to build from a real fire while the alarm is in high mode, the smoke will override the silence feature and the alarm will resound.