Fire-safe Student Living

Tips for Fire-Safe Student Living

Whether you are returning to school or preparing to start your college or university journey away from home, Brampton Fire and Emergency Services wants your student housing to be fire safe.

It is important to make sure that your home away from home is fire safe. Below are tips every student should know to live safely and prevent fire.

Cooking Safety

Did you know the #1 cause of fire at home is unattended cooking?

Always turn off the stove if you leave the kitchen. Leaving a pot on the stove unattended can burn more than just your dinner.
A clean and tidy kitchen is a fire safe kitchen – clean the cooking and surrounding area from grease.
Keep anything that can burn dishcloths, tea towels, potholders – a safe distance away from the stove.
Wear tight sleeves or roll them up when cooking. Loose fitting clothes can come into contact with stove burners and catch fire.

Smoking

Careless smoking is the #1 cause of fatal home fires.

Do not carelessly toss any smoking materials off balconies, out of cars or into flowerbeds.
Never smoke in bed.
Encourage smokers to smoke outside.
Empty ashes into a metal container not a garbage can – and place it outside.
Make sure all butts and other smoking materials are out safely.

Smoke Alarms

Every home in Ontario must have a working smoke alarm on every storey and outside all sleeping areas

Did you know most fires occur in the home between 11pm and 6am?
Change batteries annually or when the low battery warning sounds. Consider using alarms that have a worry-free, 10-year lithium battery.
Replace smoke alarms that are more than 10 years old, including those that are hardwired (electrical).
Test alarms monthly by pushing the test button on the alarm.

The Silent Killer: Carbon Monoxide

Working Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarms save lives!

You can’t see, taste or smell CO. It can only be detected by a working CO alarm. Inform the landlord immediately if you don't see a CO alarm installed.
Location of your alarm is of utmost importance. Carbon Monoxide alarms must be adjacent to all sleeping areas in homes with fuel burning appliances.
Consider using alarms that have a worry-free 10-year lithium battery. Test monthly!
Never cook with barbecues or propane cookers inside the home or garage.
Never use propane heaters inside the home or garage.
Never leave a vehicle idling in the garage.

Know your escape plan

Do you know two different ways to escape from your dorm or apartment in case of fire?

Create a Home Fire Escape Plan and practise it twice a year.
Have a meeting place outside the front of your home or apartment.
Don’t ever go back inside for anything, including pets.
Get out, stay out, and call 9-1-1 immediatly!

Safe Student Housing

How safe is your student housing? Review the following tips for renting a safe place.

Before you rent a house or a room in Brampton, check out the interactive map the City of Brampton has that lists all registered two-unit legal dwellings in the city. To make sure you are renting a safe place, click here for more information.
Second units/basement apartments are considered ILLEGAL if they are not registered. Make sure wherever you live – you have working smoke alarms and, if required, working carbon monoxide alarms. It's the law!

Tenant Safety

Tenants of a rental unit MUST notify the landlord as soon as they become aware that:

A smoke alarm and/or a carbon monoxide alarm in the unit is disconnected.
A smoke alarm and/or a carbon monoxide alarm in the unit is not operating or impaired.

Tenants must not disable a smoke alarm and/or a carbon monoxide alarm

Disabling includes:

Taking a smoke alarm and/or carbon monoxide alarm off the ceiling
Unplugging a carbon monoxide alarm from an electrical outlet
Removing the battery

Tenants found disabling a smoke alarm and/or a carbon monoxide alarm will be charged a minimum of $360 per device under the Ontario Fire Code. Fines are subject to increase.

Renters Insurance – Myths and Facts

Do you have renter's insurance? According to Statistics Canada and the Insurance Bureau of Canada, less than half of renters in Canada have renter’s insurance (also known as tenant or contents insurance).

Myth: Tenant insurance is too expensive.
Fact: The average price of tenant insurance is a minimal monthly expense. Insure your home and vehicle with the same company for a discount and added benefits.
Myth: Your landlord has insurance that will cover you.
Fact: Your landlord’s insurance covers damage to the building. It doesn’t cover your personal belongings or your liability. The landlord could require contents insurance as part of the agreement of your lease.

Fire Routes

Fire Routes are for emergency vehicles ONLY.

Fire routes (By-law 93-93 Sec. 47 (5-6)) are in place to help fire crews get faster access into buildings in case of an emergency.
Don’t block fire routes to drop off or pick up anyone or anything.
If you are parked or stopped in a fire route, you may receive a significant fine or have your vehicle towed.

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