Fire Prevention and Education

The owner of a property may request a fire safety inspection.

These inspections include properties that house vulnerable sector residents, require licensing or have a history of non-compliance.

If you have reason to believe that a property within the Town of Grimsby does not comply with the Ontario Fire Code or there are fire hazards, you may file a complaint in person.

Anonymous complaints will not be addressed. Personal information is collected in accordance with Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

You are not permitted to burn within the Town of Grimsby unless approved in accordance with By-law 21-17.

Obtain a burn permit

All open air fires in the Town of Grimsby require a valid open air fire permit. 

Learn more of Apply

Renew a burn permit

You must renew a burn permit annually. Burn permits are valid for the calendar year and expire December 31 of each year. 

It’s your responsibility to make sure Open-Air Fires are safe and follow the rules and regulations listed in the Open-Air Fires By-Law 21-17 including:

• Ensuring your fire is located at least six metres away from any property and 4 metres away from any building, structures, hedge, fence, overhead wire or anything else that could catch fire and burn easily
• Making sure that your fire won’t cause a nuisance through issues such as excessive smoke or smell
• Always watching and controlling a fire until it’s extinguished
• Having a fire extinguisher or garden hose available
• Open-Air Fires must be covered at all times to prevent the escape of any spark or embers

Fire Prevention Week occurs in the week of October 9 each year. Fire Prevention Week teaches you what you can do to prevent fires from happening and to prevent fire-related injuries and deaths. The Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management (OFMEM) announces the National Fire Protection Association theme each year.

In September of each year, the Grimsby Fire Department hosts a fun-filled fire safety activity day for the whole family at no cost.

Location

Grimsby Fire Department Annual Fire Safety Day is held at STN 2 167 Mountain Rd.

No Time to Spare

No Time to Spare is an educational video of a fatal fire re-creation to emphasize the importance of:

• Preventing fires
• Maintaining working smoke alarms
• Practicing home fire escape plans
• Installing residential sprinklers

Install Smoke Alarms

You must install smoke alarms You may have just seconds to escape a fire safely in your home. That's why early detection of fire is vital. Only working smoke alarms provide those precious seconds you and your family need to escape safely.

Not having a smoke alarm is against the law

You are breaking the law in Ontario not having working smoke alarms installed on every storey and outside all sleeping areas in your home. There is no excuse. Protect your family.

Maintain your smoke alarms

Smoke alarms expire, so ongoing maintenance is required. An expiry or manufacture date is printed on every alarm unit. You must replace smoke alarms that are more than 10 years old. You should also teste all alarms monthly and replace their batteries at least once a year.

Have a home fire escape plan

Create and practice a home fire escape plan today that includes two ways out. It could save your life tonight. Find out what you need to do to help keep you and your family safe from fire.

Install Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarms

You must install Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms. CO is known as the Silent Killer – it is invisible, tasteless and odourless. Exposure to CO causes flu-like symptoms such as:

• headaches
• nausea
• dizziness
• confusion
• drowsiness

It can lead to loss of consciousness and death.

Install CO alarms outside sleeping areas

CO alarms installed outside all sleeping areas are mandatory in residences with fuel burning appliances and/or attached garages. You are breaking the law in Ontario not having working alarms. There is no excuse. Protect your family.

Maintain your CO alarms

CO alarms expire, so ongoing maintenance is required. An expiry or manufacture date is printed on every alarm unit. You must replace CO alarms every five to seven years. You should test all alarms monthly and replace their batteries at least once a year. Find out what you need to do to help keep you and your family safe from CO.

Contact us to schedule a visit from a fire prevention officer. 

To minimize the risk of fire and burn injury, the fire service does not recommend family (consumer) fireworks or informal neighbourhood displays. If you choose to use Consumer Fireworks, read and follow by-law 20-41, which includes some of the following important points:

• "Consumer Fireworks" is defined in by-law 20-41 to mean: "low-hazard fireworks generally used for recreation that are classed under Class 7, Division 2, Subdivision 1 under the Explosives Act, Revised Statutes of Canada 1985, chapter E-17, and include but are not limited to firework showers, fountains, golden rain, lawn lights, pin wheels, roman candles, volcanoes, sparklers, Christmas crackers and caps for toy guns, but do not include firecrackers, prohibited fireworks, display fireworks, safety flares, marine rockets, and other distress signals."
• Consumer Fireworks are prohibited from being discharged in or onto any highway, street, lane, square, public park, or other public place (provided that this shall not be deemed to prohibit a public fireworks display in accordance with the provisions of this by-law)
• As per by-law 20-41, no person shall discharge Consumer Fireworks except: 

  • between dusk and midnight on Victoria Day or each of two (2) days immediately preceding or seven (7) days immediately following Victoria Day;

  • between dusk and midnight on Canada Day or each of the two (2) days immediately preceding or seven (7) days immediately following Canada Day;
  • for a public display of Consumer Fireworks for which a Public Fireworks Display Permit has been obtained, at the times and date specified in the permit;
  • at such other times and such other dates as permitted by the Fire Chief.

The by-law also details information about Public Fireworks displays, including but not limited to:

• No person or group of persons shall hold a public fireworks display using Display Fireworks without first having obtained a Public Fireworks Display Permit issued by the Fire Chief.
• No person or group of persons shall hold a public fireworks display using Consumer Fireworks for which a Public Fireworks Display Permit is required under subsection 5(a) without first having obtained a Public Fireworks Display permit issued by the Fire Chief.
• Every application for a Public Fireworks Display permit shall be made to the Fire Chief not less than thirty (30) days before the setting off or holding of the public fireworks display. 
• Please review the by-law for all terms and conditions relating to all types of fireworks. 

Fireworks Safety Tips

Again, to minimize the risk of fire and burn injury, the fire service does not recommend family (Consumer) fireworks or informal neighbourhood displays. If you still choose to have a family fireworks, here are some important safety tips to be followed:

• Appoint a responsible person to be in charge. Only adults who are aware of the hazards and essential safety precautions should handle and discharge fireworks.
• Carefully read and follow the label directions on fireworks packaging well in advance and before night.
• Always keep a cell phone, water hose or pail of water close by when discharging fireworks.
• Discharge fireworks well away from combustible materials like buildings, trees and dry grass.
• Keep onlookers a safe distance away, upwind from the area where fireworks are discharged; read the instructions.
• Light only one firework at a time and only when they are on the ground. Never try to light a firework in your hand or re-light dud fireworks. For dud fireworks, it is best to wait 30 minutes and soak them in a bucket of water. Dispose of them in a metal container.
• Discharge fireworks only if wind conditions do not create a safety hazard.
• Keep sparklers away from children. Sparklers burn extremely hot and can ignite clothing, cause blindness and result in severe burns. As the sparkler wire remains hot for some minutes after burnout, it should be immediately soaked in water to avoid injury.
• If someone gets burned, run cool water over the wound for three to five minutes and seek medical attention, if necessary. 

Questions about fireworks and fireworks safety? You are welcome to contact your Fire Prevention team at the Grimsby Fire Department by calling 905-945-2113.