Fire and Explosion

• Subscribe to emergency alerts.
• Get to know your local risks.
• Prepare an emergency plan.
• Prepare an emergency kit.

• Ensure your family has a home escape plan that is practiced.
• Every floor should have a smoke alarm and a carbon monoxide detector should be located on each floor and anywhere where people sleep. These should be tested every month and batteries changed every year. 
• Always keep matches, candles and fire devices away from children.
• Local fire departments conduct fire safety inspections.

• Get everyone outside immediately including pets.
• Stay low to the floor. If clothes catch fire, Stop, Drop and Roll, covering your face.
• Call 9-1-1 when safely outside.

 Don't:

• Don't stay if there is a fire in your house.
• Don't open a door if the handle is hot.
• Don't use an elevator if you live in an apartment building.
• Don't use an elevator.

Hazardous chemicals are present in industrial areas, our homes, cars, places of work and pipelines. When not properly contained, these materials can be harmful to people and the environment. Accidents are more likely to occur in areas where chemicals are stored and transported.

• Store only small amounts of chemicals.
• Use community recycling centres to dispose of unnecessary chemicals (including paint).
• Find out more about the Region’s Household Hazardous Waste program.
• Keep products containing hazardous materials in their original containers.
• Never store hazardous products in food containers.
• Follow manufacturer's instructions for the proper use of household chemicals.
• Never mix household hazardous chemicals or waste with other products.
• Keep all chemicals out of the reach of children and pets.

• Ventilate the area, open all windows and doors.
• Clean up any chemical spill immediately - use rags to clean up the spill, wear gloves and eye protection.
• Dispose the rags by wrapping them in a newspaper, place them in a sealed plastic bag and take to the local collection facility.
• Dispose of hazardous materials by following directions of the associated chemical.
• Take household hazardous waste to a local collection program.

• Stay away from the area and seek shelter away from odour or gas clouds.
• Obey directions of emergency responders - do not stay to watch.
• Be prepared to shelter-in-place.
• An evacuation order may be issued - have your emergency kit ready and be prepared to leave your home.
• Keep track of any physical irregularities and communicate them to medical personnel.
• If outside, hold a cloth over your mouth and nose.

The practice of going or remaining indoors to be safe during an airborne hazardous material release into the air. Unless the hazardous material is flammable, stay indoors. 

The basics:

• Go indoors immediately and stay there.
• Close all windows and doors.
• Turn off furnace, air conditioners and exhaust systems.
• For information, monitor radio, TV or social media.

Do:

• Cover window openings with plastic, held by duct tape - you may want to pre-cut pieces of plastic for this purpose.
• Reduce or avoid smoking.
• Close all dampers.
• Dial 9-1-1 only in an emergency.

Don't:

• Don't use fireplace.
• Don't operate clothes dryer.
• Don't leave the building until instructed.