Christmas decorations can be a violation of the Ontario Fire Code
Fire is a serious risk during the holiday season.
Christmas decorations can be a violation of the Ontario Fire Code
Orangeville Banner
Chris Halliday 08 December 2019
Do you have a Christmas wreath on your front door?
Well, if you live in an apartment building, that wreath, or any decorations festively left outside units, are a violation of the Ontario Fire Code.
Under the provincial legislation, flammables such as doormats, door decorations, wreaths, flowers and more are prohibited in common area hallways of apartments.
It is a rule that members of the Barrie fire department recently brought to the attention of its followers on Facebook.
The Orangeville, Richmond Hill, St. Clair and Peterborough fire departments each shared the public service announcement.
“The fire service gets a bad rap when it comes to hallway decorations. We aren’t Scrooges. It’s actually based on tragic outcomes,” the Barrie fire department stated in its post.
“The Fire Code prohibits flammables (ie. doormats, door decorations, wreaths, flowers, etc.) in common area hallways of apartments because, in case of fire, it would intensify the flames," the post continued. "Doormats should be placed inside the apartment entrance.”
A hallway is considered to be a “means of egress” under the code.
A copy of the Ontario Fire Code can be found at ontario.ca.
High-Rise Fire Safety
The following information, from the City of Toronto, is a general guide for high-rise buildings. Since each building is unique, you should learn the approved “Fire Safety Plan” specifically designed for your building.
Owners: What services can Toronto Emergency Services provide for your building'
Think a major fire can’t happen at your building? Then read this:
Discarded cigarette causes $1 million fire at luxury Vaughan condo
Residents from several units unable to return to their homes
Vaughan Citizen
by Lisa Queen 14 Jan 2018
A cigarette improperly discarded on an eighth floor balcony caused a $1-million high rise fire in Vaughan Jan. 13, Chief Larry Bentley said.
“It was a significant fire that was wind-driven and had the potential to enter the floors above and to units laterally because of the wind,” he said.
“It broke the glass and entered the unit. The unit is totally destroyed. And it was protected by a sprinkler system.”
Many residents are still unable to return to their units at the luxury condo building at 9255 Jane St. north of Rutherford Road following the fire, which broke out at about 2:40 p.m.
http://bit.ly/2PCqsAN