Fire Safety and Prevention

Fire Safety Information and Programs

• Smoke Alarms

  A working smoke alarm doubles your chances of surviving a fire. Almost two-thirds of home fire deaths are in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms – usually because batteries are dead, disconnected or missing. Do you have smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and in every level of the home? Do you test them every month?

  Did you know? 86% of Canadian fire deaths occur in residential homes. A high percentage of these deaths were in homes without smoke alarms or where the smoke alarm failed to operate.

  Dead or missing batteries are the main reason most alarms failed to operate. The toxic smoke and gases from a fire put you into a deeper sleep, too often making it impossible for you to escape. That's why smoke alarms are so important – the sound they make provides the early warning you and your family need to escape.

  Follow these tips to ensure your home is equipped to alert you at any signs of fire.

  Smoke Alarm Safety Tips

  • Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of your home, including the basement.
  • Smoke alarms should be on the ceiling or high on a wall. Keep smoke alarms away from the kitchen to reduce false alarms. They should be at least 10 feet (3 metres) from the stove.
  • Test all smoke alarms every month by pushing the test button.
  • Change smoke alarm batteries every six months. or purchase smoke alarms with a sealed ten-year battery.
  • Hardwired smoke alarms require a battery backup in case of a power outage.
  • It is best to use interconnected smoke alarms. When one smoke alarm sounds, they all sound.
  • People who are hard-of-hearing or deaf can use special alarms. These alarms have strobe lights and bed shakers.
  • Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old.
• Fire Extinguisher Training

  What would you do in the case of a kitchen fire? Delta Fire & Emergency Services offers this training program.  The goal is to give you the confidence and training so that you can act quickly in the case of a small contained fire such as a cooking pan, wastebasket fire or campfire. You’ll learn how to use a fire extinguisher and get practice.

  Find Out About Upcoming Training Events

• Fire Hazard Ratings

  Fire safety ratings are set by Metro Vancouver and range between low, moderate, high, and extreme. Guidelines for each rating can be found below.

  Low Rating

  Public reminders are as follows:

  • Call 9-1-1 to report any fires.
  • All residential backyard fires, campfires and open cooking fires (except in approved briquette and propane BBQs) remain banned year-round in all areas of Delta. 
  • Use caution when smoking. Cigarettes and matches should be extinguished before disposal and placed in a metal or glass receptacle. 
  • Smoking is prohibited all Delta Parks and Open Spaces.
  • Please report any unauthorized activity that poses a risk of fire to the Delta Police Department’s 24/7 non-emergency line at 604- 946-4411.
     

  Moderate Rating

  Public reminders are as follows:

  • Call 9-1-1 to report any fires.
  • All residential backyard fires, campfires and open cooking fires (except in approved briquette and propane BBQs) remain banned year-round in all areas of Delta. 
  • Use caution when smoking. Cigarettes and matches should be extinguished before disposal and placed in a metal or glass receptacle. 
  • Smoking is prohibited all Delta Parks and Open Spaces.
  • Please report any unauthorized activity that poses a risk of fire to the Delta Police Department’s 24/7 non-emergency line at 604- 946-4411.

  High Rating

  Public reminders are as follows:

  • Call 9-1-1 to report any fires.
  • The agricultural burning ban remains in effect. 
  • All residential backyard fires, campfires and open cooking fires (except in approved briquette and propane BBQs) remain banned year-round in all areas of Delta. 
  • Use caution when smoking. Cigarettes and matches should be extinguished before disposal and placed in a metal or glass receptacle. 
  • Smoking is prohibited all Delta Parks and Open Spaces.
  • Please report any unauthorized activity that poses a risk of fire to the Delta Police Department’s 24/7 non-emergency line at 604- 946-4411.

  Extreme Rating

  An extreme rating occurs when continued dry weather has resulted in conditions that are tinder dry and extremely sensitive to sparks & fire.

  Please comply with posted signs & fire danger guidelines:

  • Campfires & briquette barbecues/cooking stoves are prohibited everywhere.
  • Propane- or gas-powered barbecues/cooking stoves are only allowed in day use areas with picnic tables, picnic shelters & group camps. You must stay with the barbecue or stove at all times while using it. 
  • No smoking
  • Remember to stay on trails at all times.
  • Be aware of all spark sources.
  • Report all fires to 911 immediately 
• Outdoor Burning

  Outdoor Burning in the City of Delta

  To protect air quality and prevent the spread of fire, open fires involving solid fuels are not allowed in the City of Delta (with the exception of Agricultural and Ceremonial Purposes).

  This includes fires set on the ground, such as campfires, as well as fires set in containers.  While fire containers are commonly sold in local stores, their use is not permitted in the City.  

  Agricultural and Ceremonial purposes fires may be allowed with a special permit from the Fire Chief, under the condition that these fires do not cause nuisance with smoke or fumes.  All specially permitted fires must be under constant supervision with fire extinguisher on site.

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• FireSmart Tips

  There are steps we can take to help prevent our homes and property to fall susceptible to fires. Visit the FireSmart Manual and learn how to make your home and yard a fire-resistant zone.

  Visit the Emergency Management Interface - Wildfire Prevention page which also offers information about how to plan for an emergency.