Fire Service

It's Barbeque Season! 

• All barbeque grills must only be used outdoors — using grills indoors or in enclosed spaces is not only a fire hazard, but it exposes occupants to toxic gasses and potential asphyxiation.

Inside the home:

• Check and clean your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Check your fire extinguishers.
• Check for overloaded or damaged extension cords.
• Check and clean filters above stove.
• Practice exit drills with your family so everyone knows what to do in case of an emergency.
• Properly store household chemicals and never mix cleaning agents.
• Pull refrigerator out and vacuum or dust the coils.
• Always keep stairs and landings clear for safe evacuation in event of an emergency.

Outside and around the yard:

• Make sure your address numbers are up and visible from the street.
• Clean up yard debris. Cut back dead limbs and grasses.
• Check outdoor electrical outlets and other electrical appliances.
• Get your BBQ grill cleaned and serviced.  Check all propane tanks and lines for leaks and damage.

In the garage or shed:

• Clean up and properly store paints, pool and yard chemicals.
• Check fuel containers for leaks and make sure they are properly stored.
• Have all power equipment cleaned, serviced and ready for use.
• Let power equipment sit for approximately 30 minutes before placing it inside.

Fire Hydrant 

Fire Chief Ed Thiessen encourages all LaSalle residents to “Be a Hydrant Hero!” If you have a fire hydrant on or near your property, do your part to keep it accessible this winter. In a fire emergency, every second counts. 

• Remove any snow and ice.
• Clear a wide enough perimeter around the hydrant for firefighters to work (3 feet).
• Clear a path from hydrant to street. 

Chief Thiessen urges LaSalle residents to stay warm and safe this winter!

Heating Safety Tips from Chief Thiessen:

• Have your fuel-burning appliances inspected annually by a registered contractor.
• Your chimney may have problems you can’t see. Have your chimneys cleaned and inspected annually.
• Keep vents for furnaces and heating appliances free of ice, snow, and debris to prevent deadly carbon monoxide build-up.
• Watch for smoke coming into the room from the woodstove or fireplace. Chimney may be blocked or have a faulty damper control mechanism.
• Burn dry wood in fireplaces and woodstoves to reduce build-up of dangerous creosote in chimneys.
• Protect your home from sparks. Use a fire screen around the fireplace.
• Burn dry wood in fireplaces and woodstoves to reduce build-up of dangerous creosote in chimneys.
• Allow fireplace and woodstove ashes to cool before disposing. Put in metal container with lid. Keep the container outside.
• Keep anything that can burn a safe distance away from wood stoves and fireplaces.
• Keep space heaters at least 1 metre away from things that burn i.e. curtains, upholstery, clothing.
• Replace worn or damaged electrical wires and connections on vehicle block heaters and extension cords.

Carbon Monoxide

LaSalle firefighters remind you to maintain working smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms in your home. Install smoke alarms on every storey of your home and outside all sleeping areas. CO alarms are required outside all bedrooms. Test your smoke and CO alarms every month and install new batteries when needed.

To protect yourself and your family, take a walk around the outside of your home and make sure the intake and exhaust vents for furnaces and heating appliances are free of ice, snow, debris.