Fire Department

🔥 Fire Safety: Be Prepared, Stay Safe

Knowing what to do in the event of a fire is essential. Whether you're at home, at the cottage, or in the workplace, having a fire safety plan—and practicing it regularly—can save lives. Involve the whole family, including children, so everyone knows how to respond calmly and quickly.

✅ Fire Safety Tips

Create and Practice a Fire Safety Plan: Ensure everyone knows escape routes and meeting points.

Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms Monthly: Functioning alarms are your first line of defense.

Change Batteries Seasonally: A good rule of thumb is to replace batteries when you change your clocks in the Spring and Fall.

React Immediately: When a smoke alarm sounds, get out, stay out, and call 911. Time is critical.

🏠 Legal Responsibility

According to the Ontario Fire Code, every homeowner must install and maintain working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms:

- On every level of the home

- Outside every sleeping area

Failure to comply can result in fines—and more importantly, puts lives at risk.

The Township of McMurrich/Monteith By-law #21-2013 Being a By-law to require the installation and maintenance of Carbon Monoxide Detectors in all residential occupancies containing fuel fired appliances.

How is the Fire Rating Is Determined in McMurrich/Monteith Township?

The McMurrich/Monteith Fire Chief determines the local fire rating using a combination of scientific data, weather analysis, and community factors. The process follows these key guidelines:

- Data from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF)

Daily Reports: These include weather conditions such as temperature, relative humidity, wind direction and speed, and rainfall.

Forest Floor Analysis: Moisture levels are measured across three layers of the forest floor at multiple stations in the region.

Fire Spread & Fuel Assessment:  Evaluates how quickly a fire could spread and the amount of combustible material available.

Resource Availability: Considers the number of MNRF crews and air support assets stationed in North Bay and Sudbury.

- Additional Weather Monitoring

Localized forecasts are reviewed using The Weather Network and Environment Canada to supplement MNRF data.

- Live Fire Info Map

The MNRF Forest Fire Info Map is a valuable tool that shows real-time changes in fire conditions.

Ratings can fluctuate throughout the day—from low or moderate in the morning to high or extreme by noon, and back to moderate in the evening.

Important Note: This map should not be used as a snapshot to determine fire rating changes. It must be monitored over several days to identify meaningful trends.

- Community Co-operation

Resident compliance with the Open-Air Burning By-law #16-2026 is also considered.