General Safety

White Rock Fire Rescue crest on fire truck

Keep yourself and other safe with these general safety tips and information from White Rock Fire Rescue. 

space heater on floor

Portable Space Heaters

Portable space heaters are a popular way to supplement heating or heat one room in cooler weather. 

Portable heater safety tips:

  • Keep the heater at least 3 feet (1 metre) away from anything that can burn, including people.
  • Make sure your heater has an auto shut-off to turn the heater off if it tips over.
  • Keep space heaters out of the way of foot traffic. Never block an exit.
  • Space heaters should be turned off and unplugged when you leave the room or go to bed.

BBQ with open flame

Grilling

During the warmer summer months, grilling on the barbeque is a popular way to cook food. But a grill can be a fire hazard.

Grilling safety tips

  • The grill should be placed well away from the home, railings and away from eaves and branches.
  • Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the grill.
  • Removing grease or fat buildup from the grills and in trays below the grill.
  • Never leave a grill unattended.

wall-plug-741x709px

Electrical

Electricity makes our lives easier, but we need to be cautious and keep safety in mind.

Indoor electrical safety tips

  • Only use one heat-producing appliance (such as a coffee machine, air fryer, space heater) plugged into a receptacle outlet at a time.
  • Major appliances (refrigerators, stoves, air conditioners, washer/dryer) should be plugged directly into a wall receptacle outlet. Extension cords and plug strips should not be used.
  • Call a qualified electrician or landlord if you have frequent problems with blowing fuses or tripping circuit breakers, a burning or rubbery smell coming from an appliance, or sparks from an outlet.