Fire Safety Education, Public Events and Programs

Home Fire Safety Education Program

The Home Fire Safety Education Program is a proactive initiative where firefighters go door to door to conduct home fire safety visits. The goal of this program is to raise public awareness of common home fire safety hazards and corrective/preventative measures.

Many people think a fire will never happen to them. However, each year citizens continue to be injured or killed as the result of fires. Most fire-related injuries and deaths occur in the home.

Do you know what to do if a fire occurs in your home? Let us help you!

Home fire safety visits

Hamilton Fire Department firefighters will be in neighbourhoods across the City knocking on doors to conduct home fire safety visits.

What happens if you are not home?

If you are not home, firefighters will leave a Fire Safety pamphlet. If you would like the firefighters to return to speak about fire safety, call 905-546-3382 and leave a message. Your call will be returned within 24 hours.

Alarmed and Ready – Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm Program

Smoke alarms increase your chance of surviving a fire in your home while carbon monoxide alarms will make you aware of the presence of the dangerous gas. According to the Ontario Fire Code, you must have a working smoke and carbon monoxide alarm outside all sleeping areas of the home. In addition smoke alarms are also required on every storey of the home.   

If you own your home and are a senior, have a physical disability or are running your household on a low income, firefighters will come to your home and either replace your batteries or fully install the correct number of smoke and/or carbon monoxide alarms for your home, free of charge.

Program Eligibility 

This program is only available to eligible homeowners. If you live in a rental unit (house or apartment), your landlord is responsible for installing and maintaining your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. If you live in a rental property, and have concerns with smoke or CO alarm operation, maintenance or installation, call the Fire Prevention at 905-546-2424 x1380.

Schedule a visit

Appointments are available between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm, Monday to Friday. There are two ways to submit your request. Staff will then contact you to schedule your visit.

Request Online 
 

Call 905-546-3382 and leave a message. One of our staff with reach out to schedule your visit.

Hamilton Arson Prevention Program for Children

HAPP-C is an educational program that was developed to provide assistance to families in Hamilton that have children conducting fireplay and/or firesetting behaviour.  It is a free service that includes a home visit by a Fire Inspector to provide fire safety information to children aged 3 to 17 that are engaging in any of the following types of fire-related behaviour:

• FIREPLAY

  • Fascination with fire or fire emergencies

  • Playing with matches or lighters

  • Burning various items such as paper, toys, etc.

  • Experimenting with accelerants (i.e. Gasoline)

• FIRESETTING

  • Deliberately starting fires (i.e. In garbage dumpsters or in buildings)

Program Format

The education session is typically conducted in the child’s home with the parent(s) present and includes an age appropriate overview of various aspects of fire safety such as:

• Matches and lighters are tools, not toys

• What to do if your clothes catch on fire

• Knowing how to escape safely from fire (i.e. Fire drills and escape plans)

• Burns

• Firefighters and their role in the community

The duration of the education session is typically 1 to 1½ hours in length, depending on the child’s age and his or her level of participation.  A follow-up phone call is made one month after the education session to determine if there have been any further known incidents of fireplay or firesetting behaviour.

Who can refer a child to HAPP-C?

Parent(s) can request this program on behalf of their child. Referrals can also be made by Hamilton Fire Department staff or from partner agencies such as Police, Children’s Aid Society, school principals, mental health professionals, etc.

How long does it take to schedule an appointment?

In most cases, the session can be conducted within the same week that contact is made.  In urgent cases, where the parents believe that there is an immediate threat of a fire tragedy, every effort will be made to conduct the session within 24 to 48 hours. 

How to request this program:

If you are a parent/guardian
Request online by submitting your name and contact information at the link below. Staff will reach out to you to schedule an appointment.
Call 905-546-2424 x1380 to schedule an appointment.

If you are not a parent
Request online by submitting your name and contact information at the link below. Staff will reach out to you to gather more information so they may connect with the child’s parent/guardian.
Call 905-546-2424 x1380 to provide the necessary information so that staff may connect with the parent/guardian to schedule an appointment.

Request Now

Volunteer Inspection Program for Homeowners

Homeowners can request the Hamilton Fire Department to attend their home to conduct a free inspection for potential fire hazards. You will receive information on:

• How to keep your home safe

• The importance of carbon monoxide and smoke alarms

Program Eligibility 

This program is only available to eligible homeowners. If you live in a rental unit (house or apartment), your landlord is responsible for installing and maintaining your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. If you live in a rental property, and have concerns with smoke or CO alarm operation, maintenance or installation, call the Fire Prevention at 905-546-2424 x1380.

Schedule a visit

Appointments are available between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm, Monday to Friday. There are two ways to submit your request. Staff will then contact you to schedule your visit.

Request Online
 

Call 905-546-3382 and leave a message. One of our staff with reach out to schedule your visit.

The Hamilton Fire Department offers a variety of fire safety educational opportunities for our residents. You can request a Fire Safety Education Speaker, Station Tour or Fire Truck.

How to request

The following requests can be submitted online. Staff will contact you to confirm we can fulfill your request.

Request Now

Virtual Fire Safety Presentation
Request for a Fire Inspector to make a virtual presentation to your group on the fire safety topic of your choice. 
Note: At this time, we do not offer virtual presentations for individual classrooms within schools.

Fire Safety Presentation
Request for a Fire Inspector to make a presentation to your group on the fire safety topic of your choice.
Note: At this time, we do not offer presentations for individual classrooms within schools.

Fire Station Tour
Request a tour of a fire station.
Maximum number of participants is 25.
Station Tours are scheduled for school groups and organized community groups only. If you would like a station tour for your family or small group, you are welcome to stop by a full-time fire station. If crews are available, they would be happy to show you a fire truck and talk with you about fire safety. 
Note: The crew and apparatus are still in service and may need to respond to an emergency call, either before or during your tour. Therefore, we do not guarantee availability, nor are we able to notify.

Fire Truck Request
Request a fire truck visit for your community or whole-school event.
Fire Truck Requests cannot be made for individual classrooms/grades or private functions, such as birthday parties, graduation parties, weddings, etc.
Note: The crew and apparatus are still in service and may need to respond to an emergency call, either before or during your event. Therefore, we do not guarantee availability, nor are we able to notify.

Other Fire Safety Request
If none of the above categories describes your request, please submit this type of request to let us know what you are looking for. Staff will be in touch with you to confirm the details of your request.