Fire Prevention Programs

The Victoria Fire Department offers fire prevention programs to help keep you, your family, your property and your neighbourhood safe from the negative impacts of fire. 

Fire Prevention Week is October 6 - 12, 2019:
Not Every Hero Wears a Cape. Plan and Practise Your Escape

Fire Prevention Week is Sunday, October 6 – Saturday, October 12, 2019. Not Every Hero Wears a Cape. Plan and Practise Your Escape! is this year’s campaign, designed to educate the public about the small but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe.

Data from Statistics Canada shows that home fires continue to pose a significant threat to safety. In a typical home fire, you may have as little as one to two minutes to escape safely from the time your home smoke alarm sounds.

Below are some helpful tips for your family to plan and practise to escape a home fire.

  • Map it out – Draw or map out the layout of your home, marking two exits from every room (typically a door and a window) and a path from each exit to the outside

  • Smoke alarms – Mark the location of all smoke alarms in your home on your map. There should be at least one smoke alarm on every level, in each bedroom, and near all sleeping areas.

  • Meeting place – Pick a meeting place outside the front of your home where everyone will meet after exiting.

  • 911 – Make sure everyone in your family knows how to call 911 from a mobile phone or a neighbour’s phone once safely outside.

During Fire Prevention Week, the Victoria Fire Department will visit elementary schools to participate in fire drills and promote fire prevention and protection in the home.

The Victoria Fire Department offers a free smoke alarm to residents who need one to ensure every Victoria home has a working smoke alarm. Learn more about the free smoke alarm program.

Change Home Smoke Alarm Batteries in Spring and Fall

Residents should test smoke alarms once a month and change smoke alarm batteries routinely in the spring and fall when clocks are changed. Replacing a smoke alarm that is more than 10 years old is recommended.

REMINDER: Change your home smoke alarm batteries when Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 3 when clocks "fall back."

Free Smoke Alarm Program

Victoria residents can arrange for a free home smoke alarm home visit by a Fire Prevention Officer, who will determine the best locations for a smoke alarm, install new alarms, or test existing ones. If you reside in a single family home, duplex or townhouse and require a new smoke alarm, you may be eligible to receive one free of charge. The service is available to anyone who resides in the City of Victoria. Learn more

Juvenile Firesetters

When young children experiment with starting fires, intervention is key to preventing the potentially devasting consequences that can result. Our program helps children with a risk of firesetting by engaging with both the child and parent, and also providing education support and referrals to social agencies, if required. Learn more

Hoarding Peer Support Group

If dealing with a hoarding issue has become a concern in someone's home because the excessive clutter creates a safety hazard by hindering escape from the home in an emergency or making a fire more difficult to put out, our program can help by offering a non-judgmental, supportive peer group. Learn more

Residential Underground Oil Tanks

Underground oil tanks can have detrimental impacts to the environment and your property if not properly maintained. Learn what you need to know about maintaining your underground oil tank or removing or decommissioning it. Learn more

Mobile Commercial Cooking Operations

Mobile commercial cooking operations that produce smoke or grease-laden vapour must meeting safety standarards in the City of Victoria. Learn more