Safety Reminders for the Fall Season

We are well into Fall now which means cooler weather and shorter days. Of course with cooler days many people will be starting their wood stoves which means now is a good time to have your chimneys cleaned. We would also like to remind everyone to keep the area surrounding your wood stove free of flammable material.

Fall is also a good time to check your smoke detector batteries and make sure that they are all in working order.

We hope this helps everyone stay safe and warm this Fall season.

Burning Information

The backyard burning ban is now in effect until further notice.

There is a year round beach fire ban on Quadra Island.

For the time being campfires are still allowed and just a reminder that a campfire has dimensions no larger than 19 inches by 19 inches.

Join us this coming Saturday, May 7th for Emergency Preparedness Day at the No. 1 Fire Hall from 10 am to 1 pm. We will have a number of different displays put on by RCMP, BC Ambulance, and BC Hydro just to name a few. Our members will be demonstrating the proper use of fire extinguishers and we will have a demonstration on how to protect your home from wildland fire. There will be lots of information available to help prepare yourself in case of emergency so come on out and get informed!

Chimney Fires

Even though Spring is right around the corner we are still experiencing chilly winter weather which means your wood stoves are keeping your home's nice and warm until warmer weather arrives.  Your Quadra Island Fire Department has responded to a number of chimney fires so far in the New Year so we wanted to provide some information to hopefully answer any questions people may have.

What Causes Chimney Fires?

Chimney Fires are most commonly a result of the ignition and burning of creosote build-up in your chimney or stove pipes. When your wood stove burns, the by-products of combustion are exhausted out of your chimney and, while traveling up into the cooler chimney space, form creosote through condensation. Creosote, which is highly flammable, can take many forms (crusty and flaky, tar-like, hardened and often a combination of each) and in sufficient enough quantities can ignite and cause a chimney fire.   

Restricted air supply, burning unseasoned wood and cooler than normal flue temperatures are contributing factors that lead to increased creosote build up.  

Signs and Symptoms of a Chimney Fire.

Chimney fires can range from slow burning and not visible to explosive burning. Active chimney fires can display the following:

• Loud popping or cracking sounds, or rumbling
• Dense smoke in home
• Intense hot smell
• Reddening of stove pipes
• Visible flames

What to do if you have a chimney fire?

If you find a chimney fire in your home there are a few steps you can take to increase your family's safety and to minimize the potential damage caused.

Call 911 immediately and get anyone inside to exit to a safe location. Calling 911 first gets our members to your home quicker, which allows us to have a greater effect on a potential emergency situation.  

If conditions are safe to enter your home, and you are able to access your wood stove, throwing a cup of water on the fire can have a very positive effect on extinguishment. Adding a small amount of water to a hot wood stove and shutting the door can create enough steam to put the fire out.  Closing the access door and air inlets is helpful to restrict the air the fire wants.

Once the fire is out you can re-enter your home.  It is advised after any chimney fire to have your chimney cleaned and inspected by a professional.

Prevention

As the saying goes ‘An ounce of prevention, is worth a pound of cure’, and this is very true in the case of chimney fires.  Here are a few recommended prevention methods:

• Regular cleaning and inspection of wood stove and chimney components
• Burn seasoned, dry wood
• Build and burn smaller, hotter fires
• Avoid burning cardboard boxes, wrapping paper or trash as these can spark a chimney fire

Although not a prevention, working smoke detectors are essential to early detection.

If anyone has comments or questions, please feel free to leave them on our Blog or the Quadra Island Fire Department Facebook page.

2016 Recruitment

Quadra Island Fire Department is seeking dedicated and motivated individuals who live and work within our community to strengthen our team of Volunteer Firefighters.

Volunteering with the Quadra Island Fire Department is an incredible way to give back to your community. It calls on it’s members to perform strenuous work often in non-ideal conditions but we guarantee that your time spent volunteering with us will be one of the most rewarding experiences you have ever had.

If you are interested in joining our team please drop by on a Tuesday practice night between 7pm and 9pm and talk to Chief Sharon Clandening or Deputy Chief Graham Swanson about how you can get started.

Our next group of recruits will be starting training in February.