- Ontario Municipal Fire Prevention Officer's Association

Latest News

Charged For Life Symposium Registration Now Open

March 22, 2024

Registration is now open for The Office of the Fire Marshal’s Charged for LiFE (Lithium-ion Fire Education) symposium. Like most jurisdictions, Ontario has not been immune to the increasing number of fires and explosions caused by lithium-ion battery-powered devices. It is critical to bring experts together to discuss the challenges associated with lithium-ion batteries, understand

OFM Provincial Public Educators’ Update

March 19, 2024

OFM Provincial Public Educators’ Update You are invited to join a Provincial Public Educator’s Update with the OFM’s Public Education & Communications team on March 27, 2024 at 1:00pm. This one-hour, virtual meeting will include an update on 2024 campaigns and initiatives as well as reflection on highlights from 2023. The latter part of the call

OMFPOA Membership Survey. Win $100 clothing credit.

March 14, 2024

This was sent out to members last week by email , we are posting it on the website as well to ensure all members get a chance to respond to the survey. Dear OMFPOA Members, As President of the Ontario Municipal Fire Prevention Officers Association, it is my privilege to reach out to you.

Please see the following release from the OMFEM.

Public Education Matters

Enhancing Fire Safety Education and Prevention in Your Community

Issue 192, May 5, 2020

Number of Ontario Fire Fatalities Increases by 65%
Over the Same Time Last Year

Dear Fire Chief, Public Educator, Fire Prevention Officer:

Between January 1 and May 4, 2019 there were 31 fire fatalities in Ontario. Over that same period in 2020, there have been 51 fire fatalities, an increase of 65%.

With so many Ontarians now at home because of physical distancing measures due to COVID-19, it is especially important to stress to the public the importance of preventing fires in the home, testing smoke alarms and practicing home fire escape plans.

In support of local public fire safety education efforts by fire departments, the Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) has developed the attached news release template that can be customized and sent to local media to help urge the public to be vigilant about fire safety. The Fire Marshal has sent a similar news release to media across Ontario.

Also, a broad variety of public fire safety education resources are available on the OFM website (French) to assist in your local public education initiatives. These include:

Tweets (French) on a variety of fire safety issues;
Social media cards (French) and videos (French);
Home fire escape plans video (French);
News release templates (French);
Information sheets (French);
Public service announcements (French).Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic have also brought other new concerns and challenges. One such concern is the suggestion that face masks can be decontaminated or sterilized for re-use by heating them in a microwave oven. This practice is a potential fire hazard and should be discouraged. The attached news release template includes a recommendation against this unsafe practice. People should follow the advice and recommendations of medical and health professionals when it comes to the use, care and maintenance of personal protective equipment (PPE).