Oak Bay Fire Department 
1703 Monterey Avenue, Oak Bay B.C. V8R 5V6 (250) 592-9121 
Email:  obfire@oakbay.ca      Fax:  (250) 598-2749

News Release
Date: August 22, 2016                                                    OBFD file # 2016-20

For Immediate Release:
Weekly Media Release for the period of Monday, August 15, 2016 to Sunday, August 21, 2016.  Over the past week, Oak Bay Fire Department members responded to 30 calls for assistance.
These calls for assistance included:

  15 – Medical Aid.
    6 – Residential / Commercial Alarm Bells.
    3 – Public Assistance.
    2 – Motor Vehicle Incident
    1 – Hazardous Materials Incident
    2 – Electrical Wires Down
    1 – Smoldering Outdoor Fire

Children and fire safety tips

• Young fire setters cause hundreds of deaths and injuries each year. Preschoolers and kindergartners are most likely to start these fires, typically by playing with matches and lighters, and are most likely to die in them.
• Children experience fire interest. They may ask questions such as how hot is fire or show an interest in fire through playing with fire trucks or cooking on a play stove. This is healthy, and it is time to begin educating about fire.
• Fire starting happens when children begin to experiment with fire using matches and lighters. Many fires happen when young children are left alone, even for a short period of time, and have access to matches and lighters. Parents must have clear rules and consequences about fire misuse.
• Grown-ups can help keep fire out of the hands of children.
• Store matches and lighters out of children’s reach and sight, up high, preferably in a locked cabinet or container.
• Never leave matches or lighters in a bedroom or any place where children may go without supervision.
• Teach young children and school-age children to tell a grown-up if they see matches or lighters. Children need to understand that fire is difficult to control; it is fast and can hurt as soon as it touches you.
• A child with an interest in fire can lead to fire starting and result in repeated fire setting behavior.
• It is important for grown-ups to discourage unsupervised fire starts.
• Never use lighters or matches as a source of amusement for children; they may imitate you.
• Never assign a young child any tasks that involve the use of a lighter or matches (lighting candles, bringing a lighter to an adult to light a cigarette or the fireplace, etc.
• If your child expresses curiosity about fire or has been playing with fire, calmly but firmly explain that matches and lighters are tools for adults only.
• Use only lighters designed with child-resistant features. 

For more information contact the Oak Bay Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Division 250-592-9121.