Fire Department
The Fire Department is lead by Chief Randy Kalan. Through his District Chiefs – Ken Armstrong & Frank Rooyakkers and our volunteer fire fighters, Thames Centre provides fire suppression services, along with first responder services to the whole municipality. Fire prevention services are provided by the County of Middlesex.

Emergency Management
Click here for more Emergency Planning information.

Smoke Alarm Legislation This new amendment to the Fire Code comes into effect on March 1, 2006. After that date, fire departments will be enforcing the regulation in communities throughout Ontario. Every home in Ontario must have a working smoke alarm on every storey and outside all sleeping areas. IT’S THE LAW

Homeowners
It is the responsibility of homeowners to install and maintain smoke alarms on every storey of their home and outside sleeping areas.

Landlords
It is the responsibility of landlords to ensure their rental properties comply with the law.

Tenants
If you are a tenant of a rental property and do not have the required number of smoke alarms, contact your landlord immediately. It is against the law for tenants to remove the batteries or tamper with the alarm in any way.

FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE FIRE CODE SMOKE ALARM REQUIREMENTS COULD RESULT IN A TICKET FOR $235 OR A FINE OF UP TO $50,000 FOR INDIVIDUALS OR $100,000 FOR CORPORATIONS.

When installing smoke alarms, refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for information about correct placement. Test your smoke alarms every month using the test button. Replace smoke alarm batteries at least once a year, and whenever the low-battery warning chirps. Smoke alarms don’t last forever. Replace smoke alarms with new ones if they are more than ten years old. Steam from the shower or cooking in the oven, stove or toaster can cause smoke alarms to activate. DO NOT REMOVE THE BATTERY. Instead, try moving the alarm to a different location, or purchase a smoke alarm with a hush feature that will temporarily silence the alarm. For further information about dealing with nuisance alarms, visit the Ontario Fire Marshal’s website: www.ofm.gov.on.ca

Every home in Ontario must have a working smoke alarm on every storey and outside all sleeping areas.

Open Air Burning
Open air burning is regulated within the municipality.  Open air burning will only be conducted with approval of the Chief Fire Official and in accordance with the conditions set out in the Controlled Burn Permit for the Open Air Burning By-law, By-law No. 52-2010.

Open Air Burning Information Sheet

Controlled Burn Permit

Be sure that your street address number is clearly visible to fire/rescue workers.

It's important to hold family fire drills at least two times a year. If you have very young or elderly people in your home, assign someone to help them. If there's a fire, get everyone out of the home, then call the fire department. Make sure at least one window in every bedroom can be used for easy and fast escape in case of fire. Be careful not to overload electrical circuits. Lights that flicker or dim indicate trouble that must be corrected.