Cooking, grass fires put alarm campaign on back burner
An out-of-control grass fire and a cooking oil fire had Niagara Falls Fire Department busy Tuesday, delaying the launch of its door-todoor smoke alarm campaign.
Just after 10:40 a.m. firefighters responded to a grass fire on Lyons Creek Road. A fire to burn branches spread to more than 1.6 hectares of land.
In a media release, Deputy Chief Phil Ross said the incident shows how quickly small fires can get out of control, as just a small wind can spread a blaze to a vast area in seconds.
Firefighters from stations 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 responded to the incident.
The department encourages residents to dispose of their yard waste through the Niagara Region waste collection program. Details are at www.niagararegion.ca/waste/collection/items/yard-waste.aspx.
In Niagara Falls, property owners must receive permission before setting fires.
The grease fire happened about 6:30 p.m. in an apartment complex on Kiwanis Crescent. A tenant was cooking french fries when oil ignited and started a kitchen fire. The occupant was injured while attempting to extinguish the fire and was taken to
Greater Niagara General Hospital.
A damage estimate was not immediately available. An investigation is being conducted by the Office of the Fire Marshal. Firefighters from stations 1, 2 and 3 battled the fire and were able to prevent its spread to other units.
The launch of the fire department’s annual Wake Up! Campaign was delayed as a result of these incidences.
Each May, firefighters go doorto-door in neighbourhoods to check on residents’ smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. The campaign runs Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings. If required alarms are missing or need to be replaced because they have reached their 10-year lifespan the fire department will
install the alarms for a nominal fee. This is the seventh year the fire department has run the campaign.
Ross said firefighters are still
finding homes without alarms. They are required by law in Ontario. Failure to install or maintain them can result in a fine up to $50,000 and/or one year in jail.