Northern fire chiefs respond to Ontario's deadliest year for fires in decades
On Tuesday, Ontario Fire Marshal Jon Pegg revealed 2022 was the deadliest year for fire-related deaths in Ontario in more than two decades.
“In 2022, we had 133 fire-related deaths, including tragic loss of young children and families in several communities across our province,” Pegg said.
“That is the highest total in more than 20 years in Ontario.”
"The number always concerns us. We've seen in the last three years, a huge increase in fire deaths in the province. 133 that's a new record," said North Bay Fire Chief Jason Whiteley.
"We are part of that statistic, unfortunately, and tragically, we had five fire deaths in our community in 2022," said Greater Sudbury Fire Chief Jesse Oshell.
In response, fire chiefs in the region are reminding residents how important working fire alarms are.
Fire officials told CTV News that while most people know they need smoke alarms in their homes, it's important to check that they are working.
"(People) will have a smoke alarm in their place, but they won't check it, won't check the battery,” Whiteley said.
“There are new smoke alarm systems that have a 10-year battery, but you still need to check them, they still wear out and you need to have them on every floor."
Whiteley said many people are unaware that fire departments are called to twice as many fires in the winter months compared to the summer.
“Between November and March, there's more fires in those months compared to what we see in the summer,” he said.
There are many different reasons that contribute to the winter increase, officials said, including unsafe holiday practices and that during the colder months there are certain things that are more prone to starting fires.
“Portable heating devices, electric heaters, using fireplaces more, our furnaces are kicking in more and more. We see careless fires related to those heating appliances used inappropriately," said Oshell
Both Whiteley and Oshell said it's also important to regularly check carbon monoxide detectors in your home as those are another common call received by fire service in the winter months.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.