Calgary Fire Department says to remain mindful of safety over Canada Day long weekend
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Calgarians are full-swing into their long weekend vacation plans, but the Calgary Fire Department asks everyone to remain mindful of their own safety over the next few days.
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CFD public information officer Carol Henke said anyone at home should be aware of general fire safety after recent events that took place in Calgary.
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'Tragically we had a house fire [on Thursday] that took the lives of a father and daughter, so fire prevention is very important,' Henke said. 'The fire is still under investigation so I can't speak on that specifically, but we do know that the most common cause for inside fires is cooking left unattended and cooking with oil.'
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Handling a grease fire
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In the event of a grease fire, Henke said it is important to follow a few simple steps to avoid any damages that can occur.
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'Put the lid on, turn off the heating element, and leave it,' she said. 'Where we see things go wrong is when people try to carry the burning pot of oil through the house or outside. The oil is hundreds of degrees and can cause severe damage.
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'Never put water on it. That will cause an explosion and quickly turn an easily extinguishable fire into a spreading fire.'
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Homeowners should also take the time to check their fire and carbon monoxide alarms as an added safety measure, familiarize themselves with exits around their home, and develop a proper escape plan.
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Currently, there is no fire ban in place for Calgary. Henke said residents should always check the City of Calgary's website to see if restrictions change.
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'We have had a lot of rain here, so we are good for moisture,' she said.
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For anyone with a backyard firepit, Henke said to never leave it unattended, adding that firepits require spark guards. She adds that an extinguishing method like a connected hose or a bucket of water should be readily available if needed.
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'Only burn clean, dry, seasoned wood,' she said. 'We've responded to fires where people tried to burn yard waste, construction waste, and I even attended a fire years ago where someone tried to burn drywall.
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'So, do not burn things that should not be burned in a fire pit because it is a hazard and it creates stinky smoke that's going to be annoying for your neighbours.'
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Calgary Herald
a day ago
- Calgary Herald
Calgary Fire Department says to remain mindful of safety over Canada Day long weekend
Article content Calgarians are full-swing into their long weekend vacation plans, but the Calgary Fire Department asks everyone to remain mindful of their own safety over the next few days. Article content CFD public information officer Carol Henke said anyone at home should be aware of general fire safety after recent events that took place in Calgary. Article content Article content 'Tragically we had a house fire [on Thursday] that took the lives of a father and daughter, so fire prevention is very important,' Henke said. 'The fire is still under investigation so I can't speak on that specifically, but we do know that the most common cause for inside fires is cooking left unattended and cooking with oil.' Article content Article content Handling a grease fire Article content Article content In the event of a grease fire, Henke said it is important to follow a few simple steps to avoid any damages that can occur. Article content 'Put the lid on, turn off the heating element, and leave it,' she said. 'Where we see things go wrong is when people try to carry the burning pot of oil through the house or outside. The oil is hundreds of degrees and can cause severe damage. Article content 'Never put water on it. That will cause an explosion and quickly turn an easily extinguishable fire into a spreading fire.' Article content Homeowners should also take the time to check their fire and carbon monoxide alarms as an added safety measure, familiarize themselves with exits around their home, and develop a proper escape plan. Article content Article content Currently, there is no fire ban in place for Calgary. Henke said residents should always check the City of Calgary's website to see if restrictions change. Article content Article content 'We have had a lot of rain here, so we are good for moisture,' she said. Article content For anyone with a backyard firepit, Henke said to never leave it unattended, adding that firepits require spark guards. She adds that an extinguishing method like a connected hose or a bucket of water should be readily available if needed. Article content 'Only burn clean, dry, seasoned wood,' she said. 'We've responded to fires where people tried to burn yard waste, construction waste, and I even attended a fire years ago where someone tried to burn drywall. Article content 'So, do not burn things that should not be burned in a fire pit because it is a hazard and it creates stinky smoke that's going to be annoying for your neighbours.'
Global News
2 days ago
- Global News
Calgary expecting a big jump in water rescues this summer
Drowning claimed the lives of four people in Calgary last year, while the number of people who had to be rescued after getting into trouble on the waters in the city jumped by 31 per cent, according to the Calgary Fire Department. Based on trends in river use and with a forecast for above-average temperatures this summer, the department is preparing for a possible all-time high in water rescues this summer, said Carol Henke, information officer with Calgary fire. 'The greatest number of water rescues occurred in July, averaging 52 rescues that month since 2016,' added Henke. View image in full screen With the long-range forecast calling for above-average temperatures this summer, the Calgary Fire Department is preparing for the possibility of a record number of water rescues during the season. Global News 'We see the greatest number of river rescues on the Bow River between Shouldice boat ramp downstream to Harvie Passage. The communities of Montgomery and Inglewood at either end of this float see the greatest number of aquatic rescues in the waters adjacent to their communities, especially at Harvey Passage.' Story continues below advertisement 'Every time we see consistent temperatures like 28 to 30 C or higher, we've got a lot of people that I think venture out who haven't been out to the water before,' said Calgary fire community safety officer, Alex Kwan. View image in full screen The Calgary Fire Department says July is the busiest month for water rescues in the city, with an average of 52 rescues each July over the past 10 years. Calgary Fire Department Including the four people who drowned last year, a total of 29 people have lost their lives in Calgary's waters since 2016. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. Sign up for weekly health newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'The city's growing, we have more people, and I think a lot of people maybe don't think about the risks,' said Henke. 'It's a beautiful day, you're not thinking about something going wrong, you're thinking it's gonna be a nice little float down the river, and it's not till you're in the situation that you recognize maybe your planning could have been better, your craft could have been better. I think maybe it's not top of mind for a lot of people.' Story continues below advertisement According to information from the RCMP and the Lifesaving Society of Canada's National Drowning Report, close to 450 people drown every year in Canada and nearly 80 per cent of them are men, drowning at a rate four times higher than women. More than 80 per cent of drownings while boating happen while the victim is not wearing a life jacket or personal flotation device. Canada's small vessel regulations require every boat, including kayaks and canoes, to have a Canadian-approved life jacket or PFD on board for each person. Life jackets will not only help a person float should they end up in the water, but they'll also help avoid shock and hypothermia, which can happen in water temperatures of 21 C or colder. View image in full screen The Lifesaving Society of Canada says more than 80 per cent of people who drown while boating were not wearing a life jacket. Global News Nearly 30 per cent of water-related deaths also involve alcohol — including 60 per cent of boating accidents. Story continues below advertisement 'Those things end up being a recipe for a disaster, unfortunately,' said Insp. Kurt Jacobs of the Calgary police traffic section. 'It impairs people's judgment, and especially already when a quick incident arises. 'Under the gaming and liquor there are different fines stemming from a few hundred dollars and of course the most serious being under the Criminal Code with criminal charges just such as we would see on the roadways — they're pretty stiff and I think most people don't really realize that what applies to roads and drivers also apply to water.' Henke said anyone heading out onto the water should also make sure their watercraft is safe. 'We often see floaties that are absolutely not indicated for a wilderness area in an urban setting — they puncture really easily and deflate, put you at risk for being stranded or worse, drowning.' 'Right now the stand-up paddle boardings have become more popular. Make sure people do not wear their ankle leashes,' said Kwan. 'In this environment, on the river with current, it becomes a drowning hazard. You can't actually undo the ankle strap if you get pulled underwater. Don't bring any of your (stand up paddleboard) anchors either. Any of those things can weigh you down, drag you down when they're attached to the board and attached to you.' Story continues below advertisement View image in full screen The Calgary Fire Department says the stretch of the Bow River between the Shouldice boat ramp and Harvie Passage is where most water rescues in Calgary take place. Global News Calgary fire, police and community safety officers will be patrolling both the Bow and Elbow rivers this summer — both on the water and along the banks — including the popular launch sites, like West Baker Park, Shouldice Park and Sandy Beach. With lots of sun and temperatures in the mid-20s forecast over the Canada Day weekend, they're expecting to be busy. 'Our primary focus isn't necessarily enforcement. It's always safety, education. We just want to get that message out,' said Jacobs. 'We don't want to see any tragedies. We've had enough in the past.'
Calgary Herald
2 days ago
- Calgary Herald
City urges Calgarians to stay safe on the water this summer after last year's rescue increase
City officials are urging Calgarians to prioritize safety while enjoying water activities, especially on the Bow River. Article content 'Our city's waterways are wild places in an urban setting, and we're seeing a growing number of preventable incidents on our rivers,' said Carol Henke, public information officer with the Calgary Fire Department. Article content Article content In 2024, the fire department saw a 31 per cent increase in aquatic rescues over the previous year, and an above-average number of fatalities. Article content Article content 'Make a plan, check the weather and water conditions and be aware of any potential hazards specific to the waterway that you are choosing to recreate on.' Article content Henke said most of the incidents the CFD sees are preventable, as long as safety precautions are taken. Article content 'A lot of people maybe don't think about the risks,' she said, 'It's a beautiful day, you're not thinking about something going wrong. You're thinking it's going to be a nice little float down the river.' Article content Article content Advisories, updates and detailed safety guidelines can all be found on the City of Calgary's website. Article content Calgarians can get stuck with a fine for floating or boating without a life jacket, or while impaired. Article content Article content 'Most people don't realize that what applies to roads and drivers also apply on water,' said Calgary Police Service inspector Kurt Jacobs. Article content 'Please don't get on the river here in unsafe waters and then impair your judgment by alcohol or drugs,' Jacobs said. Article content With paddleboarding becoming increasingly popular on Calgary's rivers, CFD community safety officer Alex Kwan urges users not to use the ankle leash that comes with most boards, or stand-up paddleboard anchors. Article content 'On the river with that current, it becomes a drowning hazard,' Kwan said. 'Any of those things could weigh you down and drag you down.' Article content For inflatable watercrafts, Kwan recommends using something that has multiple air chambers, and ensuring that it's inflated to the proper pressure. Article content Sergeant Mark Smith of Calgary Community Safety said officers will be patrolling the shoreline over the summer, not just for enforcement, but for safety as well. Article content
