Practise fire safety when working from home

Working from home can be distracting - if you have pets and children sharing your workspace, you may overlook potential fire hazards. To help keep your home office safe, Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service has some fire prevention tips to keep in mind.

The first tip is around electronic devices - from computers and printers to charging devices and lamps, your office likely has many devices that need to be plugged in at once. Remember to use a certified power bar and not put too many plugs into one outlet, which can overwhelm the outlet. Another important reminder: do not use extension cords as permanent wiring, and do not run cords under rugs or floors as this can overheat the wires.

If using a fireplace to warm your home on cold days, never burn papers, file folders, boxes, cartons or other types of packaging. These materials burn rapidly and generate a lot of heat. If lighting candles, always use non-flammable candle holders and place candles where they will not be knocked over and away from papers, folders and napkins - which can be fire hazards. Never leave candles in a room unattended and be sure to keep them out of reach of children and pets. To be safest, use flameless candles.

During your lunch or snack breaks, remember these cooking safety tips:

• Stay in the kitchen when cooking. Turn off the stove if you must step away and remove all items from the stovetop when you are finished cooking.
• Avoid distractions, such as non-urgent emails and focus on the task in front of you.
• Avoid wearing loose-fitting clothing while cooking as it can catch on fire.
• Keep flammable items - oven mitts, cooking utensils, dish cloths, paper towels and potholders - a safe distance from the stove.
• Keep young kids away from the stove and turn pot handles away from the stove's edge to avoid them being accidentally knocked off.
• Ensure a proper-fitting pot lid is nearby to smother flames in the event of a fire.
• Keep a working fire extinguisher in the kitchen.
• Have a working smoke alarm and a home escape plan just in case an incident occurs.
• Test all smoke alarms at least once a month by pressing the test button to ensure the alarm is working.

For more information and at-home fire safety tips, visit vaughan.ca/fire.

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