This page contains information about Barrie Fire's education and awareness initiatives, programs, and events.
Fire Safety Awareness Events & Campaigns
BFES promotes fire and life safety education throughout the year. Events provide an opportunity for families, individuals and people of all ages to learn about fire and life safety with the help and support of Barrie Fire staff.
To raise awareness about the importance of testing smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, Barrie Fire and Emergency Service, the Office of the Fire Marshal and TVOKids team up on the “Push 2 Buttons!” campaign every spring and fall.
The campaign encourages everyone in the community to test the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in their homes, with the goal of testing as many alarms as possible. The campaign takes place for two weeks every spring and fall when the clocks change.
Working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms save lives. This campaign is a fun way to remind everyone about the importance of regularly testing their smoke and carbon monoxide alarm batteries. When you change your clocks it’s time to check your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms too.
Kids are encouraged to get involved and ‘push 2 buttons’ with their parents’ help to hear if the alarms are working. They can then go to www.tvokids.com to enter the number of alarms they’ve tested and the number will be added to TVOKids “Push 2 Buttons!” counter. Kids will also be able to print a special “Push 2 Buttons!” certificate.
Some summer nights are so hot, even the wind can't be bothered to move. Head to the park with family and friends for a cooling fire truck shower at our annual Hot Summer Night event! Plus, check out the fire trucks, engage in hands on activities and ask your fire safety questions. Get all the event details at barrie.ca/HotSummerNight.
FPW is observed annually on the Sunday through Saturday period in which October 9th falls. In 2023, FPW took place October 8–14. BFES recognizes the week through education and awareness campaigns and events.
Beat the silent killer. In 2014, the Province declared the first week in November as the Official Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week.
Establishing an annual awareness week was part of Bill 77 passed in 2014, which made CO alarms mandatory in all Ontario homes. Working with partners to increase fire and carbon monoxide safety is part of the government's plan to keep Ontario families safe.
This public education campaign, Beat the Silent Killer, is led by fire services across the province. BFES hosts events to spread the message and raise awareness about the dangers of carbon monoxide and the importance of installing detectors in residential dwellings.
CO Awareness Week Event Details
Quick Facts
- Over 50 people die each year from carbon monoxide poisoning in Canada, including 11 on average in Ontario.
- The Ontario Building Code requires the installation of carbon monoxide alarms in homes and other residential buildings built after 2001.
- 60% of Canadians do not have a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm installed in their house and 44% do not have their heating systems checked annually.
- There is an increased risk of CO poisoning during the colder seasons when we spend more time indoors increasing our use of gas heaters, fireplaces, and other gadgets to beat the cold.
- Without proper maintenance, appliances such as furnaces, clothes dryers, water heaters, fireplaces, wood stoves, barbecues, and gas ranges can produce CO from the incomplete burning of fuels such as natural gas, wood, propane, heating oil, kerosene, coal, or charcoal.
- CO leaks are undetectable. It is a poisonous gas you cannot see, taste or smell and is often referred to as the “silent killer”. It causes flu-like symptoms such as headaches, nausea, dizziness, burning eyes, confusion, drowsiness, and even loss of consciousness. In very severe cases, CO poisoning can result in brain damage and death.
Barrie Fire conducts a door-to-door "Alarmed for Life" campaign between May and October each year. This program sees firefighters visiting various homes throughout Barrie to help spread the word about the importance of working smoke alarms and CO alarms. Barrie firefighters are always in uniform and accompanied by a truck or fire vehicle when visiting homes.
Station Tours & Truck Visits
Station tours can be booked at any one of our five stations, and trucks can visit your location.
"Thanks to the very kind firemen who showed us around this morning. My grandsons, Dylan and Jordan, loved seeing the trucks and especially the hovercraft. On the way home Dylan decided he was going to be a fireman when he grows up. And they loved all the goodies they got to take home. Thank you again!"
- Kathi S. (October 2019)
Station tours involve a tour through the fire hall, including a view of trucks, equipment, and gear. Station 1 (headquarters) is the largest and includes a heritage museum; these tours run 45–60 minutes, depending on the number of visitors and questions. Stations 2, 3, 4, and 5 are smaller stations located in outlying areas, but tours (approx. 30 minutes) are still interesting!
Truck visits include showing the truck equipment, conducting a truck tour, and Q&A. A truck can visit community events, charitable events, and school and community groups. We can’t accommodate every request, but we try our best! Trucks are approved to leave their station for a one-hour period. Firefighters are on duty, so they may need to leave the location at any time.
Fire Safety Programs
Barrie Fire and Emergency Service teaches people of all ages how to make responsible choices regarding health and safety. One of our most important commitments is to give people the knowledge and skills they need to lead safer lives.
If you have a group that is interested in a fire safety program not listed here, please contact our public education staff at (705) 728-3199 or Fire.Education@barrie.ca. We may be able to tailor an educational program for you!
Child & Youth Fire Safety Programs
Learn Not to Burn (LNTB) has served as the pillar of NFPA educational programs for more than 40 years. LNTB programs reach children using proven educational strategies that incorporate positive, practical fire safety messaging. LNTB® focuses on teaching 22 key fire safety behaviours to children from kindergarten to grade 8 through the core curriculum in their classrooms.
The LNTB pre-school program is designed to teach eight basic fire and burn-prevention behaviours to children in pre-school and daycare centres (age 3–5 years), using songs, games and activities. The lessons are short, simple and encourage active participation. The program includes a 60-page teacher's guide that features detailed lesson plans, fire safety background information, letters to parents and reproducible colouring sheets.
Not all fire safety education happens in person! The Virtual Storytime program allows youngsters to follow along while a BFES public educator reads the story "No Dragons For Tea" and talks about how to be fire safe at home. This program is 30–45 minutes in length, depending on the amount of post-story questions and comments.
Community Helpers is a 20–30 minute fire safety presentation. A BFES public educator will speak with children in grades 1 and 2 about what it means to work in the Fire Service and protect the community.
Barrie Fire & Emergency Service offers the Sparky's Adventures (formerly Travelling Sparky) program to all grade 1 and grade 2 classes in Barrie. This program runs from September to May and will help reduce the students’ chances of experiencing a fire while also assisting families in having an early warning should an emergency happen in their home. The educational kit contains the following materials:
- 1 LEARN NOT TO BURN resource booklet (approved by Curriculum Services Canada)
- 1 BFES tote bag
- 1 scrapbook
- 1 stuffed Sparky toy (mascot/home visits at your discretion)
- 1 flat Sparky (home visits at your discretion)
- 1 pre/post fire safety knowledge test
- 25 fire safety checklists
Once registered and the kit is dropped off, each child will have an opportunity to take Sparky home for a week, complete the checklist with their family and record the experience in a Scrapbook through pictures, drawings and writing.Once the program is completed, you can schedule a fun and interactive classroom visit with our public educator, and enter your class in a draw to win a fire truck visit!
Barrie Fire & Emergency Service will be offering the NEW Sparky’s Detective Diaries program to all grade 3 and grade 4 classes in Barrie. This program runs from September to May and will help reduce the students’ chances of experiencing a fire while also assisting families in having an early warning should an emergency occurs in their home. Sparky’s “detective bag” contains the following materials:
- 1 BFES tote bag
- 1 classroom detective diary
- 1 pre/post fire safety knowledge test
- 1 telescopic smoke alarm tester
- 1 magnifying glass
- 1 measuring tape
- 1 pair of folding binoculars
- 2 mini detective notebooks
- 25 detective badge stickers
- 25 fire safety pencils
Once registered, a kit is dropped off to your location, each child will have an opportunity to take the classroom detective bag home for a week, complete the checklist and record their experience within the detective diary.Barrie Fire & Emergency Service will be offering the NEW Chief for a Week program to all grade 5 and grade 6 classes in Barrie. This program runs from September to May and will help to reduce the students’ chances of experiencing a fire while increasing their understanding and awareness surrounding many fire-related hazards and topics.
Once registered, a "digital backpack" (on a USB drive) will be dropped off to your location. Each child will have an opportunity to become the classroom's “Chief for a Week” and embark on a digital scavenger hunt, researching pre-determined topics related to the fire service and creating digital slides/content answering specific questions on their chosen topic. At the end of the week, they will be able to truly embody a Fire Chief by presenting their findings with fellow classmates in their "Chief Brief" and educating them on important fire safety concepts/messaging.
Once the program has concluded, you can schedule a fun and interactive classroom visit with our public educator and enter your class in a draw to win a fire truck visit!
Barrie Transit and Barrie Fire and Emergency Service welcome students ages 12–14yrs across the city to participate in our collaborative and interactive Field Trip Pass program. In the month of June, grade 7 and 8 classes can ride Barrie Transit free of charge to Station 1 (155 Dunlop Street West) where they will meet Fire Service staff, take a facility tour, learn about fire safety, and receive information on Transit’s free Licence2Ride initiative.
Based on the Learn Not to Burn principals, our Fire Safety Education program for Girl Guides and Scouts Canada is a two-part program:
Part 1: A Fire Prevention Officer will visit the group at their regular meeting location and cover eight basic fire and burn-prevention principles. The groups will be left with a fire safety homework assignment, home escape plan and fire drill.
Part 2: A review of the home escape plans and discussion about the fire drill at the fire station, followed up by a station tour. Any participant that brings in a completed home escape plan will receive a Learn Not To Burn certificate and will have the information they need to obtain their relevant Fire Safety badge.
To participate, complete the public education request form (choose organization representative and select the fire safety talk option).
General Programs
Barrie Fire prevention staff are happy to attend community events to help spread the word about fire safety.
Barrie Fire prevention staff are happy to speak with members of the community about the importance of fire safety. Whether it be 1:1 or a large group setting, we're here to help you feel safe.
Would you like to learn about fire safety? Do you have a group that meets that would benefit from a fire safety and survival presentation? Barrie Fire would love to come to you and share information about fire Prevention, Detection, and Escape.
To request a presentation, complete the public education request form and choose fire safety talk.
If there is a fire in your neighbourhood, you may get a visit from the fire department. During an After the Fire blitz, BFES staff canvass the immediate area shortly afterwards to talk about lessons that can be learned. In addition to checking smoke and CO alarms, crews encourage residents to have two ways out of their homes, imparting the importance of practicing escape routes with all family members. Homeowners receive a “Don’t Push Your Luck – Push the Button” bag full of lifesaving information.
Seniors Programs
Remembering When™ was developed by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help older adults live safely at home for as long as possible.
Remembering When is centered around 16 key safety messages — eight fire prevention and eight fall prevention— developed by experts from national and local safety organizations as well as through focus group testing in high-fire-risk states. The program targets a range of older adults and is meant to be appealing to active seniors. Learn more in the Remembering When Program Safety Checklist (PDF).
To request a presentation, complete the public education request form and choose fire safety talk.