Ottawa fire offers holiday safety tips for a safe Christmas and New Year's season
The Ottawa Fire Services is offering tips to make it a safe Christmas and holiday season at your home.
In Ontario, there are an average of nine fatalities linked to house fires every year, according to fire officials.
Here are some fire prevention and safety tips for the holiday season.
Lights
Ottawa fire says when using holiday lights, use LED lights for your Christmas tree and outdoor light displays.
Officials recommend using a power bar and surge protector when lighting your Christmas lights or plugging the light string directly into the outlet.
Ottawa fire officials also recommend, "not overloading extension cords to guarantee your safety."
Christmas trees
If you have a real Christmas tree, water your tree daily to "avoid a fiery catastrophe," according to Ottawa fire.
"Check for falling needles and nearby heat sources, be wary," the city said in a media release.
Ottawa Fire Services recommends keeping three feet of distance between heating sources and your fabric, presents or Christmas food.
Christmas baking
When you're doing your Christmas baking and cooking, Ottawa fire recommends never leaving children alone in the kitchen.
"Safety first, delicious cookies second, happily!" Ottawa fire said.
You should never leave the stove unattended while cooking.
Smoke alarms
You should check your smoke alarm monthly "for peace of mind," according to Ottawa Fire Services.
Replace any old batteries or alarms in your home. Ottawa fire recommends replacing your smoke alarm every seven to 10 years.
Carbon monoxide alarm
If you hear four beeps from your carbon monoxide alarm during the holidays, leave your house "immediately to avoid any harm," according to Ottawa fire.
Smoking
Ottawa fire says if you're smoking, smoke outside.
"Use deep, sturdy ashtrays and dispose of butts properly," Ottawa Fire Services says.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING
BREAKING Liberal leadership: Freeland to announce bid within the next week
Former finance minister Chrystia Freeland will announce her intention to run for the Liberal party leadership just before the U.S. presidential inauguration, a source close to her campaign team says.
Singh calls on Canada to stop critical minerals exports to U.S. amid Trump tariff threat
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says the only way to deal with 'bully' U.S. president-elect Donald Trump and his looming tariff threat is to make him feel the 'pain' of Canada's retaliatory measures.
Norovirus cases are rising in Canada. Here's advice from a doctor
Canadian health officials are reporting a rising number of cases of the highly contagious norovirus illness in Canada, warning that the elderly and young children are most at risk.
234 self-reported cases of gastroenteritis at the University of Guelph
The number of self-reported cases of gastroenteritis at the University of Guelph has increased to 234, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health confirmed on Monday.
Hanging out at Starbucks will cost you as company reverses its open-door policy
If you want to hang out or use the restroom at Starbucks, you’re going to have to buy something. Starbucks on Monday said it was reversing a policy that invited everyone into its stores.
Live grenade found among scrap metal in Kingston, Ont.: police
Police in Kingston, Ont. say a live grenade was found in a scrap metal container at a local waste facility this weekend.
Four arrested after student stabbed during altercation inside Hillcrest High School
Hillcrest High School was on lockdown for several hours on Monday morning.
Alberta premier talks about 'tariff-free relationship' with the U.S.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said her conversations with U.S. President Donald Trump went well, but the leader's tariff threat has not been averted.
'You just don't roll over:' Doug Ford refuses to take energy threat off table as he pitches closer mineral relationship with U.S.
Premier Doug Ford is proposing a closer relationship with the U.S. when it comes to critical minerals while at the same time boasting that the province won’t 'roll over' should president-elect Donald Trump follow through on his threatened tariffs upon taking office next week.
Atlantic
-
Woman killed by husband in Mahone Bay, N.S., described as well-loved, funny
Family members of a 60-year-old Nova Scotia woman killed by her partner say she was an 'effortlessly funny' person who could also be lovingly honest and direct.
-
Lower Sackville man left shaken after house fire claims life of six-year-old girl
A Nova Scotia man is left shaken after his neighbour's home in Lower Sackville, N.S., caught fire over the weekend and claimed the life of a child.
-
N.S. man charged with murder in fatal Centreville fire; woman's death suspected intimate partner violence
A man has been charged with second-degree murder following a suspicious fire and death in Centreville, N.S., early Saturday morning.
Toronto
-
What a 6.9 per cent tax hike gets you
Toronto’s latest proposed budget is asking residents to pay a little bit more on the heels of a historic 9.5 per cent tax hike just a year ago. Here are a few things that increase will buy if the budget is approved.
-
Police on hunt for 4 suspects after a Markham home was invaded twice in same day
Police are on the hunt for four suspects after a Markham home was invaded twice on the same day.
-
7 men charged in connection with 2 shootings at same Brampton home
Police have arrested and charged seven suspects after a home in northeast Brampton was shot at twice since November.
Montreal
-
Woman stabbed in Montreal's Plateau, police investigating
Montreal police (SPVM) are investigating after a woman was stabbed in the Plateau.
-
'Everybody's stunned': Ottawa abruptly pauses electric vehicle rebate program
The federal government has abruptly paused its electric vehicle rebate program.
-
Bishop's students allege teacher uses degrading terms, university doing nothing
Students at Bishop's University in Sherbrooke, Que., say they're shocked and appalled by the school's apparent lack of action over a teacher they allege has been using derogatory language in her classroom for years.
Northern Ontario
-
Two killed in Hwy. 63 crash, North Bay OPP say
Two people in a passenger vehicle were killed Monday morning in a collision with a commercial motor vehicle on Highway 63 near Highway 533,
-
Huntsville school bus erupts into flames en route to school
Kids were evacuated from bus moments before it went up in flames.
-
Firefighters on scene of fire in downtown Timmins
The Timmins fire department is at the scene Monday evening of a fire in Downtown Timmins on 3rd Avenue.
Windsor
-
Provincial NDP leader Marit Stiles calls for focus on tariff threat instead of an early election
Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles announced her party is ready to work with the Doug Ford government to push back on U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s threats to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian imports.
-
'She suffered with a secret that ended her life': Family of IPV victim share their trauma at sentencing hearing for Windsor man
The family of an Intimate Partner Violence victim are sharing their trauma at sentencing hearing for Windsor man.
-
Manufacturing outpaces other sectors as unemployment rate increases
December's unemployment rate has the Windsor-area leading the country, at 9.1 per cent.
London
-
Cold weather alert in effect for Tuesday: MLHU
The Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU) has issued its first cold weather alert of the year.
-
Youths allegedly assaulted after petting cat in Port Stanley
A man is facing charges in Elgin County after allegedly assaulting some youths on Saturday.
-
Armed robbery leads to charges for London man
Around 1:50 p.m. on Sunday, police say a man went into a grocery store in the 1500-block of Adelaide Street North and placed a number of items inside a bag and left the store without paying.
Kitchener
-
Two more arrests in 2019 kidnapping and murder of Kitchener, Ont. man
Ontario Provincial Police have charged two more people with the kidnapping and murder of a Kitchener, Ont. man, bringing the total number of accused to five.
-
Six months into SIU investigation and still no answers into Arthur, Ont. man's death
Six months have passed since Nathaniel Schofield died in police custody and his family wants to know what happened.
-
234 self-reported cases of gastroenteritis at the University of Guelph
The number of self-reported cases of gastroenteritis at the University of Guelph has increased to 234, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health confirmed on Monday.
Barrie
-
Huntsville school bus erupts into flames en route to school
Kids were evacuated from bus moments before it went up in flames.
-
Another historical sexual assault charge laid against Beeton, Ont. man
A Beeton man is facing another count of sexual assault following an investigation by provincial police.
-
Inmate assault charge stayed against man accused in Elnaz Hajtamiri murder case
Mohamad Lilo, the Montreal-area man scheduled for trial in the alleged kidnapping and murder of his former girlfriend, had his jail assault charge stayed by the Crown during a virtual court appearance Monday.
Winnipeg
-
Murder trial begins for Manitoba man accused of running down, shooting neighbour
A trial has started for a Manitoba man accused of running down and shooting his neighbour before fleeing the province.
-
Arrest made in Portage la Prairie double homicide: RCMP
Manitoba RCMP has made an arrest in connection with a double homicide in Portage la Prairie, Man., last month.
-
Extreme cold warnings in effect for parts of Manitoba
A swath of Manitoba is under an extreme cold warning Monday as temperatures are ready to plummet overnight.
Calgary
-
Alberta premier talks about 'tariff-free relationship' with the U.S.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said her conversations with U.S. President Donald Trump went well, but the leader's tariff threat has not been averted.
-
hMPV cases in Alberta rising but still below historical average, province says
Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) cases are increasing slightly in Alberta, but the province says the current test positivity rate is lower than average.
-
WEATHER
WEATHER Calgary to experience warm highs and chilly lows this week
Prepare for some temperature whiplash this week in southern Alberta. As we approach the middle of January, pleasant, above-seasonal temperatures will prevail on Tuesday and Wednesday with highs in the positive single digits.
Edmonton
-
U.S. man pleads guilty to sexually exploiting Edmonton girl
A U.S. man on Monday pleaded guilty to sexually exploiting an Edmonton girl and smuggling her across the border in 2022.
-
And then there were 3: Vote for Edmonton's city bird in final round
Birds of a feather flock together, proven by the thousands of Edmonton-area residents who cast their vote in the first round of competition to determine the "official" city bird.
-
Former board member charged with embezzling $300K from Lloydminster hockey association
A Lloydminster man has been charged after hundreds of thousands of dollars were embezzled from the Lloydminster Minor Hockey Association.
Regina
-
Former Regina mayoral candidate Nathaniel Hewton released with conditions
Nathaniel Hewton, a mayoral candidate in the 2024 Regina civic election has been released from custody with several conditions in place.
-
Two charged after alleged smuggling of illegal guns into Canada south of Val Marie, Sask.
RCMP say two 19-year-old men are facing multiple weapons charges after they were discovered crossing into and out of the United States illegally south of Val Marie, Sask., allegedly smuggling guns.
-
Regina woman charged in death of infant makes first court appearance
The woman charged in the death of a three-month-old boy made her first appearance at Regina provincial court Monday.
Saskatoon
-
Sask. teen who allegedly set classmate on fire scheduled to plea next month
A teen girl who allegedly set her classmate on fire is set to make a plea at Saskatoon Provincial Court next month.
-
Three dead after two separate crashes on Highway 7 west of Saskatoon
Three people are dead following two separate multi-vehicle collisions on a small stretch of Highway 7 on Sunday.
-
Driver killed in single-vehicle crash in Stonebridge on Sunday, police say
Saskatoon police say a driver was killed in an early-morning crash in Stonebridge on Sunday.
Vancouver
-
Poilievre visits B.C. as poll shows Conservative support growing in the province
Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre began a weeklong tour of British Columbia on Monday, where recent polling suggests support for his party continues to grow.
-
A B.C. man won a $2M jackpot. Members of his workplace lotto pool took him to court.
A dispute over a $2 million jackpot among members of a workplace lotto pool has been settled by B.C.'s Supreme Court.
-
B.C. starvation death inquest hears victim's emaciated state, poor living conditions
Florence Girard was so small when she died that she "looked like a child" in her casket, her sister told a British Columbia coroner's inquest into the death of the woman.
Vancouver Island
-
Poilievre visits B.C. as poll shows Conservative support growing in the province
Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre began a weeklong tour of British Columbia on Monday, where recent polling suggests support for his party continues to grow.
-
A B.C. man won a $2M jackpot. Members of his workplace lotto pool took him to court.
A dispute over a $2 million jackpot among members of a workplace lotto pool has been settled by B.C.'s Supreme Court.
-
'Dangerous and should not be approached': B.C. RCMP searching for wanted man
Mounties on Vancouver Island are asking the public to call their local police immediately if they see a man wanted for several violent criminal offences.
Kelowna
-
West Kelowna fire chief says L.A. devastation a haunting reminder of B.C. blaze
The fire chief of a British Columbia community devastated by a fast-moving wildfire in 2023 says it's "haunting" to see similar circumstances playing out in Southern California.
-
1 hospitalized, residents displaced after Kelowna apartment fire
Firefighters knocked down a blaze on the third floor of a low-rise apartment building near downtown Kelowna Monday afternoon.
-
Lost skiers rescued off B.C. mountain
Search and rescue volunteers in B.C.’s Okanagan successfully reunited two skiers with their family Friday evening.
