Welcome the New Year safely

Follow tips from Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service

We're counting down the hours to 2026, which means you may be getting ready to ring in the new year with friends and family. Whether you're going out or staying in, the City of Vaughan is reminding everyone to keep fire safety top of mind this evening.

To help ensure your New Year's Eve festivities are fire-free, follow these safety tips from Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service:

• Stay in the kitchen while cooking. Turn off the stove if you must step away, even for a moment, and remove all items from the stovetop when you are finished cooking.

• Use battery-operated candles, flashlights and glow sticks instead of traditional candles as decorations. If you must use candles, use non-flammable candle holders. Never leave them unattended, and place them away from children, pets and anything flammable.

• Keep exits clear of decorations to ensure nothing blocks your escape routes in the event of a fire.

• Test your smoke alarms to make sure they work, and ensure the batteries are operational. Teach children to recognize the sound and what to do when it goes off.

• Practise your home escape plan. Make sure everyone in the home knows the designated meeting spot outside so everyone is safely accounted for.

• Remember, extension cords are for temporary use only. Use the right one for the job - there are special extension cords for outdoor use.

• Never overload electrical outlets by plugging in too many devices - use an approved power bar marked with a ULC or CSA symbol.

• Check the cords of your decorative lights closely - discard any sets that are frayed or damaged.

Remember, fireworks are only permitted tonight if you have a permit. As outlined in the City's Fireworks and Pyrotechnics By-law 089-2022(PDF), the only days Vaughan residents may set off fireworks without a permit are Victoria Day and Canada Day. A permit from the City is required to set off fireworks on all other days of the year, including New Years Eve. Fireworks must end by 10 p.m. on the permitted day (except on Victoria Day and Canada Day when they must end by 11 p.m.).

You can only light fireworks on your property. Setting off fireworks in a park, roadway, sidewalk or any other public property is illegal. Fireworks must not be set off from any window, doorway, balcony, terrace or deck in a multi-residential property, or any common area of the property. Any person violating the Fireworks and Pyrotechnics By-law may receive a penalty of at least $200 for each offence. If a minor violates the by-law, the parents or guardian may be fined for the offence. Fireworks must not be set off where the discharge, smoke or fallout can land on another person or their property or where it creates a threat of injury or fire.

For more fire safety tips, visit vaughan.ca/fire.

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