Fire Outreach and Events

Aimed at adult audiences, these fire safety presentations cover fire-safe practices in the home and/or workplace. Examples of adult audiences include:

• church groups
• seniors groups
• condominiums
• workplaces
• homecare providers
• prenatal classes

If your child (3-17 years old) is involved with fire play or fire setting, an education officer will visit your home to assist with education and to ensure your home is fire safe. This program may contain a mental health component. 

Topics covered will include:

• Consequences of fire setting for the individual and the community
• Legal consequences of fire setting
• How quickly fires develop and spread
• Smoke alarms
• Home escape planning
• Factors that influence choices we make and risk behaviours
• Think twice, act once; making good decisions

In support of of Black History Month, YourTV Burlington-Oakville along with Oakville Fire Captain Chris Porter share the story of Black firefighters' long uphill battle to help their communities in times of emergency.

• Part One: History of Black Firefighters
• Part Two: History of Oakville Fire Department and its members
• Part Three – How to engage young Black youths to consider a career in the fire service

Fire crews visit homes in Oakville neighbourhoods through the months of May to July, between 5 and 8 p.m.

If homeowners are not present, fire safety information is left in the mailbox.

Learn Not to Burn

Preschool/Kindergarten

Lessons covered include: Smoke alarms are important, get out - stay out, stay away from hot things, matches and lighters are for grown-ups and firefighters are community helpers.

The program provides teachers with:

• A fire safety talk done by one of our Public Education Officers.
• Fire truck and firefighter visit for in-person programs.
• Learn Not to Burn (Kindergarten) teacher resource book, which is recommended by Curriculum Services Canada (when requested).

Duration: Approximately 60 minutes (30-minute fire safety chat and 30-minute firetruck visit)

Grade 1

Lessons covered include: Smoke alarms are important, get out – stay out, what is an emergency and how to report an emergency using 911.

The program provides teachers with:

• Fire safety talk done by one of our Public Education Officers including a reading of “Impatient Pamela Calls 911” and a demonstration of how to call 911 and report an emergency.
• Learn Not to Burn (Level 1) teacher resource book, which is recommended by Curriculum Services Canada (when requested).

Duration: Approximately 30 minutes.

Grades 2 and 3

Lessons covered include: Smoke alarms are important, home escape planning and what is an emergency.

The program provides teachers with:

• Fire safety talk by one of our Public Education Officers, which includes a mini home fire escape plan obstacle course for students to practice on.
• A library or gym is an ideal area for the presentation, as some room is needed to set-up and implement the mini-home escape obstacle course.

Duration: Approximately 30 minutes.

Grades 4 and 5

Lessons covered include: Preventing fires in the home, the importance of smoke alarms and home escape planning.

The program provides teachers with:

• An interactive Hazard House presentation by one of our Public Education Officers. The Hazard House is a large, “doll house” that teaches fire safety and injury prevention in the home.

Duration: Approximately 30 to 45 minutes.

Safe Cooking Program

Grades 6 to 9

This interactive and informative power point presentation is delivered to students by one of our Public Education Officers and aims to teach the basics of safe cooking practices. Each student will receive a certificate of attendance.

Lessons covered include: Identifying fire hazards in the kitchen and how to eliminate them, smoke alarm use as well as testing and maintenance, burn treatment and prevention, how to safely extinguish a small, contained fire in a pot or pan, and home escape planning.

Duration: Approximately 30 to 45 minutes.

Fire Safety for Newcomers (ESL)

The Oakville Fire Department can provide a fire safety presentation to meet the language level of ESL classes.

Book a program for your class

Email or call to book a virtual or in-person classroom visit from a Public Education Officer with the Oakville Fire Department.

Contact Public Education Officer, Alicia Petz at 905-845-6601 ext. 5281 or alicia.petz@oakville.ca.

Have you experienced a fire in your home or business? Firefighters will review what led to your fire and advise you on the steps you can take to avoid future emergencies.

We are pleased to provide in-school as well as virtual teaching support by request. We offer classroom presentations as well as fire station visits to enhance curriculum-based learning related to fire and life safety. 

Some examples of educational support are:

• Kindergarten and Grade One Learn Not to Burn curriculum based lessons
• High school life skills lesson for cooking fire safety
• English as a second language (ESL) and fire safety for newcomers

Plan and practice fire drills your employees will want to participate in! Fire drills are just as important in the workplace as they are at home. Here is how you can get started:

1. Put together a safety committee of people from different departments
2. Appoint team leaders responsible for counting employees
3. Leave through designated fire exits
4. Predetermine outside gathering spots that are a safe distance from the building
5. Practice scheduled drills — aim to get your exit times down to less than three to five minutes