Arson Prevention for Property Owners and Managers

 By Paula Slobodian, Emergency Response Service City of Winnipeg
As the fall approaches, extra precautions need to be taken to prevent fires caused by arson.  Some tips for property owners and managers include the following:
  1. Store flammable material safely.  Garbage, leaves, lumber and bulky waste should be disposed of properly.  Firewood should be kept well away from buildings (apartments or garages)
  2. Keep doors and windows secured.  Do not use double-keyed locks or bars on bedroom windows that could trap a person during a fire.
  3. Keep locks, hinges, frames, doors and windows in good repair. Check skylights, roof hatches, fences and garages regularly to ensure they are secured.
  4. Encourage tenants to develop and practice a home escape plan.
  5. Have annual inspections of all heating and air conditioning units. 
  6. Be alert to unusual odors or smoke.
  7. Make sure smoke alarms are working.  Test alarms monthly.
  8. Do not allow mail to accumulate in mail slots or boxes, as these can act like a torch for kids.
  9. If you see any suspicious activity in your neighborhood, call the police.  Note license plates of people who may be loitering in the area.
  10. Call 9-1-1 if a fire is in progress.
  11. The arson hotline number is 986-1000, for other inquiries or to report tips for the arson strike force. 
For many years, the trend of fires in Winnipeg has been to increase during the spring and then again during the fall.  So far for August, we have not seen this trend continue, which is reassuring, given the collective initiatives among other City of Winnipeg departments that are underway to address this problem.

If you have any questions or if there are other articles you would like to see featured in this column, please call Emergency Response Service (fire and ambulance services) at 986-6380 or e-mail your questions to pslobodi@city.wimmipeg.mb.ca

Return to PPMA Articles