Erika

Have you filled your weekend calendar for the summer yet? We have! After two years of relatively low-key summers due to COVID restrictions, the summer of 2022 is poised to be one of the biggest cottage seasons we have ever seen. So, grab your bug spray and get ready for gridlocked highways out of the […]

The number of fires started by people carelessly flicking lit cigarettes/ cannabis off of balconies has been on the rise in recent years. How serious has this problem become? A few years ago, Toronto Fire Services unveiled a very aggressive ‘Don’t Be a Flicking Idiot’ campaign to raise awareness.  Their campaign was unveiled in 2017 when local

Happy Building Safety Month, everyone! This year, the Ontario Building Officials Association’s theme for the month is “Build it by the Book.” What a great theme! It’s particularly important in 2022, because building it by the book has never been more challenging in the world of fire safety. Why? Because the book has changed. We have seen

Technology sometimes evolves so quickly that the rules that regulate how it’s used need a few years to catch up. For example, your life safety system is an incredibly advanced network of different elements that includes alarms, doors, vents, and elevators. But until recently, there was no standard to test how these systems communicated with

It’s pretty common to hear someone say they want to achieve fire code compliance. That’s the right goal, but there’s a better way to think about it. Think of it as maintaining compliance, not achieving it. Achievement somewhat implies that the work is done. But fire code safety is a year-round activity. The work doesn’t

I went to a friend’s new condo for dinner recently. As we pulled up to the building, my husband said, “This is a beautiful building.” I said, “Are you kidding me? There are people parked in the fire route. The vegetation is already blocking the fire department connection, and the annunciator is glowing.” If you

Are you currently studying engineering at university? Or are you an engineer looking for a new challenge? How would you like a career in a highly in-demand field? How about a role where you make a real difference and save real lives?  Consider bringing your talents to the fire safety world.  We’re just finishing National

Spring is almost here! The weather is getting nicer and the days are getting longer. It’s time to put our shovels and snow blowers in the garage and take out our bikes. It’s also time for spring cleaning. While you’re giving your home a good cleanse/ purge, don’t forget to add in a few quick

Earlier today, we received the tragic news that 3 children have died as a result of a fire in a townhouse in Brampton. This sobering news comes on the heels of another recent fire in the GTA on Wednesday night, which took the lives of two people in Toronto’s west end.  Unspeakable tragedies like these have a way

‘Tis the season for a full house and a full kitchen. You’re probably extra excited (or stressed) to have family and friends over for the holidays this year, after likely settling for holiday Zoom calls last year. The holiday season means extra food, extra drinks, and extra bodies in the kitchen. Things can quickly get