Fire Rating: Moderate

Fire Services

The Carling Fire Department is accepting applications for our Junior Firefighter Program. This program is open to Carling residents aged 15 to 17.  For more information contact us at fire@carling.ca.

Fire Department Overview

The Carling Fire Department is composed entirely of volunteers who work diligently to provide first-rate Emergency Service to our Community. We Respond to the following Emergencies: FIRE (Structure and Wildland), Medical (we are on tiered response with Parry Sound District Emergency Medical Services), Motor Vehicle Collisions

Please be advised that absolutely no field burning is allowed in the Township of Carling. If you have any questions, please contact Gord Harrison, Carling Fire Chief.

Becoming a Volunteer Firefighter

The Carling Volunteer Fire Department recruits and trains Firefighters on an annual basis.  Acceptance into this program is dependent on completion of physical fitness and general aptitude testing with a passing grade.  If interested please request an application form at the following email address: HERE

Fire and Fireworks Permits and Plans

If you require a fire or fireworks permit, please select the button. The Fire Chief or designate will respond within 24 hours of submission with their decision. If you do not hear from us within 24 hours of submission please call Fire Chief at 705-996-9193.

 

Fire Rating Chart

Carling has established a FIre Rating system that we update on our website frequently. We have listed the four categories here for residents to familiarize themselves with the different levels.

Should you have any questions, you can send us a message at the bottom of this page or call the Fire Chief at 705-996-9193.

4 phase of fire rating chart

Fire & CO Safety

Smoke Alarm Information & Maintenance

Most fatal fires occur at night when people are sleeping. A working smoke alarm will detect smoke and sound to alert you.  Effective March 1, 2006, it is the law for all Ontario homes to have a working smoke alarm on every storey and outside all sleeping areas. This covers single-family, semi-detached and townhomes, whether owner-occupied or rented.

 

Choose the best alarm

There are two different types of smoke alarms to choose from.

The alarms use a small amount of radioactive material to ionize the air between two electrically charged plates, causing a measurable current to flow between plates. When smoke enters the chamber, it changes the flow of current, which is detected and activates the alarm.

 

Smoke alarms can be electrically connected, battery-operated, or both.

The alarms use a light source that is aimed away from a sensor in a sensing chamber. When smoke enters the chamber it reflects the light onto the sensor, which is detected and activates the alarm.

 

Smoke alarms can be electrically connected, battery-operated, or both.

smoke alarm map of placementBecause smoke rises, it is recommended you place the alarms on the ceiling. Avoid ceilings near bathrooms, heating appliances, windows and ceiling fans.  The smoke alarm should be installed between each sleeping area and the remainder of the building or where a sleeping area is served by a hallway, install the alarm in the hall. Always install the smoke alarm on or near the ceiling in accordance with the manufacturer’s installation instructions.

Test your smoke alarms regularly by pressing the test button or by using smoke from a smouldering incense stick.

 

Replace batteries regularly.  Install a new battery in each alarm at least once a year. All battery-operated smoke alarms are required to emit a warning sound, usually an intermittent “chirp” when the battery power is low. When warning chirp sounds, replace your battery immediately. Never wait. Change your batteries when you change your clocks in the spring and fall.  Smoke alarms do wear out, so if you think your alarms are more than 10 years old, replace them with new ones.

Dust can clog a smoke alarm, so gently vacuum alarms every six months using a soft brush. Never vacuum electrically connected alarms unless you shut off the power. Test your unit when finished cleaning. When installing, testing, and maintaining smoke alarms, make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

If you have any questions regarding fire safety, please contact the Carling Fire Department – HERE.

Fire Escape Plan

When a fire occurs, there is no time to waste. That is why it is so important to sit down with your family today and make a step-by-step plan for escaping from a fire.

Draw a floor plan of your home, marking two ways out of every room – especially sleeping areas. Discuss the escape routes with every member of your household. Agree on a meeting place outside your home where every member of the family will gather to wait for the fire department. This allows you to count heads and inform the fire department if anyone is trapped inside the burning building. Practice your escape plan at least twice a year. Have a fire drill in your home. Appoint someone to be a monitor and have everyone participate. A fire drill is not a race.

Get out quickly, but carefully. Make your exit drill realistic. Pretend that some exits are blocked by fire and practise alternative escape routes. Pretend that the lights are out and that some escape routes are filling with smoke.

Escape plan infographic for fire

4 steps to fire safety

Make sure everyone in the household can unlock all doors and windows quickly, even in the dark. Windows or doors with security bars need to be equipped with quick-release devices and everyone in the household should know how to use them.

If you live in an apartment building, use stairways to escape. Never use an elevator during a fire. It may stop between floors or take you to a floor where the fire is burning.

If you live in a two-storey house, and you must escape from a second storey window, be sure there is a safe way to reach the ground. Make special arrangements for children, older adults and people with disabilities. People who have difficulty moving should have a phone in their sleeping area and, if possible, should sleep on the ground floor.

Test doors before opening them. While kneeling or crouching at the door, reach up as high as you can and touch the door, the knob and the space between the door and its frame with the back of your hand. If the door is hot, use another escape route. If the door is cool, open it with caution.

If you are trapped, close all doors between you and the fire. Stuff the cracks around the doors with towels or blankets to keep out smoke. Wait at a window and signal for help with a light coloured cloth or a flashlight. If there is a phone in the room, call 911 and tell the operator exactly where you are.

In case of fire, do not stop for anything. Do not try to rescue possessions or pets. Go directly to your meeting place and then call the fire department from a neighbour’s phone. Every member of your household should know how to call the fire department.

Crawl low under smoke. Smoke contains deadly gases and heat rises. During a fire, cleaner air will be near the floor. If you encounter smoke when using your primary exit, use your alternate escape plan. If you must exit through smoke, crawl on your hands and knees keeping your head 12 to 24 inches (30 to 60 cm) above the floor.

Once you are out of your home, do not go back for any reason. If people are trapped, firefighters have the best chance of rescuing them. The heat and smoke of a fire are overpowering. Firefighters have the training, experience and protective equipment needed to enter burning buildings.

More than half of all fatal home fires happen at night while people are asleep. Smoke alarms are set off when a fire starts, alerting people before they are trapped or overcome by smoke. With smoke alarms, your risk of dying in a home fire is cut nearly in half. Install smoke alarms outside every sleeping area and on every level of your home, including the basement. Test smoke alarms monthly. Change all smoke alarm batteries at least once a year. If your smoke alarm is more than 10 years old, replace it.

If you have any questions regarding fire safety, please contact the Carling Fire Department fire@carling.ca

Fire Safety Tips

  • Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, change batteries immediately if needed. 
  • Please note, effective March 1, 2006, it is the law for all Ontario homes to have a working smoke alarm on every storey and outside all sleeping areas. This covers single-family, semi-detached and townhomes, whether owner-occupied or rented.
  • Check your fire extinguishers. 
  • Check for overloaded or damaged extension cords, replace where needed.                                             
  • Ensure you have an emergency preparedness kit in case of incidents such as power outages and flooding.
  • Practice your family’s fire escape plan so everyone knows what to do in case of an emergency
  • Windows should be checked to ensure they open and close properly, in case they are needed as an exit
  • Properly store household chemicals and never mix cleaning agents.
  • Recycle: Get rid of old newspapers, magazines and junk mail. These items tend to pile up and can greatly contribute to the severity and spread of fire.
  • Check and clean filters above stove.
  • Pull refrigerator out and vacuum or dust the coils.
  • Always keep stairs and landings clear for safe evacuation in event of an emergency.
  • Make sure your address numbers are up and visible from the street.
  • Maintain a clear ‘fire zone’ of 3m around structures.
  • Check outdoor electrical outlets and other electrical appliances for animal nests and to ensure proper wiring.
  • Keep 100′ of garden hose with an attached nozzle connected and ready for use.
  • Remove leaves and trash from carports and garages: Combustible materials are dangerous if they are exposed to heated automobile components, especially under the vehicle.
  • Clean up and properly store paints, pool and yard chemicals.
  • Check fuel containers for leaks and make sure they are properly stored.
  • Let power equipment sit for approximately 30 minutes before placing it inside to be sure there is no possibility of fire.


The Township of Carling regulates open-air burning.  Please see our online application form for permits to burn debris.

  • All barbeque grills must only be used outdoors! Using grills indoors or in enclosed spaces is not only a fire hazard, but it exposes occupants to toxic gasses and potential asphyxiation.
  • Always position the grill well away from combustible objects; buildings, fences, deck railings and landscaping can easily and quickly ignite.
  • Get your grill cleaned and serviced. Check all propane tanks and lines for leaks and damage.
  • Never leave a lit grill unattended.
  • Always use long-handled grilling utensils and heat resistant oven mitts to avoid exposure burns from heat and flames.
  • Periodically remove grease build-up in catch trays to prevent it from igniting.
  • Keep a garden hose nearby, connected and ready for use in case of a fire.

The Carling Fire Department wants to ensure you have an enjoyable and safe summer.  Below are some general fire safety tips that will help your family enjoy all that summer can offer.

  • Do not allow children to get near fireworks, stoves, or grills. Make sure that all flammable and combustible materials are out of their reach. Never allow them to play with matches, candles, or lighters.
  • Bring a fire extinguisher or fire blanket to your outdoor trip. This way, you can easily extinguish fire before it grows out of hand. Fire accidents can happen anytime and it always pays to be prepared.
  • Before you use a grill, check first the connection between the propane tank and fuel line to see if this is not blocked. See to it that you do not overfill the propane tank.
  • Douse hot coals with plenty of water before disposing of them. Never put them inside plastic, paper or wooden trash bins or containers.
  • During picnics or camping trips, avoid building campfires. If you do build one, make sure you keep it small and that you douse it with water to put it out completely. Never leave the camping area without putting out the campfire.  Check with your local fire department, municipality or Ministry of Natural Resource to ensure there is not a fire ban in effect.
  • Inspect fire equipment at home. Ensure your fire extinguisher is in top condition. If you see anything suspicious like a leak in the nozzle, have it repaired or checked by a professional immediately.
  • Double-check plugs and switches at home before you leave. If you are going on a trip or picnic be sure that everything is unplugged and turned off before you leave the house.
  • Formulate an escape route for the house or cottage. Practice fire drills regularly at least twice a year. Leave emergency numbers near the telephone.
  • Use barbecue grills away from the house, from the tent, or from anything that can easily catch fire.
  • When checking in at a hotel, B&B, motel or renting a seasonal property, do not forget to consider the fire safety of the place. Examine if there are fire exits, firefighting equipment, working smoke detectors and clear signage of the escape route.
  • When using a lawnmower, never fuel it while it is still hot. Give it a few minutes to cool down.
  • If outside and your clothes catch fire, use the STOP, DROP and ROLL Use a fire extinguisher to put out a small fire that is not yet spreading. Call the fire department immediately.

This includes but is not limited to cottages, cabins, motorhomes/RVs, boats & houseboats etc.

  • Test smoke alarms at least monthly or each time you return to your seasonal home. Pack a new smoke alarm and extra smoke alarm batteries in case they need replacement.
  • Install and ensure carbon monoxide alarms in your seasonal home if it has a fuel-burning appliance.  
  • Develop and practice a home fire escape plan to ensure everyone knows what to do if the smoke alarm sounds.
  • In case of an emergency call 911 and know your seasonal home’s civic address.  
  • Clean barbecues before using them. Keep an eye on lit barbecues and ensure all combustibles, as well as children and pets are kept well away from them. Fires can happen when barbecues are left unattended.  
  • Keep barbecue lighters and matches out of sight and reach of children.  
  • Remember to bring a flashlight with extra batteries.  
  • Check heating appliances and chimneys before using them.  
  • Check the Fire Danger Rating on and get a permit to burn before burning brush. If open burning is allowed, fires should be built on bare soil or on exposed rock. Remove leaves and twigs from around the fire to keep it from spreading. Always keep a bucket of water, sand, or even a shovel close by and supervise the fire at all times. 
  • If you must smoke, do so outside. Keep a large can with water nearby so cigarette butts can be safely discarded. If you drink, do so responsibly. Tobacco use and excessive alcohol consumption are contributing factors in many fires and can lead to serious injuries.
  • Burn candles in sturdy candle holders that will not tip and are covered with a glass shade. When you go out, blow out!

For more information about Fire Services, contact the Fire Chief

We understand that there was a lot of information here. We wanted to make sure you and your family are safe and know what to do, should anything ever happens. If you have any additional questions, please email us.

Available from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Monday – Friday

Address 2 West Carling Bay Rd Nobel, ON P0G 1G0
additional Carling Logo

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