Prevention, detection, escape from fire

City of Toronto Media Relations has issued the following:

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News Release:  March 11, 2014

Prevention, detection, escape from fire

A Toronto fire in a mixed residential/commercial building in the early morning hours of Friday, March 7 resulted in the loss of three lives and injury to a fourth person.

In response to this tragic incident on Dovercourt Road, Toronto Fire Chief Jim Sales reminds the public to be vigilant with fire and life safety: "I urge all residents to remember and practise the three lines of defence against the devastating effects of fire: prevention, detection and escape."

- Prevention – Take steps to prevent fires from occurring. Never leave cooking and burning candles unattended. If you smoke, smoke outdoors.

- Detection – Make sure you have working smoke alarms on every level of your home and outside all sleeping areas. Make sure you have working carbon monoxide alarms outside all sleeping areas.

- Escape – Plan and practise a home fire escape plan that includes two ways out and a safe meeting place outside the home where you can call 911. Your plan must emphasize that you never go back into a burning building.

Sales said, "Take time to mourn the loss of these young people and remember their families. Take steps to protect yourselves and your families from fire."

The Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal continues to investigate the fire.

More information is available at http://www.toronto.ca/fire/. 

Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. Toronto is proud to be the Host City for the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us @TorontoComms.

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Media contact: Toronto Fire Services Media Line, 416-338-0763