Protecting Your Home

When Ed Onishenko retired as captain after 35 year’s of service with the Saskatoon Fire Department, he wasn’t about to let the flame go out on his mission to educate people about fire safety. He wrote a children’s book about what to do—and what not to do—in the event of a house fire, and he visits classrooms to help students develop a healthy respect for fire. He not only wants families to be prepared in case of an emergency, he also wants people to understand, develop and practice good preparedness.

A habit comes with following a routine, and he is all about teaching adults and children to keep themselves and their homes safe. Autumn is a good time of year to establish new routines. School begins. There is annual maintenance

by: KArin Melberg sChwier

to be done on a home in preparation for winter. Ed says it’s also a good time to prepare for the possibility of a house fire. It’s fitting, too, that National Fire Safety Week is October 3-9. Knowing what to do in advance pays off if the unthinkable ever happens.

Having the Talk

Retirement hasn’t gotten in the way of Ed’s zeal for reaching students with his safety message. He offers a free 30-minute classroom visit to students of any age. Children have fun examining fire fighting equipment and protective gear, and can even take selfies with Ed and the rescue mannequin. The question and answer part of Ed’s visits give children ample opportunity to ask questions.

Through his website and classroom visits, he is

Ed Onishenko hasn’t let retirement interfere with promoting fire safety. His children’s book has sold 4000 copies and counting, and his message on captained.ca reminds people “fire safety is cool.”

Fall is the perfect time to schedule routine maintenance checks of household safety equipment like smoke and CO2 detectors, and fire extinguishers. known by legions of children as Captain Ed.

“Students like the idea of becoming Deputy Fire Preventers,” says Ed. “Kids ask questions like how do fires start? What if my pet hides? How do we put out fires? It’s important to answer everyone’s questions.”

The aptly named Captain Ed’s Fire Safety Book was written “in rhyme so that even very young children will catch on and pick up the ideas quickly,” says Ed. The book is colourfully illustrated by Saskatoon artist Deidra Evans.

Fire Safety Basics

“Fire safety isn’t complicated and the rules in the book are simple enough for everyone in the family. Things like closing bedroom doors at night. Children should know that if they hear the alarm or

Photo Credit: Deb Onishenko

smell smoke, they should put a hand on the door. If it’s hot, then they need to get out the window. Don’t go back into a burning house to find a pet or anyone else. The firefighters know what to do.”

Understanding a few fire basics is important. It could keep a bad situation from getting worse, he adds. House fires are most likely to start in the kitchen, bedrooms and living rooms. Never try to douse a grease fire with water. That will only splatter the grease and spread the fire, he warns. Instead, smother it with a lid or another pan, and turn off the element.

Ed points out that the simple messages for children are just as important for adults.

Preparation Pays off

Ed encourages families to involve everyone in the

house to help create a fire safety plan, which would include a ‘to do’ schedule for things like checking batteries in detectors.

Battery Checks: Smoke detectors are available as battery-operated and hard-wired, and should be installed on every level, including the basement at the bottom of the stairwell. Both types need monthly checks by pressing the test button.

If it beeps, it’s working. If it does not, replace the batteries immediately. Batteries need to be replaced once a year. A simple free calendar from the bank or drug store is perfect for this schedule. Ed suggests picking a birthday or holiday so the check will be easy to remember. Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide units should be replaced every eight to 10 years. Ed recommends a smoke detector for each bedroom as an “extra precaution.”

The Fire Extinguisher:

Everyone should know where it’s kept and how to use it. Buy one from a professional company, check the expiry date and read the instructions. It must be maintained properly, Ed says, and checked to be sure the pull pin is intact, the gauge is in proper range and there are no visible leaks. If there is a file, pull the pin and press the handle to start process. Spray at the base of the flames around the area, and call 911.

The Safety Plan: Even if there are no children in the household, the fire safety plan should be in place in every home.

“If you do have kids, have them help with the plan, but it’s important

Photo Credit: Karin Melberg Schwier

the adults do this, too,” Ed says. “Draw a plan showing exits from the house and each room with every door and window. Pick out a good meeting place outside. Have the kids draw pictures of their room and know the two ways they would get out, which doors and windows. Have fire drills and practice escape routes. Educate everyone in the family about when to call 911.”

The Saskatoon Fire Department’s community relations department

WHaT IF You lIVe In a RenTal?

Renters have the right to live in a safe, habitable property and landlords have the right to request that tenants practice fire safety measures, like checking smoke detectors once a month. Landlords are responsible for installing smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors on the main floor and basement. There should be a smoke detector in every bedroom and batteries checked monthly. Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide units should be replaced at the end of their life span. If a tenant has concerns about fire safety, they should discuss the issue with their landlord as soon as possible. If the issue is not resolved, the renter may contact the Saskatoon Fire Department and make a complaint under the property maintenance and nuisance abatement bylaw. They may also contact the Saskatchewan Landlords Association.

SoBeRIng STaTS

Saskatchewan Government Insurance says in fatal, preventable house fires, more than a third did not have smoke detectors installed. There were approximately 100 house fires in Saskatoon in 2020 with one death, smoke inhalation and other injuries to occupants and firefighters, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in property damage. The cause of these fires varied: • spontaneous combustion (oily rags) • children playing with matches • candles left unattended • smoking material • cooking equipment left unattended • faulty wiring • frayed electrical cords • deliberately set fires

has brochures to be sure the important points are covered.

“For some people, it’s kind of an out-of-sight-outof-mind thing,” Ed says. “But the time to get ready, to educate the adults and children about and practice an escape route–and make sure your home is fire safe–is before a fire. Not during a fire.”

Tragedies Can be avoided

“In my 35 years of service, I’ve been to a lot of calls. I’ve seen a lot of tragedies,” Ed says. “So many of them could have been avoided by doing such simple things like checking batteries in smoke alarms and CO2 (carbon monoxide) detectors.” One of his most heartbreaking experiences involved children who tried to hide from the fire in their bedroom closets or under the bed, thinking those were safe places.

“They don’t realize that by doing that, they’re also hiding from the firefighters who are searching for them. Fire is very good at playing hide and seek. It will find you no matter where you hide.”

Karin Melberg Schwier