This province-wide campaign was created in response to the 133 fire fatalities Ontario suffered in 2022 – the most in 20 years. Test Your Smoke Alarm Day was launched to encourage all Ontarians to learn more about smoke alarms, fire safety, and home fire escape planning, all of which can save lives.

Test Your Smoke Alarm Day is an initiative led by the Ontario’s Office of the Fire Marshal, in partnership with community stakeholders, agencies, and sponsors.

Quick Facts:

• Smoke alarms have been legally required to be installed on every storey of a residence in Ontario since 2006.
• Residences also include vacation homes, cabins, trailers, RVs, and cottages.
• Landlords must test alarms annually, after the battery is replaced, and after every change in tenancy. Renters must notify their landlord as soon as they become aware that a smoke alarm is not operating.

For more information visit savedbythebeep.ca
For more information on fire prevention, visit bracebridge.ca/fireprevention

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Smoke alarms save lives and give residents the precious time needed to escape a fire. By law, every home in Ontario must have a working smoke alarm on every storey of their home and outside all sleeping areas. If a home contains a fuel-burning appliance such as a furnace, fireplace or cook-top or has an attached garage, a carbon monoxide alarm is also required outside of all sleeping areas. Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms should be tested monthly.

To learn more about fire safety, visit bracebridge.ca/fireprevention.

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New Station 2 Public Consultation Sessions
Location: Station 1, 225 Taylor Road

• Tuesday, July 9 from 4 to 6 p.m.
• Saturday, July 13 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Residents will have the opportunity to review renderings of the new Station 2 building and engage with members of the Bracebridge Fire Department to learn more about the facility. Facility tours will also be available so members of the community can experience a modern fire station and see what the new facility can resemble.

Have your say!
Community members and stakeholders are invited to review the project background information and provide feedback on potential site amenities and functions of the facility. The feedback received will be used to help develop the final design of the station and of future parkland developmenton the property.

Learn more about Bracebridge Fire Department Station 2 and provide your feedback by July 31 at engagebracebridge.ca/station2.

New Station 2 Location
Station 2 will be located at 1002 Uffington Road, a 23-acre site owned by the Town of Bracebridge that will provide:

• Increased safety of the Department’s firefighters by allowing the Department to dispatch more firefighters to certain areas of Bracebridge and provide a stronger effective response force;
• Increase levels of service provided to the south-east area, high-risk occupancies, and the greater Bracebridge area;
• Provide a better water supply for areas of Bracebridge that do not have hydrants;
• Improve the Department’s ability to obtain its Superior Tanker Shuttle Accreditation, which can result in insurance savings to residents;
• Improve the health and safety of firefighters and facility accessibility compliance; and
• A higher staff complement of volunteer firefighters as a result of being located in a more densely populated area.

The design and construction of Station 2 will be included in the 2025 and 2026 Municipal Budget and Business Plans.

To learn more about the Bracebridge Fire Department Station 2 relocation, visit engagebracebridge.ca/station2.

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Firefighters will not be entering homes, but will visit with residents to provide public education regarding smoke and carbon monoxide alarm placement and maintenance and to answer questions.

The Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office reports that most fatal fires occur at night when people are asleep. Often, victims never wake up. Working smoke alarms give residents the precious time needed to escape a fire. By law, every home in Ontario must have a working smoke alarm on every storey and outside all sleeping areas.

If a home contains a fuel-burning appliance such as a furnace, fireplace or cook-top or has an attached garage, a carbon monoxide alarm is also required outside of all sleeping areas.

Mike Peake, Deputy Fire Chief for the Bracebridge Fire Department states, “We know smoke and C.O. alarms save lives. We are spending time this summer checking in with homeowners to ensure that everyone has working alarms in their home and that they know how to check them. Smoke alarms typically have a life of 10 years and C.O. alarms typically have a life of 7 years. We’ll be asking folks to check their alarm expiry dates and assist with any questions they may have.”

Firefighters will be travelling together and will be wearing identifying uniforms. They will be accompanied by Fire Department apparatus.

The Door-to-Door Campaign will run on Monday nights only between 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. until August 29. The Department is hoping to visit over 1000 homes this summer and to continue the program in future years.

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The department typically holds an award ceremony once a year, but because of COVID restrictions, the event on June 15 was the first in the last few years. Peake has been working double duty as fire prevention officer and acting deputy chief for over a year now. He’ll continue filling both roles until the department hires a new fire prevention officer. Though he’s been aware of his promotion for some time now, he said the significance of receiving his new helmet was still unbelievable. 

“It’s something I could have never imagined in my career, and then my 20-year service medal, I knew that was coming but I wasn’t sure when,” Peake said. “It’s a significant achievement within my career as well and something that hopefully my kids will cherish the same way I cherish my grandfather’s service medals from the military.”

Peake first got involved with the fire department 22 years ago as a volunteer firefighter. He worked his way up to driver and pump operator before applying to become a full-time fire prevention officer 12 years into his service.

He’s spent over nine years serving in the role, doing inspections and spreading information about fire safety and prevention at community hubs like schools, day camps and retirement homes. In his new position as deputy fire chief, he’ll focus more on emergency management and assisting the chief in day-to-day operations.

In addition to receiving recognition for his promotion, the awards ceremony meant a lot to Peake because he’s worked alongside the other honourees for his entire career. They’ve seen some firefighters move on to other full-time departments, but many have stuck around, which is crucial since the department has only a few full-time employees and relies on volunteers.

“It’s always good to honour these volunteers and give them the credit that’s due,” Peake said. “A lot of the volunteers are working long hours at their jobs and then they come here on their off time to just give back to the community, so it’s really good to show our appreciation.”

Being a firefighter in Muskoka includes a number of challenges, Peake said. The Bracebridge Fire Department covers a large area and they often have to work in locations without access to hydrants. 

It can take upwards of 30 minutes to get to some scenes and their work involves a diverse set of tasks, but thanks to their training, they’re ready for anything and everything, he said. People often feel that they’re too busy to volunteer, but Peake encourages anyone with an interest in firefighting to apply.

“My recommendation is give it a try,” he said. “If it’s not for you or it’s not something that you have the time for, then we can figure that out as we go, but if you’ve got the drive to be a firefighter, then definitely come and put in an application.” 

After many years in the field, sometimes firefighters feel as though they’ve seen it all, Peake said, but there are still surprises along the way. When he thinks back over the years since he became a volunteer, some memories stand out.

One was an accident on Highway 11 that involved a truck carrying 75 cows where the crews turned from “firefighters into cattle rescue.” Another is the fire at Muskoka Timber Mills in 2019, which was one of the biggest fires Peake has ever attended.

It’s been great to consider the impact he’s had on the community while receiving such an outpouring of congratulations and support, Peake said. He looks forward to making more memories and he’s grateful to do it in Bracebridge.

“I’m just so thankful that I could have my whole career here at the Bracebridge Fire Department,” he said, “and really glad that I can serve this community because this is where I was born and raised.”

Bracebridge Firefighters Recognized With Long Service Awards

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“I am proud to work with this amazing team of individuals everyday who go above and beyond to serve the community,” said Bracebridge Fire Chief Murray Medley. “These long service awards are a testament to the dedication to community safety this exemplary team displays every day.”

Three awards were presented to members in recognition for their years of service and dedication to the field.

• Provincial Fire Services Long Service Medal (25 years): Steve Clarke, Jim Jackson and Bruno Leclerc.
• Federal Fire Services Exemplary Service Medal (20 years): Dan Carty and Mike Peake.
• Town of Bracebridge Departmental Service Awards:
  • Five years: Trevor Arbuckle, Mike Baldwin, Kyle Bartlett, Scott Kinsmen, Jesse Lockie, Chris Tellier;
  • 10 years: Mike Holotuk, Jeremy O’Brien and Andrew Scott;
  • 15 years: Kevin Ellis, Adam Goodale, Brad Jackson, Rose Jackson, Kevin Lambert and Steve Traves;
  • 20 years: Dan Carty, Bruno Leclerc, Frank Mazzuca, Mike Peake and Ron Phillips.

The Provincial Fire Services Long Service Medal is an expression of public appreciation for the dedication and hard work of Ontario firefighters. It is officially recognized by the province and is included in the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997. Both full-time and volunteer firefighters can qualify for the medal.

Approved by the College of Heralds, it is worn on the left breast subordinate to Canadian or British decorations. Besides the medal, recipients are also presented with a citation, which includes their name and signature of the Fire Marshal of Ontario. The long service medal and subsequent service bars are available to those who have achieved a minimum of twenty-five years in suppression, training, public education, inspections, and communications are eligible to receive the medal.

The Federal Fire Services Exemplary Service Medal honours members of a recognized Canadian fire service who have completed 20 years of service, ten years of which have been served in the performance of duties involving potential risks. Exemplary service is characterized by good conduct, industry and efficiency. The Medal is suspended from a ribbon of five equal stripes, two gold and three red. In addition, a bar, bearing a stylized maple leaf, may be awarded to a recipient of the Medal for each additional 10- year period of service.

The Bracebridge Fire Department presents its members with Bracebridge Fire Department challenge coins for years of service with the Department.

“On behalf of the Town of Bracebridge, I wish to extend my gratitude to the dedicated men and women of the Bracebridge Fire Department who work tirelessly to keep our community safe,” said Bracebridge Deputy Mayor Rick Maloney. “Thank you for your commitment to safety. I would also like to acknowledge the families who support them in their service to our community, a heartfelt thank you as well.”

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