The City of Burlington Fire Department offers a wide range of public safety programs and services to support our community. In addition to emergency response, we also provide fire prevention services, such as:
- Public education programs
- Safety enforcement
- Safety inspections
Fire and safety services
We offer several services to support fire prevention and emergency preparedness.
Fire prevention inspection and enforcement |
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Our fire prevention division:
We conduct inspections on a complaint or request basis. |
Public education |
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Fire prevention through public education is one of our priorities. We provide fire prevention and life safety education programs based on identified community risk. To see the programs we offer, please see our programs section below. For general inquiries about public fire safety education, please email us at firedepartment@burlington.ca. |
Emergency response |
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The Burlington Fire Department is made up of career and volunteer firefighters who are trained to respond to a wide range of emergencies including:
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Communications (dispatch) |
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Our communications division handles between 20,000 to 25,000 emergency calls a year. Public safety telecommunicators (dispatchers) are usually the first point of contact during emergency or non-emergency calls for fire service requests for assistance. Our communications division answers phone calls and dispatches emergency services for the:
We use a public location tool called what3words to help 9-1-1 telecommunicators locate anyone who needs assistance and cannot provide an exact location, such as:
What3words is a free application that can be used by anyone with a mobile device. It works offline when there is unreliable or no data connection. Check out what3words for more information and to download the app. |
Emergency preparedness |
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See our emergency plan and preparedness tips to learn more about how you can help prepare yourself and your family in case of an emergency. |
Open-air burning permits |
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If you live within a designated open-air burning area, you need to have an Open-Air Burning Permit before burning. You can submit a request for a free Open-Air Burning Permit or contact us at 905-637-9536 to request one. |
Fire and safety programs
We offer a variety of fire prevention and safety education programs.
Alarm assistance program (AAP) |
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The Alarm Assistance Program (AAP) is a free in-home program offered to residents over the age of 65 and anyone with a disability or limited mobility who need help maintaining smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms. If you have any concerns about your alarms please email us at firedepartment@burlington.ca. |
School curriculum support |
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We offer customized presentations, fire station visits and educational support to enhance curriculum-based learning, including:
To request a presentation or learn more about what we offer, email us at firedepartment@burlington.ca. |
The arson prevention program for children (TAPP-C) |
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The arson prevention program for children (TAPP-C) was created by the Office of the Fire Marshal of Ontario and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. This program targets children and youth at risk of setting fires and makes education and counseling resources available to them. TAPP-C is delivered locally through partnerships with the:
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Apartment fire safety community outreach program |
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This program educates apartment and condo residents on how to prevent the most common causes of building fires (unattended cooking and careless smoking) and the importance of personal escape planning. If you are a building owner, property manager or tenant and would like to learn more about this program or request an educational visit for your building, please email us at firedepartment@burlington.ca. |
After the fire program |
| After the Fire is a neighbourhood-level outreach program that has fire department staff visiting community residents in areas that have recently experienced a fire. This brings fire and life safety education to the doorstep of residents and focuses on preventing similar incidents from happening again. |
Station tours |
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Groups can book a Fire Station Tour to learn about firefighting and fire prevention. Tours are a great opportunity for groups of up to 25 participants. Tours must be booked at least two weeks in advance. There is no cost but all participants must be five years or older. |
Fire truck visits |
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Our fire truck visits can offer important fire and public safety education in a fun and exciting way. Our firefighters are happy to share their knowledge and expertise with your group and give participants an up-close look at our firefighting equipment and vehicles. |
Burlington fire tanker shuttle accreditation |
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We have received Superior Tanker Shuttle Accreditation. Many insurance companies recognize this accreditation, and you may qualify for reduced insurance premiums. Residents who live in rural areas of Burlington can download our Superior Tanker Shuttle Accreditation certificate to send to your insurance company when negotiating home insurance rates. Superior Tanker Shuttle Accreditation assures that adequate water can be brought to a fire from an alternate water supply besides a fire hydrant on a Municipal Water System. As part of the testing, tankers from Milton, Hamilton and Burlington transported water in a continuous loop from Harrison Crescent to the test site at Appleby Line and No. 1 Side Rd. Halton Regional Police Service provided traffic control for both sites. |
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Electronic Waste Drop Off |
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The Burlington Fire Department has teamed up with Recycle My Electronics to recycle end-of-life electronics, keeping harmful materials out of landfills. Acceptable items can be dropped off between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., seven days a week to:
The proceeds generated by the Recycle My Electronics program will be used to support the Burlington Fire Department's Vehicle Rescue Team. |
| Burlington's Vehicle Rescue Team |
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The Burlington Vehicle Rescue Team is a volunteer-based team of Burlington firefighters that specialize in lifesaving vehicle rescue techniques. The team participates in provincial and international skills competitions and learning symposiums to bring back expertise and the latest knowledge in vehicle rescue methods and equipment. |