Kitchen fire at home attached to Sikh place of worship in Barrie forces event evacuation

A kitchen fire at a home connected to a Sikh place of worship in Barrie brought firefighters to the scene on Sunday, November 8. The fire was knocked down quickly and no one was hurt, but people attending an event at the site had to be evacuated.

What happened

Barrie Fire and Emergency Service crews were called shortly after 4 p.m. to Salem Road, near Essa Road, in south Barrie. Four fire apparatus responded. According to firefighters, the fire started in the kitchen of the home, which adjoins the Sikh community's place of worship.

An event was underway in the attached facility at the time, and attendees were evacuated as a precaution. The Barrie Police Service helped with crowd control outside. There were no injuries, and no damage estimate was available when the original story was published.

Why this matters to Simcoe residents

Temples, churches and community centres are important gathering places for many immigrant communities in the region, including Brazilians and Latin Americans. Busy events with kitchens running at the same time call for extra care. The good news in this case is that the response was fast and everyone got out safely.

Also, as the cold weather and the holiday season arrive, kitchens get used more often. Kitchen fires are among the most common causes of home fires in Ontario, according to fire services.

How to prevent kitchen fires

• Never leave the stove unattended when frying, grilling or boiling. If you need to step away, turn it off.
• Grease fire? Never use water. Turn off the burner and cover the pan with a lid or baking sheet to smother the flames.
• Keep away from the stove tea towels, packaging, curtains and paper towels.
• Watch the kids: turn pot handles inward and keep a one-metre safe zone around the stove.
• Keep a fire extinguisher at home and learn how to use it.

Alarms and escape plans: what the law requires

In Ontario, you must have a working smoke alarm on every storey of the home and outside all sleeping areas. Homes with a fuel-burning appliance (gas furnace, stove or fireplace) or an attached garage also need carbon monoxide alarms near the bedrooms. If you rent, the landlord is responsible for installing and maintaining the alarms, but tenants must report any that stop working and must not disable them.

Test your alarms once a month and agree on an escape plan with your family: two ways out of each room when possible and a meeting place outside. If there is a fire, get out first and call 911 once you are outside. You can ask for help in another language; say the name of the language in English (for example, "Portuguese" or "Spanish") and wait for the interpreter.

If you attend events at temples and churches

When you arrive at a crowded venue, note where the emergency exits are. If the alarm sounds, leave calmly, do not go back for coats or belongings, and follow the instructions of organizers and firefighters. Keep children close.

Source: Barrie 360, "Fire at Sikh place of worship in Barrie".