As hot and dry conditions persist, Haldimand County Fire Department is issuing a burn ban for all of Haldimand County effective immediately. This includes recreational and non-recreational fires.

Until further notice, all open air fires and the use of any family fireworks is prohibited anywhere in Haldimand County. Burn permits are also suspended until further notice.

The only exception to the ban is cooking fires contained in an approved natural gas / propane barbeque and non-recreational cooking campfires in campgrounds that have an approved fire safety plan.

Burn permit applications submitted during the burn ban will be processed only once the ban has been lifted.

Fires conducted during a ban may be subject to subject to fines, provincial prosecution and recovery of costs required to respond to and extinguish the fire.

During a fire ban you should call 911 immediately if you discover an open air fire.

For more information on fire safety in Haldimand County, visit the Fire Department website.

Haldimand County encourages residents to prepare for planned Hydro One outage in Caledonia area

HALDIMAND COUNTY, ON – On Saturday, June 3, 2023, Hydro One will be replacing critical equipment at its Caledonia Transmission Station that require power to be shut off in the Caledonia area from 10 p.m. to approximately 6 a.m. on June 4.

Residents in the Caledonia area are encouraged to check Hydro One’s planned outage map to confirm whether they will be affected.

Residents affected by the outage are reminded of the following:

• Make sure your appliances, such as the stove, are in the off position.
• Make sure your cell phones and extended battery packs are fully charged.
• Keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. Use a cooler with ice for items you’ll need during the planned outage.
• If you plan to use a generator, remember to use it in a dry area outdoors away from any open windows, doors and vents.
• Use flashlights or battery-operated lanterns instead of candles. If using candles, place them in a secure holder and cover them with a glass chimney, away from children and pets.
• Make sure your home has battery-operated smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms. Ensure alarms have been tested and are working.
• Municipal water service will not be affected. For those with private water treatment systems, check on the treatment equipment once power is restored to make sure it is operational before using the water.
• Have non-perishable foods on hand that do not require cooking (e.g. snack bars, trail mix, fruit).
• Treat intersections with non-functioning stoplights as four-way stops.
• Have your 72 hour emergency kit handy.

Residents within the planned outage area are also encouraged to sign up for status notifications on the Hydro One website and check the outage map for updates on restoration time.

For more information on what to do before, during and after a power outage, visit the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit’s website.

Haldimand County’s pedestrian crossover installation program continues to roll out across the community. Crossovers in Cayuga, Jarvis, Hagersville, Byng and Dunnville will be installed over the next month in addition to the two crossovers already in place in Dunnville and Caledonia.

Haldimand County’s first pedestrian crossover was installed in 2020 on Main St. in Dunnville between Bridge St. & Queen St. Since then, staff have worked to establish costing, location criteria and potential additional locations in consultation with members of Council.

Current crossover locations include:

Dunnville – Main St. between Bridge St. & Queen St. (September 2020)
Caledonia – Argyle St. N at Sutherland St. (September 2022)

Locations for soon-to-be installed crossovers include:

Cayuga – Talbot St. (Hwy 3) @ Thorburn St.
Jarvis – Talbot St. (Hwy 3) @ Saunders Dr.
Hagersville – Main St. (Hwy 6) @ Marathon St.
Byng – Rainham Rd. (Rd. 3) @ Port Maitland Rd. (Rd. 11)
Dunnville – George St. (Hwy 3) @ Lock St.

A pedestrian crossover differs from a pedestrian crosswalk. Crosswalks are most often located at an intersection with traffic signals, pedestrian signals or stop signs, whereas crossovers are a designated pedestrian crossing in the roadway, usually not at an intersection.

By law, drivers and cyclists must stop and yield to pedestrians wanting to cross the road and wait for them to completely reach the other side before driving through the crossover.

All crossovers throughout the county will feature signage stating ‘Stop for Pedestrians’ along with yellow flashing lights that are activated at the push of a button (by a pedestrian wanting to cross). The crossover is identified on the roadway by ladder-style pavement markings and triangle yield lines (‘sharks teeth’) on each approach, indicating where drivers and cyclists need to stop.

It is the responsibility of both drivers and pedestrians to understand and follow the rules of the road.

Drivers

• Pay attention to what’s around you and be prepared to stop for pedestrians waiting to cross the road.
• Stop behind the marked yield line. You don’t need to stop if there is no-one waiting to cross.
• Make eye contact with pedestrians to make sure they see you.
• Allow the pedestrian to cross the entire width of the road before driving through the crossover
• You may drive with caution once the road is clear, even if the lights are still flashing. Make sure you have looked to see that no-one else is wanting to cross the road.

Pedestrians

• Use caution.
• Make sure the driver or cyclist has enough time to stop before you begin to cross.
• Stand close to the curb. If the crossover has button-activated lights, press it to activate the flashing lights.
• Hold your hand out in front of you indicating you are waiting to cross the road, making sure drivers can see you before you begin cross.
• Look both ways and look for traffic to stop.
• Make eye contact to make sure the driver or cyclist sees you before you step onto the road.
• Cross when traffic has come to complete stop and you feel it’s safe.

Cyclists

• When crossing, dismount, follow the rules for pedestrians and walk with your bike.
• When riding with traffic, follow rules for drivers.

For more information on pedestrian crossovers, visit www.HaldimandCounty.ca/pedestrian-crossovers.

Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week runs from November 1-7, and Haldimand County Fire Department is reminding residents of steps they can take to keep their families safe and prevent a carbon monoxide-related tragedy.

“In Ontario, more than 65% of injuries and deaths from CO occur in the home,” said Haldimand County Fire Chief Jason Gallagher. “We want to make sure everyone is safe from CO, and one of the actions you can take is getting fuel-burning appliances inspected annually by a registered contractor.”

Every household should having a working CO alarm adjacent to each sleeping area of the home if the home has a fuel-burning appliance or an attached garage. For added protection, install a carbon monoxide alarm on every storey of the home according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

What is CO?

• CO is known as the silent killer because it is an invisible, tasteless and odourless gas that can be deadly.
• CO is produced when fuels such as propane, gasoline, natural gas, heating oil or wood do not burn completely in fuel-burning appliances and devices such as furnaces, gas or wood fireplaces, hot water heaters, stoves, barbeques, portable fuel-burning heaters and generators and vehicles.

How to prevent CO in your home:

• Ensure fuel-burning appliances, chimneys and vents are cleaned and inspected annually. Visit COSafety.ca to find a registered contractor near you.
• Check that all outside appliance vents are not blocked.
• Gas and charcoal barbeques should only be used outside, away from all doors, windows, vents, and other building openings. Never use barbeques inside garages, even if the garage doors are open.
• Portable fuel-burning generators should only be used outdoors in well-ventilated areas away from windows, doors, vents and other building openings.
• Ensure all portable fuel-burning heaters are vented properly, according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Never use the stove or oven to heat your home.
• Open the flue before using a fireplace for adequate ventilation.
• Never run a vehicle or other fueled engine or motor inside a garage, even if the garage doors are open. Always remove a vehicle from the garage immediately after starting it.

Know the symptoms of CO:

• Exposure to CO can cause flu-like symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and dizziness, as well as confusion, drowsiness, loss of consciousness and death.
• If your CO alarm sounds, and you or other occupants suffer from symptoms of CO poisoning, get everyone out of the home immediately. Then call 9-1-1 from outside the building.
• If your CO alarm sounds and no one is suffering from symptoms of CO poisoning, check to see if the battery needs replacing, or if the alarm has reached its “end-of-life” before calling 9-1-1.

Know the sound of your CO alarm:

• Your CO alarm sounds different than your smoke alarm. Test both alarms monthly and make sure everyone in your home knows the difference between the two alarm sounds.
• Don’t be confused by the sound of your CO alarm’s low-battery warning. Follow your CO alarm manufacturer’s instructions so you know the difference between the low-battery warning, the “end-of-life” warning, and the alarm alerting you to the presence of CO in your home.

For more CO safety tips, visit the Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management’s website and COsafety.ca.

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Fire Prevention Week (October 9-15, 2022), Wilson MacDonald Memorial School Museum in Selkirk is featuring a special exhibit showcasing the history of firefighting in Haldimand.

The exhibit features vintage equipment, firefighting gear, photographs and trucks, and provides an opportunity for all ages to learn how firefighters connect with their communities to promote public safety.

Free fire hats and colouring books will be provided to all children as they learn about the ‘Heritage of Fire’ and all things fire-related. It will be open during Wilson MacDonald Memorial School Museum’s regular hours – Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. until October 28.

Admission is free but donations will be kindly received. Calling the museum ahead at 905-776-3319 to book a tour is recommended.

In addition to this exhibit, there are many ways households can learn about the role of firefighters and steps that can be taken to keep family members safe in the event of a fire.

This year’s Fire Prevention Week theme is ‘Fire won’t wait. Plan your escape,’ and Manager of Emergency Services/Fire Chief Jason Gallagher is encouraging every household in the county to plan and practice a home fire escape.

“Everyone in your household needs to be prepared in advance so they know what to do when the smoke alarm sounds. Given that every home is different, every home fire escape plan will also be different,” said Gallagher.

“Have a plan for everyone in the home. Children, older adults, people with disabilities and pets may need assistance to wake up and get out. Make sure that someone is assigned to help them,” Gallagher added.

Shortly after Fire Prevention Week concludes, Haldimand County Fire Department will begin recruiting new volunteer firefighters for 2023. Two public information nights will be held at Fire Station No. 4 in Cayuga (11 Thorburn St. S) for individuals who wish to learn more about what it’s like to be a volunteer firefighter, as well as the recruitment process. These sessions will be held at 6 p.m. on both October 18 and November 15, 2022.

For more information about fire prevention and fire services in Haldimand County, visit www.haldimandcounty.ca/fire-services.

For information regarding the ‘Heritage on Fire’ exhibit or other cultural programming at Haldimand Museums, contact museums@haldimandcounty.on.ca.