COQUITLAM, B.C., November 26, 2025 – With winter holidays approaching and colder, longer evenings, Coquitlam Fire/Rescue is sharing safety tips and reminders to help protect your home and family.
- Lights and electrical safety
Use only CSA-approved light sets and do not overload circuits. Inspect lights before use and discard any that are frayed or damaged. When installing outdoor lights, use proper clips instead of staples, and remember to turn lights off before leaving home or going to bed. - Heating appliances
Ensure furnaces, gas fireplaces, chimneys, and space heaters are in good working condition. Keep portable heaters at least one metre away from flammable materials. - Candles
Choose battery-operated flameless candles as a safer alternative. If you use open-flame candles, never leave them unattended. - Cooking safety
Cooking fires are the leading cause of home fires and injuries. Stay in the kitchen and pay attention while cooking — never leave it unattended. - Carbon monoxide
Install a carbon monoxide alarm in a central location, following manufacturer's instructions. Often called the silent killer, carbon monoxide is an invisible, odourless, colourless gas created when fuels burn incompletely. A buildup in your home can cause serious illness or be fatal. - Smoke alarms
Install working smoke alarms on every level of your home and ensure that all family members recognize its sound. Smoke alarms save lives — and they make great gifts! - Christmas trees
With fresh-cut trees, choose one with needles that are firmly attached. Make a fresh cut off the bottom, place the trunk in water, refill the water daily and keep the tree at least one metre away from heat sources. If your tree is artificial, be sure that it is fire retardant. - Emergency escape plan
Ensure your family has an emergency escape plan with clear routes to get out of your house. Review the plan together and practice at least two ways out of every room, if possible.
For more information, visit coquitlam.ca/SeasonalSafety.
Media contact:
Scott Young
Coquitlam Fire Chief
FireRescue@coquitlam.ca
604-927-6400
We acknowledge with gratitude and respect that the name Coquitlam was derived from the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ (HUN-kuh-MEE-num) word kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (kwee-KWET-lum) meaning “Red Fish Up the River”. The City is honoured to be located on the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm traditional and ancestral lands, including those parts that were historically shared with the q̓ic̓əy̓ (kat-zee), and other Coast Salish Peoples.