Consumer Alerts
1. Public Safety Fund-Raisers: Firefighter Solicitations
On occasion, Vancouver Firefighters will carry out special fund-raising events and activities which are fully endorsed by Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services. An example was the "boot drive" which was held to benefit the families of the firefighters who lost their lives in New York City. During these officially endorsed events, Firefighters are in official uniform, carry identification, and the event is well publicized. In addition, please be aware that Vancouver Fire and Rescue never solicits over the telephone.
You may be solicited (perhaps over the telephone) from time to time to contribute to fire service organizations. Because firefighters risk their lives for the safety of your community, you may feel it is appropriate to show your support with a donation. You may even feel you are contributing to local public safety. Sometimes, however, these organizations are not charitable; instead they may be professional fundraisers or other groups that will not use your donation for charitable purposes. What's more, having the word "firefighter" in the organization's name doesn't necessarily mean that local firefighters even belong to the group. In many cases, professional fund-raisers only provide ten to twenty cents out of every dollar donated to the named charity.
As is the case when contributing to any charity or organization, asking questions is the best way to make sure your donation supports activities that are important to you. Find out how your money will be used and distributed, and ask for written information, including the organization's name, address, telephone number and other financial information (including what percentage of the funds will be distributed to the charity). Once you are assured that your money will be used in ways you consider appropriate, you can be confident in making your contribution. Also, be sure to ask for official identification. If someone approaches you for a donation, and they are not in an official Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services uniform, you can confidently assume that the fund-raising activity has not been endorsed by Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services.
Special Events Fund-Raisers
Sometimes professional fund-raisers produce traveling circuses or variety shows as special fund-raising events. Tickets are usually sold over the phone or in person. If you express no interest in attending, the solicitor will often suggest you purchase tickets for handicapped or underprivileged children. In some cases, however, the number of children "eligible" to receive free tickets is limited and transportation is not provided. If you are considering purchasing tickets for this purpose, ask the following questions:
- How many children will benefit, and how are they selected?
- How many tickets have to be sold?
- How will the tickets be distributed?
- Is transportation for the children included?
Keep in mind that the public safety group you want to support may only receive a small portion of the total money raised once the promoter recoups costs associated with producing the event.
If you decide to purchase tickets, write a check payable to the nonprofit organization, not the person collecting the money or the company running the event. If you receive unsolicited tickets in the mail, you are in no way obligated to pay for them or return them to the promoter.
If you have a question about the legitimacy of any fund-raising activity which uses the Fire Service as part of it's promotion, please don't hesitate to call the Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services Community Services Division at 604-665-6086.
2. Fire Sprinkler Systems
The Vancouver Fire Service reminds anyone owning a home or building with fire sprinklers installed since 1983 to check their system for Omega type sprinkler heads. The Central Sprinkler Company, an American Manufacturer, has announced a recall of its omega style sprinkler head.
For more information contact a licensed sprinkler contractor.
3. Smoke Alarms Save Lives
More than half of all fatal residential fires occur at night when you sleep. Smoke alarms give you early warning if fire breaks out, they give you time to get out safely.
Ionization and photo-electric alarms are both proven effective and have saved many lives. Install smoke alarms on every level of your home making sure you can hear them in your room.
Test your smoke alarm monthly and be sure and change your battery when you change your clock on the last Saturday in October.
4. Clothes Dryer Appliance & Venting Maintenance
A dryer and the attached vent system requires regular cleaning and maintenance, just like your furnace or other fuel burning equipment. Lack of regular cleaning and maintenance of dryers and their attached venting systems, has been identified as causing fires.
Although lack of service can result in a fire hazard, improper dryer venting also poses a carbon monoxide risk on gas supplied dryers. The dryer vent system removes in addition to moisture, the gas by-products from your appliance to the outdoors.
When a dryer/venting system is clogged with lint, air flow is restricted, your dryer then has to work harder which leads to overheating. As the dryer ducts remove lint and moisture from clothes, not all of the lint is captured by the screen or makes it to the outdoors; this builds up on the sides of the vent system and eventually dries to a hard material. This material attracts more lint, where it eventually creates a restriction that leads to overheating, potentially resulting in a fire.
It is recommended that dryers and all fuel burning appliances are maintained or serviced on a minimum of an annual basis, or as per the Certified Appliance instructions by a Licensed, Qualified Gas Contractor. To find a local contractor in your area please visit our website at: www.safetyauthority.ca 
For further information:
Wayne Lock
Provincial Gas Safety Manager
E-mail: Wayne.Lock@safetyauthority.ca
SAFETY AUTHORITY
505 SIXTH STREET, SUITE 200, NEW WESTMINSTER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA V3L 0E1
Toll Free: 1-866-566-SAFE (7233)
Fax: 778-396-2064
Web Site: www.safetyauthority.ca
E-mail: info@safetyauthority.ca