Identify possible hazards in your home

Anything in your house that can move, fall, break, or cause a fire during an emergency is a home hazard.

At least once each year, inspect your home to find these possible hazards, and remove or fix them.

You should:

  • Check for electrical hazards, such as frayed extension cords or exposed wiring
  • Check for dangerous chemicals stored indoors, near heat sources, or on high shelves where they could fall over
  • Check for fire hazards, such as rags stored near electrical equipment, or portable heaters placed near furniture
  • Install at least one smoke alarm on each level of your home
  • Keep at least one “A-B-C type” fire extinguisher, and check expiry dates
  • Secure your water heater, large appliances, bookcases, other tall or heavy furniture, shelves, mirrors, and pictures to wall studs
  • Add a flexible gas supply line to your water heater
  • Place large or heavy objects on lower shelves
  • Learn the location of your main electric fuse or circuit breaker box, water service shut-off, and natural gas main shut-off
  • Contact your local utility companies for instructions on how to turn the utilities off, then teach your family how and when to turn them off

Learn more about finding hazards in your home

Get our home hazard hunt worksheet (243.46 KB)

Learn how to find potential dangers and hazards throughout your home.

Free emergency preparedness workshops

Prepare for, respond to, and recover from earthquakes, severe weather, heat waves, and other disasters in our free workshops.

Contact the Vancouver Emergency Management Agency

emergency.management@vancouver.ca