Fall/Winter Heating System Safety

As the temperature goes from warm to cool, your fire department receives requests for information about heating systems.

The number one tip is this: Working smoke alarms save lives and are inexpensive to replace. Replace your batteries or replace your smoke alarm if it is over 10 years old.

Smoke Alarms

Here are some more tips to help you heat your space safely.

- Make sure that any space heaters are surrounded by at least three feet of empty space to avoid fires.
- Do not place clothing or any other objects on a space heater to dry.
- Never place space heaters near furniture or drapery.
- Turn space heaters off or purchase one with a built-in timer when you leave the house or go to bed.
- Do not store any combustible items near heaters.
- Have your chimney inspected each year to make sure that it is safe.
- Repair any cracks in fireplaces.
- Have a chimney sweep clean out your chimney every fall.
- Use fireplace screens to keep sparks and fire debris inside the fireplace.
- Never leave a fire unattended.
- Be sure that combustible materials are not stored within three feet of your fireplace.
- For natural gas fireplaces, have all connections and lines inspected before use each season.
To improve air quality and public health, Metro Vancouver residents, including those living in West Vancouver, who intend to use wood-burning stoves, fireplaces, or appliances after September 15, 2022, must provide a declaration and register their appliances before burning this fall and winter.

Residents can make their declaration, confirm if they are within the urban area, and register their eligible wood-burning appliances online at metrovancouver.org or via a mail-in form.

Examples of eligible wood-burning appliances include:
- Appliances that are certified under Canadian or U.S. emissions standards
- Appliances that are operated exclusively with manufactured fire logs
- Appliances that are the sole source of home heating
Residents can exchange their old stoves through Metro Vancouver's Wood Stove Exchange Program, which offers incentives of up to $750 to replace old wood-burning appliances with cleaner burning models or electric heat pumps.

From May 15 to September 15, residential indoor wood-burning appliances cannot be used, unless the location is off-grid, it is the only source of heat, or in the event of an emergency.

Metro Vancouver is responsible for bylaw enforcement and is initially focusing on education about the new rules and how to comply.

You can report any concerns about emissions from residential wood smoke to Metro Vancouver by calling the complaint line at 604-436-6777 or using an online web form. Learn more on Metro Vancouver's website.