Overview

The Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) issues communiqués to inform and provide updates on fire regulation guidance and fire safety information. Communiqués from the current and previous year are available online. Communiques from 2019 or earlier are listed below and are available upon request.

To get a copy of a communiqué for 2019 or earlier, send an email to AskOFM@ontario.ca or contact your local Fire Protection Adviser.

To get updates on the latest fire safety announcements from the Fire Marshal, subscribe to OFM bulletins or follow the OFM on Twitter @ONFireMarshal.

Published communiqués

Archived communiqués

Communiqués from 2019

Listing of communiqués sent out in 2019
Number Title Date
2019-07 Community Risk Assessments Guideline Fillable Worksheets Now Available September 5, 2019
2019-06 Community Risk Assessments Guidelines July 31, 2019
2019-05 Ontario Regulation 378/18 Community Risk Assessment July 4, 2019
2019-04 Amendments to the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997 May 30, 2019
2019-03 Constable Joe MacDonald Public Safety Officers’ Survivors Scholarship Fund May 7, 2019
2019-02 Ontario Regulation 33/19: Amendments To The Fire Code March 15, 2019
2019-01 2018 Communiqué List March 15, 2019

Communiqués from 2018

Listing of communiqués sent out in 2018.
Number Title Date
2018-08 Options for Achieving Compliance for Sprinkler Installations in Care Occupancies and Retirement Homes December 6, 2018
2018-07 Assistant To The Fire Marshal Identification Cards: Update September 28, 2018
2018-06 Product Recall: Kidde Dual-Sensor (Photoelectric and Ionization) Smoke Alarms April 26, 2018
2018-05 Constable Joe MacDonald Public Safety Officers’ Survivors Scholarship Fund March 29, 2018
2018-04 Ontario Regulation 108/18 March 22, 2018
2018-03 Emergency Power System Maintenance February 2, 2018
2018-02

NFPA 1006, Standard for Technical Rescuer Professional Qualifications

January 12, 2018
2018-01 2017 Communiqué List January 12, 2018

Communiqués from 2017

Listing of communiqués sent out in 2017
Number Title Date
2017-06 Municipal Establishing and Regulating Bylaws October 10, 2017
2017-05 Sprinkler And Fire Protection Installer Trade: Further Clarifications July 25, 2017
2017-04 Constable Joe MacDonald Public Safety Officers’ Survivors Scholarship Fund May 1, 2017
2017-03 Sprinkler and Fire Protection Installer Trade: Clarifications February 8, 2017
2017-02 Sprinkler and Fire Protection Installer Trade February 2, 2017
2017-01 2016 Communiqué List February 2, 2017

Communiqués from 2016

Listing of communiqués sent out in 2016
Number Title Date
2016-18 Product recall: Kidde combination smoke and
Carbon monoxide alarms
November 25, 2016
2016-17 Facilities Housing Vulnerable Occupants: Updated Resources November 18, 2016
2016-16 Escape Room Facilities October 31, 2016
2016-15 Appliances Fueled by Ethanol 

 

October 14, 2016
2016-14 Fire Services Long Service Medal Investiture Ceremonies: Update September 2, 2016
2016-13 Transition To NFPA Professional Qualifications Standards: Next Steps In Regard To Implementation Of OFMEM Grandfathering Policy July 14, 2016
2016-12 Constable Joe MacDonald Public Safety Officers’ Survivors Scholarship Fund May 2, 2016
2016-11 Sauna Fires Susceptible to Backdraft Explosion April 27, 2016
2016-10 Facilities Housing Vulnerable Occupants: Web Portal April 27, 2016
2016-09 New Tool for Fire Service Regarding Renewable Energy Installations in Ontario February 29, 2016
2016-08 Revised Training Program for Fire Alarm Technicians February 9, 2016
2016-07 Farm Fire Safety January 29, 2016
2016-06 Utilization and Review of Integrated Risk Management Web Tool January 27, 2016
2016-05 Provincial Resources For HAZMAT/CBRNE Incident Response and HUSAR

 

January 18, 2016
2016-04 Helping Ontario Municipalities Educate (H.O.M.E.) Fund January 14, 2016
2016-03 Data Collection on Occupational Stress Injuries/Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Programs and Services January 7, 2016
2016-02

Provincial Model for a Local Police/School Board Protocol

January 5, 2016
2016-01 2015 Communiqué List January 5, 2016

Communiqués from 2015

Listing of communiqués sent out in 2015
Number Title Date
2015-12 Assistant to the Fire Marshal Identification Cards: Update October 22, 2015
2015-11 Constable Joe MacDonald Public Safety Officers’ Survivors Scholarship Fund May 12, 2015
2015-10 Municipality/NFPP Community and Fire Department Profile Data Collection May 12, 2015
2015-09 Facilities Housing Vulnerable Occupants: Web Portal May 6, 2015
2015-08 Aerial-Ladder Fire Truck May Pose a Hazard March 27, 2015
2015-07 MSA FireHawk M7XT Air Mask Safety Notice March 24, 2015
2015-06 Duty to Report Child Abuse and/or Neglect March 23, 2015
2015-05 Amendment to Schedule 17.4 of Regulation 950, R.R.O. 1990: Wording to Designate Fire Code Violations March 18, 2015
2015-04 Fire Services Long Service Medal Investiture Ceremonies March 12, 2015
2015-03 Amendments to WSIB Operational Policy 12-04-02 February 20, 2015
2015-02 Assistant to the Fire Marshal Identification Cards February 13, 2015
2015-01 2014 Communiqué List February 13, 2015

Communiqués from 2014

Listing of communiqués sent out in 2014
Number Title Date
2014-22 Updated Order Forms December 23, 2014
2014-21 Ontario Regulation 275/14: Fire Code Amendments to Clarify Requirements for Licensed Child Care Programs in Schools December 22, 2014
2014-20 Ontario Regulation 256/14: Technical Changes to the Fire Code December 11, 2014
2014-19 Review of Public Fire Safety Guidelines October 23, 2014
2014-18 Amendments to Ontario’s Building Code Allowing Mid-Rise Wood Frame Buildings October 22, 2014
2014-17 Ontario Regulation 194/14, Carbon Monoxide Alarms October 16, 2014
2014-16 Kidde Recalls Residential Smoke Alarms and Combination Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Alarms October 2, 2014
2014-15 Update on the Training to Enhance Fire Safety in Occupancies Housing Vulnerable Ontarians: Classroom Courses September 17, 2014
2014-14 Update on IFSAC Accreditation June 24, 2014
2014-13 Facilities Housing Vulnerable Occupants: Webinar on Related Regulations and Fire Marshal’s Directives May 9, 2014
2014-12 Integrated Risk Management Web Tool May 6, 2014
2014-11 Municipality/Community and Fire Department Profile Data Collection May 2, 2014
2014-10 Constable Joe MacDonald Public Safety Officers’ Survivors Scholarship Fund April 30, 2014
2014-09 Registry of Facilities Housing Vulnerable Ontarians April 11, 2014
2014-08 Public Consultation on Proposed Changes to the Fire Code to Clarify Requirements for Licensed Child Care Programs in Schools April 8, 2014
2014-07 Public Consultation on Proposed Fire Code Changes Regarding Carbon Monoxide Alarms and Smoke Alarms March 25, 2014
2014-06 Update on the Implementation of the Training Strategy to Enhance Fire Safety in Occupancies Housing Vulnerable Ontarians March 18, 2014
2014-05 Propane Storage and Handling: Latest Developments February 21, 2014
2014-04 Transition to NFPA Professional Qualifications Standards: Grandfathering Policy January 21, 2014
2014-03 Ontario Regulation 365/13, Mandatory Assessment of Complaints and Requests for Approval January 15, 2014
2014-02 Ontario Regulation 364/13, Mandatory Inspection - Fire Drill in Vulnerable Occupancies January 15, 2014
2014-01 2013 Communiqué List January 15, 2014

Communiqués from 2013

Listing of communiqués sent out in 2013
Number Title Date
2013-18 Staffing Levels in Care Occupancies, Care and Treatment Occupancies and Retirement Homes (TG-01-2013)

 

December 27, 2013
2013-17 Hawkins Gignac Act (Carbon Monoxide Safety), 2013 December 16, 2013
2013-16 Enhancing Fire Safety in Occupancies Housing Vulnerable Ontarians: Compliance Dates for New Fire Code Requirements November 29, 2013
2013-15 Reminder of Hazardous Dishwasher Recall November 20, 2013
2013-14 Training Strategy to Enhance Fire Safety in Occupancies Housing Vulnerable Ontarians November 19, 2013
2013-13 Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management Accepting Feedback on Two Proposed Regulations November 5, 2013
2013-12 Hydrocarbon Refrigerants September 27, 2013
2013-11 Maintenance Trucks May Pose a Fire Hazard June 28, 2013
2013-10 Firefighter Elevator Safety During Labour Dispute June 17, 2013
2013-09 Hazards Associated with the Handling, Use and Storage of Ammonium Nitrate June 6, 2013
2013-08 Relocation of Office of the Fire Marshal Head Office in Spring of 2014 June 5, 2013
2013-07 Aqueous Film-Forming Foams Containing Perfluorooctane Sulfonate Prohibited After May 28, 2013 May 23, 2013
2013-06 Constable Joe MacDonald Public Safety Officers’ Survivors Scholarship Fund May 17, 2013
2013-05 Enhancing Fire Safety in Occupancies Housing Vulnerable Ontarians, Ontario Regulation 150/13 May 10, 2103
2013-04 Transition from Ontario Fire Services Standards to NFPA Professional Qualifications Standards April 12, 2013
2013-03 Termination of the Office of the Fire Marshal’s Plan Review and Approval Program March 11, 2013
2013-02 Public Consultation on the Implementation of Technical Advisory Committee Recommendations to Enhance Fire Safety in Occupancies Housing Seniors, People with Disabilities, and Vulnerable Ontarians January 14, 2013
2013-01 2012 Communiqué List January 14, 2013

Communiqués from 2012

Listing of communiqués sent out in 2012
Number Title Date
2012-04 Use of Farm Buildings for Assembly Occupancy May 1, 2012