Oak Bay Fire Department
    1703 Monterey Avenue, Oak Bay B.C. V8R 5V6 (250) 592-9121
    Email:  obfire@oakbay.ca Fax:  (250) 598-2749

News Release
Date: September 8, 2014
      OBFD file # 2014-36
For Immediate Release:

Weekly Media Release for Monday, September 1, 2014 to Sunday, September 7, 2014.
Over the past week, Oak Bay Fire Department members responded to 20 calls for assistance.
These calls for assistance include:

11 – Medical First Responder Requests
2 – Commercial / Residential Alarm Activations
5 – Public Assistance
1 – Electrical Wires Down
1 – Burning Complaint

Fire Extinguisher Maintenance is important for everyone’s safety!
Inspect Fire Extinguishers at least once a month.
You Must Ensure That:

• The extinguisher is not blocked by equipment, coats or other objects that could interfere with access in an emergency.
• The pressure is at the recommended level. On extinguishers equipped with a gauge the needle should be in the green zone – not too high and not too low.
• The nozzle or other parts are not hindered in any way.
• The pin and tamper seal (if it has one) are intact.
• There are no dents, leaks, rust, chemical deposits and/or other signs of abuse/wear. Wipe off any corrosive chemicals, oil, gunk etc. that may have deposited on the extinguisher.

Some manufacturers recommend shaking your dry chemical extinguishers once a month to prevent powder from settling/packing.

Fire extinguishers should be pressure tested (a process called hydrostatic testing) after a number of years to ensure that the cylinder is safe to use. Consult your owner’s manual, extinguisher label or the manufacturer to see when yours may need such testing.

If the extinguisher is damaged or needs recharging, replace it immediately!