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: November 16, 2015                                                         OBFD file # 2015-45

For Immediate Release:

Weekly Media Release for the period of Monday, November 9, 2015 to Sunday, November 15, 2015. Over the past week, Oak Bay Fire Department members responded to 39 calls for assistance.

These calls for assistance included:

 17 – Medical Aid 
  7 – Residential / Commercial Alarm Bells
 11 – Public Assistance
   1 – Motor Vehicle Incident
   1 – Smoke in a Structure
   2 – Odour Smell Unknown

Potential Dangers of Wheat Bags

Oak Bay Fire Fighters responded to a report of smoke in a house with the smoke alarm activated near the 700 block of Transit Road.  Upon arrival fire fighters quickly extinguished a small smoldering fire located on a mattress in one of the bedrooms.

Further investigation into the incident determined that the homeowner had heated a Wheat Bag in the microwave.  The Wheat bags are used as bed warmers placed under sheets and blankets.  The homeowner placed the Wheat bag in his bed for this purpose.  The homeowner then left the bedroom for a period of time and subsequently the radiant heat from the Wheat bag ignited the bedding material.

The Fire Prevention Division warns that Wheat bags are designed to be used for aches and pains, and that’s what they should be used for.  Wheat bags can ignite, and are not designed to replace hot water bottles for warming beds.

Wheat Bag Safety Tips:

• Don’t overheat the wheat bag by placing it in the microwave longer than specified by the manufacturer.
• Don’t leave the wheat bag unsupervised in the microwave.
• Place a glass of water in the microwave when heating the wheat bags – this ensures the bag does not dry out or overheat.
• Don’t let anyone particularly children or the elderly, sleep with a wheat bag.
• Don’t use the wheat bag to warm your bed up, as it may spontaneously ignite.
• Don’t reheat the wheat bag before it has properly cooled.
• A wheat bag should be cooled down on a non-combustible surface before storing.

If you have any further questions please contact the Oak Bay Fire Department’s, Fire Prevention Division 250-592-9121.