Leave promptly
Stop what you are doing and begin evacuating. Do not wait to see whether the alarm stops.
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Strata Fire Safety
Everyone who lives in the building helps keep it safe.
Practical guidance for strata owners, landlords, tenants and residents about alarms, evacuation, smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms, clear exits, fire doors, storage, batteries and reporting unsafe conditions.
Shared responsibility
Building systems work best when residents support them.
Fire alarms, sprinklers, fire doors and protected exits are designed to work together. Residents contribute by following emergency procedures, maintaining safety equipment assigned to their unit and promptly reporting anything damaged, blocked or unsafe. Never disable or interfere with equipment intended to protect the building.
Activated building fire alarm
Leave immediately and treat every alarm as real.
Richmond Fire-Rescue responds to activated building fire alarms whether or not smoke or flames are visible.
Use the stairs
Follow the building’s emergency procedures and do not use an elevator during a fire emergency.
Close doors
Close doors behind you when possible to help limit the movement of fire and smoke.
Call 9-1-1
Call from a safe location outside. Do not assume another person has already reported the alarm.
Stay outside
Go to the designated meeting area and do not re-enter until emergency personnel say it is safe.
Different roles
Owner, landlord and resident responsibilities
Specific obligations depend on the building, strata arrangements, tenancy agreement and equipment involved. These practical duties help keep responsibilities from becoming unclear.
01
Strata unit owners
Owners should understand which safety equipment and conditions belong to the strata corporation and which belong to the strata lot owner.
- Follow strata fire-safety bylaws and procedures
- Maintain owner-responsibility equipment
- Obtain approval before alterations
- Report common-property hazards promptly
- Provide tenants with building safety information
- Keep contact information current
02
Landlords
A landlord should ensure tenants receive current information and know who to contact when equipment is missing, damaged or not functioning.
- Explain building alarm and evacuation procedures
- Identify available exits and meeting locations
- Clarify smoke- and CO-alarm responsibilities
- Respond promptly to reported safety concerns
- Share relevant notices from strata management
- Update information when tenants change
03
Tenants and residents
Residents protect themselves and neighbours through safe everyday behaviour and by responding properly when an alarm or emergency occurs.
- Evacuate when the building alarm sounds
- Keep exits, hallways and doors clear
- Test alarms assigned to the unit
- Never disable alarms or safety equipment
- Report damage, hazards and blocked access
- Use cooking, heating and charging equipment safely
Everyday prevention
Small habits protect the entire building
Conditions inside one unit or common area can affect many other residents in a shared building.
Keep exits clear
Corridors, stairways and exit doors are part of the building’s emergency escape system.
- Do not store items in hallways or stairs
- Keep exit doors unobstructed
- Report improper locks or damaged hardware
- Do not leave bicycles or scooters in escape routes
Protect fire doors
Fire doors are intended to close and limit the movement of smoke and fire.
- Do not wedge doors open
- Do not remove closing devices
- Report doors that fail to latch
- Keep the doorway clear
Cook carefully
Stay close when using the stove, oven or another heat-producing cooking appliance.
- Do not leave cooking unattended
- Keep combustible items away from heat
- Use timers as reminders
- Avoid cooking when impaired or extremely tired
Use electricity safely
Damaged cords, overloaded power bars and unapproved equipment can create heat and ignition hazards.
- Replace damaged cords and plugs
- Do not overload outlets
- Use certified electrical products
- Have electrical work completed properly
Control storage
Excessive or poorly located storage can increase fire growth and interfere with evacuation or emergency response.
- Keep service rooms clear
- Follow parkade and locker rules
- Keep materials away from heating equipment
- Dispose of waste regularly
Report problems early
Do not assume another resident or building representative has already reported the condition.
- Damaged alarms or sprinklers
- Blocked exits or fire lanes
- Fire doors that do not close
- Unusual burning smells or repeated electrical issues
Working alarms provide early warning.
Owners, landlords and occupants should clearly understand who is responsible for testing, batteries, replacement and reporting problems with alarms inside the unit.
Smoke and carbon-monoxide alarm checklist
- Test smoke alarms at least once each month
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions
- Replace low batteries promptly where applicable
- Never remove a battery to silence an alarm
- Check the manufacture or replacement date
- Replace damaged, expired or unreliable alarms
- Report missing or non-working alarms promptly
- Use appropriate accessible alerting equipment where needed
Lithium-ion batteries
Charge batteries safely and protect your way out.
Phones, laptops, power tools, e-bikes and e-scooters commonly use lithium-ion batteries. Use compatible equipment, inspect batteries for damage and never charge or store larger battery-powered devices in a hallway, stairway or beside an exit door.
- Use the correct battery and charger
- Charge on a hard, clear surface
- Keep equipment uncovered while charging
- Stay nearby and watch for warning signs
- Stop using damaged or swollen batteries
- Keep batteries out of household garbage
Owners and landlords
Provide safety information before the keys change hands
New tenants should not have to discover the building’s emergency procedures during their first alarm.
Information to provide
- What the building fire alarm sounds like
- The nearest available exits
- The outside meeting location
- Building evacuation procedures
- Property-management contact information
- How to report a fire-safety concern
Conditions to confirm
- Required alarms are installed and working
- Exit routes from the unit are understood
- Fire doors and equipment are not obstructed
- Tenant and emergency contacts are current
- Applicable strata rules have been provided
- Safety responsibilities are clearly explained
See something unsafe?
Report the concern to the right place
Use emergency services for immediate danger. Building and non-emergency concerns should normally begin with the party responsible for the property.
Call 9-1-1
Call for fire, smoke, a sounding carbon-monoxide alarm, an active electrical hazard or another immediate threat to health, safety or property.
Contact the responsible party
Notify the owner, landlord, property manager or strata council about blocked exits, damaged equipment, unsafe storage or another property condition.
Contact Richmond Fire-Rescue
Use the inspection and hazard-reporting process when a potential fire or life-safety concern remains unresolved or requires Fire-Rescue review.
More safety information
Richmond Fire-Rescue resources
Find detailed guidance about home safety, emergency response, batteries and common fire-safety questions.
01
Home Safety
Review cooking, electrical and other practical home fire-safety information.
Explore home safety →
02
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers about smoke alarms, inspections, emergencies and Richmond Fire-Rescue services.
Search the FAQs →
03
When to Call 9-1-1
Understand when emergency action is required and when another contact is more appropriate.
Review 9-1-1 guidance →
04
Lithium-Ion Battery Safety
Learn how to purchase, charge, store and recycle rechargeable batteries safely.
Review battery safety →
Next: strata questions, services and resources.
The final page in this series will collect common strata fire-safety questions and provide direct access to Richmond Fire-Rescue programs, forms, codes and contact options.
This page provides general fire-safety guidance. Responsibilities may vary according to the building, strata bylaws, tenancy arrangements, installed equipment, the Fire Safety Plan and applicable legislation. Call 9-1-1 for an active fire or immediate danger.