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Fire Prevention Week:

The Brantford Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®), the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week for more than 100 years, to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, Charge into Fire Safety: Safe Charging Is a Superpower!^TM from October 4 to 10, 2026. The campaign focuses on the simple steps people can take to recharge their devices safely.

The Brantford Fire Department encourages all residents to embrace the 2026 Fire Prevention Week theme and offers these key safety tips and guidelines:

• Use the cord and charger that came with your device or one approved by the manufacturer. Using the wrong charger can damage the battery and increase the risk of fire.
• Charge devices on a table, desk, or other hard, flat surface. Do not charge them on beds, couches, or under pillows. Devices and chargers produce heat during normal charging. Soft surfaces can trap heat and block airflow, which can cause the battery to overheat.
• Stop using your device if it feels very hot, starts to swell, is smoking, or has a strange smell. These are warning signs that the battery may be damaged or failing.
• Unplug your device when it is fully charged. Do not leave it plugged in longer than needed. Leaving a device plugged in too long can increase heat and stress on the battery.
• Charge larger items like e-bikes, scooters, and power tools outside and away from exits.  These batteries are larger and store more energy. If they fail, fires can grow quickly and spread.
• When on a plane, keep your device where you can see it while charging. Do not charge devices in overhead compartments. Do not charge e-cigarettes or vapes on a plane. If a battery overheats or fails, it is important for the flight crew to respond quickly.

Follow Brantford Fire on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter for up to date information on Fire Prevention Week programs and activities in Brantford or visit www.fpw.org to learn more about lithium-ion battery safety.

Fire Prevention Week PSA Reel Contest

Students aged 13 to 18 who live in or attend public, private, virtual or home school in the City of Brantford are invited to create a 15 to 30 second public service announcement (PSA) reel that helps promote the 2026 Fire Prevention Week theme of Safe Charging Is a Superpower. Entrants under 18 require parent/legal guardian consent. Students are encouraged to include at least one accurate fire or safety message about charging lithium-ion powered devices. Examples include:

• Battery safety starts before you plug in. Buy products listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, such as UL, ETL, or CSA.
• Cheap charger? Don’t chance it. Use the cord and charger that came with your lithium-ion powered device or one approved by the manufacturer
• Soft surfaces? Hard pass. Charge lithium-ion devices on a hard, flat surface, like a table, desk, counter, or bare floor
• Feels hot? Stop using it. Stop using your device if it feels very hot, start to swell, smell strange, leak, smoke, or make popping or hissing sounds
• Fully charged? Time to unplug. Unplug lithium-ion devices when fully charged
• For tools and rides, charge outside. Items like e-bikes, scooters, and power tools outside when possible. Do not block exits when charging.

Brantford Fire will select the top three videos who will receive the following prizes for helping to spread fire safety messaging:

First place: JBL Tune 770 wireless headphones donated by FM Audio Video
Second place: Bose Soundlink Flex SE Portable Speaker
Third place: $50.00 in Dairee Delite gift cards donated by Dairee Delite

Enter the Fire Prevention Week PSA Reel Contest.

Fire Prevention Week 2026 Activities

The Brantford Fire Department is hosting a series of events in support of this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, Charge into Fire Safety: Safe Charging Is a Superpower!^TM, including a number of displays with educational information, giveaways, and a chance to see a fire truck on the following dates:

• Sunday, October 04 at Costco, located at 175 Roy Blvd, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Monday, October 05 at Elements Casino, located at 40 Icomm Dr, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Tuesday, October 06 at Brantford Public Library, located at 173 Colborne St., from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Tuesday, October 06 at Blessings Centre, located at 7 Burnley Ave, from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Wednesday, October 07 at Brantford Public Library St. Paul Brench, located at 441 St Paul Ave, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Wednesday, October 07 at Sobeys, located at 310 Colborne St W., from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• Thursday, October 08 at Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre, located at 254 Walter Gretzky Blvd, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• Friday, October 09 at Lynden Park Mall, located at 84 Lynden Rd, from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• Saturday, October 10 at Walmart, located at 300 King George Rd, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Saturday, October 10 at Brantford Bulldogs Game, located at the TD Civic Centre, 79 Market St S, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Fire Prevention Week's history

The history of Fire Prevention Week has its roots in the Great Chicago Fire, which occurred on October 9, 1871, and killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres in 27 hours.

While the origin of the fire has never been determined, there has been much speculation over how it began. One popular legend, which was recently refuted by a Chicago historian, is that Mrs. Catherine O'Leary was milking her cow when the animal kicked over a lamp, setting the O'Leary barn on fire and starting the spectacular blaze.

On the Great Chicago Fire's 40th anniversary, the Fire Marshals Association of North America (FMANA) sponsored the first National Fire Prevention Day, advocating an annual observation as a way to keep the public informed about the importance of fire prevention.