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Home Fire Safety

• Causes of fire
• Cooking
• Heating
• Home Fire Escape - Single-Family
• Home Fire Escape - Multi-unit
• Safety Tips
• Tenant Fire Safety
• Seniors Fire Safety

Children Fire Safety 

• Learn not to Burn
• Sparky’s Fire house
• Sparky’s School House
• Stop, Drop and Roll

The safety of citizens, property, and the environment is critical. But in the event of an emergency, safety is much more challenging to ensure. It’s exactly why Saint John has an Emergency Management Organization (SJ-EMO) - dedicated to maintaining resident safety and minimizing the impact of emergencies. The SJ-EMO coordinates emergency planning, response, and recovery to natural and man-made disasters for the City of Saint John.

The SJ-EMO works cooperatively with a wide range of partners, including the citizens of Saint John. Our vision is for the City to be a disaster-resilient and sustainable community in which we cultivate and create a community-based emergency preparedness culture. Together, through education, communication, planning and action, we can face the unexpected with confidence.

The appearance, safety, and integrity of buildings in Saint John have a direct impact on the lives of everyone in the City. It’s why the City of Saint John operates three specific programs that regulate the standards of properties and buildings in our communities, and enforce consequences for property owners who fail to meet the standards.  

Vacant and Dangerous Buildings Program

Vacant buildings can sometimes attract vandalism, arson, mischief, or criminal activity and these activities will devalue properties in an area. The Vacant and Dangerous Buildings program monitors vacant buildings throughout the City. Staff work closely with property owners to repair and reoccupy or demolish vacant buildings. When vacant buildings become a hazard to public safety, a Notice to Comply can be issued to the owner giving them a specified period of time to either repair or demolish the building and if the conditions are not remedied, the City has the power to demolish the building and send the costs incurred to the property owner.    

Community Standards Program

The Community Standards program focuses on issues that directly impact the aesthetics, enjoyment, and pride of a neighbourhood, including unsightly premises, zoning by-law issues, and general upkeep of properties. The primary focus of the program is on cleaning up unsightly properties throughout the City.  Staff work closely with property owners to encourage the voluntary cleanup of such properties. In instances where voluntary compliance cannot be achieved, a Notice to Comply can be issued to the owner, giving them a specified period of time to remove the unsightly conditions. If the conditions are not remedied, the City has the power to remove the unsightly conditions and send the costs incurred to the property owner.    

Minimum Property Standards Program 

The Minimum Property Standards Program enforces standards for the maintenance and occupancy of residential buildings in Saint John. These standards help to ensure the safety, health, and well-being of those who live in and use the properties—in other words, everyone who lives in the City. The Minimum Property Standards by-law applies to all residential properties in the City and provides the minimum standards expected for all housing in the City. Common issues that City inspectors are looking for include smoke alarms that are working and in the proper location, safe exiting, bedroom windows meeting minimum size requirements, and that there are no holes in fire separations between units. Applying the Minimum Property Standards By-Law should not increase tax assessments.

Grow the City. Serve the City. Be the Community of choice.

The City of Saint John has been providing front facing and support services to residents and businesses for more than two centuries. The current organization structure consists of six service areas, working together to plan and coordinate effective and efficient service delivery.

Growth and Community Services
Providing guidance, direction, and support for development by incorporating Council and community objectives for strategic growth. Initiatives that enhance the quality of life through housing, business investment, heritage and leisure to create a city where people want to live, work and invest.

Service delivery includes: One Stop Development Shop; building inspections; permitting; infrastructure development; community standards and compliance; heritage conservation, planning, growth and community service; arts and culture; and the Saint John City Market.

Transportation and Public Works
Supporting the community vision of a green, accessible city that offers opportunities for physical activity, and ease of transportation including public, active and roads.

Service delivery includes: leisure facilities such as parks and public spaces; roads and sidewalks; parking; solid waste; fleet; urban storm water; and, traffic. Saint John Transit delivers services through a commission. 

Strategic Services
By providing strategic insight, guidance, and expertise, this group enables the City to deliver quality public services in an innovative and sustainable way.

Service delivery includes: information technology; corporate performance; communications; government relations; insurance and claims; customer service, finance; and, procurement.

Corporate Services
Corporate Services is the point of contact between the city administration and Common Council. Ensuring the organization is meeting its required obligations and compliance through general counsel, human resources and the City Clerk.

Service delivery includes: City Clerk; human resources; general counsel; real estate; contract administration; and, records and information management.

Public Safety
Public safety protects citizens, property and the environment with a focus on creating safe neighbourhoods, essential to overall quality of life.

Service delivery includes: fire prevention; fire suppression; HAZMAT; and, Saint John Emergency Management Organization. The Saint John Police Force delivers services through a commission.

Utilities and Public Infrastructure
This area is responsible for all facilities, systems, and structures that are owned and operated by the municipality, in this case The City of Saint John. The Saint John Water Utility is committed to providing safe, clean drinking water; protecting the environment through wastewater management; and supporting industry through supply of industrial water.

Service delivery includes: Saint John Water Utility; Public infrastructure and support services such as engineering; climate change programs; GIS; facilities management and asset management. Saint John Energy is governed through a commission.

Outdoor recreational fires are a popular activity particularly during the summer months. While the Province of New Brunswick issues burning permits and advisories according to conditions in various areas of the province, cities in New Brunswick are responsible for the regulation and enforcement of controlled outside burning within their municipal boundaries. Each city has its own by-laws regarding outdoor fires. 

The Saint John Fire Department does not issue burning permits. Burning for the purposes of clearing land, property, or the disposal of any material does not constitute a recreational fire and is prohibited.

CITY OF SAINT JOHN OUTDOOR FIRE REGULATIONS

• Property owners are permitted to burn approved materials for recreational purposes in the proper manner.
• Recreational fires can be contained in an approved retail unit and/or at site that satisfies the requirements as listed
• Approved materials consist of clean wood or wood products (no chemically treated wood or building materials.)

GUIDELINES FOR BACKYARD FIREPLACES

• Must not be used on a combustible deck or surface unless approved for such use (ULC or WHI).
• Must be used with all screens in place and closed.
• No treated wood is to be used as fuel. (e.g. pentox or creosote).
• No refuse or garbage is to be burned.
• No chemically treated wood is to be used as fuel (e.g. Presto Logs).
• Must have a 10-litre pail of water or a connected garden hose nearby while in use.
• Must maintain proper clearance from combustibles (1.5m from buildings and fuel supplies, 3m from tall grass and 15m from wooded areas).
• Some units require clearance from bottom of unit to ground. 
• Must follow manufacturer's instructions.
• Must not be left unattended while in operation and all embers extinguished when fire has been completed and not left to burn out on its own.
• Must not be overloaded (screens must be kept closed except for when charging the unit).
• Open circles of rocks and tire rims (campfires or bonfires) are not permitted under this approval, and home-made devices must incorporate a screen having an opening of not more than 12mm when being used as a recreational fireplace.

Screened:

• 1.5 meters from combustibles
• 15 meters from wooded areas 
• 3 meters from tall grass
• Screens must be a maximum of 12 mm

Not Screened:

• 150 meters from wooded areas or other property structures
• Do not burn in high wind conditions
• Backyard fireplaces (retail units) must be used in conjunction with manufacturer's instructions and U.L.C., W.H.I. approved usage methods

Quality of life matters, and one of the things that contributes to quality of life is how safe you feel. Through dependable, professional police and fire services and by-law enforcement, we work hard to provide every service necessary to create a safe, liveable community. By creating safe neighbourhoods, we provide opportunities for every individual to develop and grow together through recreation, cultural and leisure activities, and community involvement.

Province enters next phase of living with COVID-19 on Monday, March 14

Effective Monday, March 14, 2022 at 12:01 a.m. AST 

Masks will no longer be required at public facilities owned and operated by the City of Saint John. 

Facilities operated by third parties such as the Canada Games Aquatic Centre, TD Station, and Community Centres will provide their own direction and updates. 

Masks will not be required on Saint John Transit buses. 

All Common Council and Committee meetings will return to in-person attendance. The option to attend virtually will still be provided. 

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Saint John has remained committed to the health and safety of its employees, of visitors to our workplaces and members of the public.  

While masks are no longer required in our facilities, mask usage should still be viewed as an excellent safety precaution due to the high level of community transmission. 

The City of Saint John reminds the public to be considerate and supportive of anyone who chooses to continue wearing a mask or practice any other precautions related to COVID-19. These measures are a personal choice and must be respected.

The City of Saint John encourages residents to protect their health and prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our community by getting vaccinated. To book your vaccination appointment, and for walk-in clinic information, visit COVID-19 vaccines (gnb.ca)

Please continue to follow the Government of New Brunswick and Government of Canada websites for the latest updates and information.

The current Municipal Emergency Response Plan was approved by the Public Safety Committee on August 4, 2021. The plan is required by the Province of New Brunswick through the Emergency Measures Act. Among the requirements are that each municipality must establish an emergency measures organization and prepare and coordinate emergency measures plans for the community. 

The Emergency Response Plan must be reviewed regularly. An updated version of the plan will be presented to Public Safety Committee during Emergency Management Week this year, May 1-7, 2023.

Purpose

The purpose of the Municipal Emergency Response Plan (The Plan) is to outline procedures to be followed by local government to provide a prompt and coordinated response to an emergency, and activities that support emergency preparedness. The Plan addresses incidents that may cause damage of a magnitude warranting activation of the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC).

Authority

Issued by Council, under the authority of the New Brunswick Emergency Measures Act; and The City of Saint John By-Law Number EM-7, A By-Law to Formulate Plans in the Event of An Emergency, also known as the Saint John Emergency Measures By-Law, originally enacted by Common Council on September 12, 2005.

Responsibility for the management of municipal emergency operations rests with the Mayor and Council. Council is the ultimate authority for decision-making during an emergency while delegating operational decisions to the Saint John Emergency Management Organization Director. The EMO (Emergency Management Organization) Director is responsible for coordinating the efficient emergency response operations in the community on behalf of the Mayor and Council. The Director may activate the Emergency Operations Center partially or fully, depending on the magnitude of the emergency.

Guiding Principles

The Plan has been developed from a series of guiding principles. In Canada, municipalities are responsible for the first response to emergencies within their boundaries, supported by the provincial government if the scale of the emergency exceeds municipal capabilities. SJEMO has adopted the following guiding principles to ensure the highest standard of municipal response.

Partnerships

All members of the community have a role to play in emergency management. Emergency preparedness starts at the level of the individual and households and includes private sector businesses; industrial partners; volunteer and non-government organizations and academia. Effective partnerships with the emergency management organization and first response agencies must be based on effective collaboration, coordination, and communication.

Continuous Improvement

SJEMO aspires to be better today than it was yesterday and better tomorrow than it is today. Through a vigorous and systematic after-action review process following any incident, SJEMO aims to learn from any gaps and improve emergency preparedness, emergency response and measurement of success. 

SJEMO activation

The Saint John Emergency Management Organization is mobilized when an emerging incident is beyond the scope, capacity and capability of primary response agencies and requires coordination of resources. Be sure you are signed up for notifications through the public alert system.