Dear Cottagers,

Is your cottage CO and Fire Safe?

A lack of winter snow and spring rain plus vivid memories of Ontario's record wild fire losses in 2011, has a number of cottage and fire safety organizations working together to make fire prevention a top priority for anyone who owns or rents a woodland property this season.

In its sixth successful year, the ‘Peace of Mind for Your Piece of Heaven’ cottage fire and carbon monoxide (CO) safety awareness campaign is bigger than ever, highlighted in 2012 by a new contest on Facebook.

The Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council, the Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations (FOCA), Ministry of Natural Resources, Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services branch, Kidde Fire and CO Alarms, local fire departments and nearly one hundred individual cottage and lake associations have all collaborated on this year’s effort.

The ‘Safe at the Cottage’ Contest will reward cottage owners in Ontario who best demonstrate the spirit of fire and carbon monoxide safety. To learn more and to enter LIKE US at Facebook page at www.facebook.com/safeatthecottage.com.

While there are great prizes to be won, everyone wins when cottagers are equipped with the essential baseline knowledge to prevent, detect and escape a cottage fire.

Have a Fire and CO Safe summer for 2012.