Emergency Services

Fire Departments

The Township of East Garafraxa is serviced by three local fire departments, Orangeville, Grand Valley and Erin. Please see links below for contact information.

• Orangeville Fire Department
• Grand Valley District Fire Department
• Town of Erin Fire Department - Hillsburgh Station

Fire Permits

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, all 2020 fire permits will be extended for 2021. Therefore, fire permits obtained in 2020 and issued by the Township administration office will be valid until December 31, 2021. Please note fire permits are not transferable and are intended for use by the person and property location listed on the permit. 

• Fire permits are required, at no charge, for all burning within the Township.  Fire bans may be imposed at any time due to weather conditions.
• Fire permits are available at the Municipal Office OR by filling out the form below and faxing or emailing it back to the Township.
• By signing the Fire Permit you are verifying that you have read and understood the accompanying Fire Permit By-Law and accept full responsibility for the results of your actions in lighting a fire and agree that the requesting and obtaining of a permit does not absolve you of the responsibility for the results of your actions.
• Permit is not valid without a Municipal Official Signature & Permit Number.  Once your permit has been approved at the office, it will be returned to you using the same manner as it was submitted.
• Fire Permit Application *Township Email is listed on the Fire Permit itself*

**In the event any person proposes to start or set a fire which is larger than the maximum size provided in Section 4 such person shall contact the Fire Chief, or his/her designate, to request a site inspection. The Fire Chief or his/her designate may or may not authorize the fire to be ignited, subject to such conditions as the Fire Chief or his/her designate may impose, issued in writing.**

Fire Prevention and Education

Fire, Police and Ambulance remind residents that it is mandatory to have your six digit Emergency Number displayed appropriately at your property.  Subdivisions have been assigned a house number which is to be posted.  Do not use your lot number.  Houses not posted correctly may result in delays in Emergency vehicles finding your property.

Check out the following links for Fire Prevention and Safety tips:

• Smoke Alarms "Install Smoke Alarms - It's the Law"
• Home Escape Planning "Develop a home fire escape plan today . . ."
• Important Fire Safety Tips During Power Outages
• Barn Safety Information
• Caregivers' Guide - A Resource for Caregivers of Alzheimer/Dementia"
• Student accommodation "A Parent's guide"
• Managing Nuisance Alarms
• Carbon Monoxide Information

The Ontario Fire Code states that every home in Ontario must have a working smoke alarm and CO detector on every storey and outside all sleeping areas.  It is the owner's responsibility to ensure these are installed and maintained in working order.

A barn fire is a farmer's worst nightmare and brings with it significant emotional and economic impact to a farming community. Prevent fires on your farm by starting with a fire plan - enforce a no smoking policy in any barn or farm buildings.  A complete checklist can be downloaded from the Office of the Fire Marshall website.

Policing is provided to the Township of East Garaffraxa by the Ontario Provincial Police, Dufferin Detachment.  

• 9-1-1 POLICE, FIRE & AMBULANCE remind residents that it is mandatory to have your six digit Emergency Number displayed appropriately at your property.  Subdivisions have been assigned a house number which is to be posted.  Do not use your lot number. Houses not posted correctly may result in delays in Emergency vehicles finding your property.

• For non-emergency Policing situations, please call OPP 1-888-310-1122.
• OPP Report January to March 2016
• OPP Report April to June 2016

*BEGINNING ON NOVEMBER 18, 2019*

• Go to opp.ca/reporting  
• Choose your location
• Start your report

Help your community and keep us informed involving these events when there are NO injuries, NO suspects and NO evidence:

• Theft under $5,000
• Mischief or Damage to Property under $5,000
• Mischief or Damage to Vehicle under $5,000
• Lost of Missing Property under $5,000
• Stolen License Plates
• Theft from a Vehicle 
• Driving Complaints

In an emergency ALWAYS CALL 9-1-1 OR 1 (888) 310-1122

Alert Ready is designed to deliver critical and potentially life-saving alerts to Canadians through television and radio. The Alert Ready system is developed in partnership with federal, provincial and territorial emergency management officials, Environment and Climate Change Canada, The Weather Network and the broadcasting industry and wireless service providers, to ensure you receive alerts immediately and know when to take action to keep yourself and your family safe. Starting April 6th 2018, in addition to TV and radio, Alert Ready will be sending life-threatening emergency alerts to cell phones and wireless devices that are compatible with Wireless Public Alerting (WPA). Check your phone's compatibility.  

Do1Thing 

When was the last time you discussed emergency sheltering with your family? If a severe storm were to hit your neighbourhood would your loved ones know where the safest place in their home, workplace, school or public facility are?

If your family was told to 'shelter in place' because of a chemical spill would they know how? 

If your loved ones had to leave their home because of a gas leak would they have a place to go and the supplies necessary? 

Take 20 minutes this month to discuss or develop your Emergency Sheltering plan with your family. 

Visit our partners at Do1Thing with some great tips and resources to get you started. 

See Emergency Prepardeness Tips & Resources or visit Emergency Management Ontario to learn about emergency preparedness.