Wood Stove and Chimney Inspections
Our volunteer firefighters are continually being asked too inspect woodstoves and chimney installations. These requests are often a result of insurance company requests. Many installations do not meet minimum code requirements causing fires, which we then respond to.Despite our best intentions in the interest of fire safety, even verbal inspection reports carry the risk of liability claims against the fire department. Persons conducting an inspection may not be aware, overlook or miss an installation deficiency. Most volunteer firefighters are not certified by a recognized inspection authority, such as W.E.T.T. (Wood Energy Technology Transfer Inc.) and therefore are not qualified to do the inspections in the first place. In order to clarify the departments position on these inspections the following policy has been adopted.
 When asked to inspect a woodstove, fireplace or chimney, firefighters will politely decline with the following explanation.
- The Ontario Building Code Act requires that building permits be applied for, issued and inspections carried out for installation of woodstove, fireplaces and chimneys.
- Building permit applications for these types of installations are available, over the counter at the Town Office, during regular business hours, at a cost of $50.00.
- A building permit can be taken out for an existing unit for which an inspection will be carried out by a qualified building inspector who has been trained and certified to do these types of inspections.
The inspection results will be confirmed in a written building inspection report either approving or not approving the installation. If the unit is not approved, the deficiencies will be noted in the written report and information to remedy the code deficiency will be available through the Building Department’s full-time staff.
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Fire Prevention 
