Top fire safety tips for your home

Learning how to prevent fires is one of the most important things you can do for your home and your community.


Many homes and buildings are lost or damaged in communities due to negligence, which could be anything from being careless with discarding cigarette butts or not cleaning your dryer lint traps after each load.


Read on for some fire safety tips to help you protect your home and communities from preventable fires.


Extinguish and discard cigarettes properly.

  • Make sure to completely extinguish before discarding.
  • Cigarettes and other smoking materials that are not properly extinguished can still burn undetected and smoulder for days before starting a fire.
  • The most common cause of fires from cigarettes have started from incorrectly extinguished smokes in planters around the house.


Limit use of outlet extenders or plug-in power bars.

  • Too many electronics plugged into to an outlet or power bar can quickly overload an electrical circuit. This can cause sparks, smoke, and lead to a fire that can do much damage to your home.
  • Never plug in a space heater into a power bar or extension cord.


Remove lint from your dryer filter after every use.

  • A clogged filter and lint trap make your dryer less efficient, reduces the airflow needed to keep heat from building up in vents, and forces lint onto the heating coils.


Store towels, rags, and containers of cooking oil well away from the stove, and always turn off the stove before you leave the room.

  • Be sure to keep anything flammable away from the stove, especially if it is turned on.
  • Never leave the room with the stove left on.


Have your chimney cleaned at least twice a year if you have a fireplace or wood stove.

  • Without regular cleaning, tar-like byproducts of burning wood—called creosote—can build up in the chimney. 
  • Creosote is highly flammable, so the more creosote build-up in your chimney, the higher risk there is for chimney fires.


Reduce risks when burning candles.

  • Never leave burning candles unattended.
  • Always extinguish all candles before leaving the room or going to bed.
  • Never burn candles on or near anything that can catch fire (e.g. curtains, bedding, clothing, etc.).
  • Always keep candles out of reach of children and pets, and always somewhere they cannot be knocked over.


Purchase a fire extinguisher for your home.

  • You should have the right tools handy in the event of a small fire before it grows to something bigger and out of control.
  • When purchasing, always check for certification marks (such as ULC), the size of the fire it is designed for, and ensure that you can comfortably hold and operate it.
  • To use, remember the order of operations: P.A.S.S.
  • Pull – the pin
  • Aim – at the base of the fire
  • Squeeze – the trigger
  • Sweep – back and forth at the base of the fire vigorously


Reducing the risk of fire now can help prevent the loss of your home and/or belongings. It is so easy for a fire to catch when we are not paying attention, so be sure to stay vigilant and follow the safety tips above.


Want to learn more about property insurance and how to reduce risk in your community? Visit our Property & Casualty page:https://www.tipionline.ca/property-and-casualty

September 18, 2026
WINNIPEG, September 18, 2026 – TIPI Insurance Partners (TIPI), part of TIPI Group of Companies, a CCIB-certified business and Canada’s largest majority Indigenous-owned and -led commercial insurance brokerage, today announced it has entered into a co-brokering relationship with Marsh (NYSE: MRSH) Canada, a leading global professional services firm. The alliance brings together Marsh’s global expertise in government, infrastructure, and complex risk management with TIPI’s decades of experience serving Indigenous communities, governments, organizations, and businesses. The TIPI Group of Companies includes property and casualty insurance, group pension and benefits, First Nations trust services, human resources and management consulting, recruitment and employee retention support, organizational training, and Truth and Reconciliation education and advisory services. "Our collaboration with TIPI exemplifies our approach of working alongside Indigenous-owned businesses to serve clients while creating sustainable value for Indigenous communities and Canada’s economy," said Michael Lewis, President, Marsh Risk Canada. Through this alliance, Marsh and TIPI will serve public and private-sector organizations, Indigenous governments and organizations, and sponsors of large-scale infrastructure, defence, natural resources, and energy projects, with their combined industry insight, community experience, sophisticated risk advisory capabilities, insurance solutions, and access to global insurance markets. The alliance will also help sponsors pursuing Indigenous procurement and partnership opportunities access world-class technical expertise and market capacity. “This alliance represents a significant milestone in advancing Indigenous economic participation,” said Nathan Ballantyne, CEO, TIPI Group of Companies. “It will bring Indigenous voices and expertise into more major projects, create new opportunities for our people, and generate economic returns that flow back to our First Nations shareholders.” Under the agreement, TIPI and Marsh will also explore opportunities to share technical insurance and brokering knowledge through joint client teams, secondments, and access to Marsh’s global placement and analytics capabilities. As part of its commitment to advancing Indigenous communities in Canada, Marsh is investing in cultural awareness and reconciliation education among its colleagues; supporting Indigenous businesses, education and youth through alliances, scholarships, and volunteerism; expanding its capabilities for Indigenous organizations; and pursuing targeted recruitment efforts to create more opportunities for Indigenous people within the company. Marsh is also pursuing Partnership Accreditation in Indigenous Relations (PAIR) through the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business (CCIB). PAIR provides a third-party verified assessment of corporate performance in Indigenous employment, business development, community relationships and leadership commitment. “We are excited to collaborate and exchange expertise with TIPI Insurance Partners, while delivering world-class risk management solutions to Canada’s rapidly growing infrastructure sector,” said Michael Tees, Senior Vice President, Indigenous Services, Marsh Canada. About Marsh Marsh (NYSE: MRSH), a global leader in risk, reinsurance and capital, people and investments, and management consulting, advising clients in 130 countries. With annual revenue of $27 billion and more than 95,000 colleagues, Marsh helps build the confidence to thrive through the power of perspective. For more information about Marsh Risk, visit marsh.com , or follow us on LinkedIn and X . About TIPI Insurance Partners TIPI Insurance Partners is part of TIPI Group of Companies and Canada's largest Indigenous-owned and led insurance brokerage, with current ownership held by 35 First Nations across Canada. TIPI provides insurance brokerage and risk management services with a focus on supporting Indigenous economic development. Media Contact:  Cassi Smith +1 639 318 3115 csmith@tipipartners.com Sally Roberts +1 347 281 1454 sally.roberts@marsh.com
December 23, 2024
The innovative wholesale pension plan model is central to TIPI’s strategy, which optimizes financial savings through low investment management fees, leveraging its Indigenous identity. This unique approach fosters savings and champions independence within the framework of a collaborative plan design, offering its clients the best of both worlds. TIPI’s group insurance plans are dedicated to empowering its First Nations clients with industry-specific knowledge, fueling proactive conversations, and inspiring healthier lifestyles within communities. The company offers the TIPI Care Plan, which distributes different benefit lines across multiple insurance carriers as part of its commitment to personalized services. The TIPI Care Plan exemplifies personalized service by offering comprehensive benefits across multiple insurance carriers, ensuring affordability by offering the lowest possible rates per benefit line, and addressing critical health challenges, including substance management and the national doctor shortage. It has partnered with a program based in British Columbia to offer clients substance management services virtually, removing barriers and stigma associated with seeking help. TIPI provides access to healthcare providers with top-notch care, and members can access these services discreetly from their homes or during their lunch breaks in the office. In 2020, TIPI Group of Companies embarked on a strategic expansion, signifying its commitment to addressing the complexities of human resources by acquiring Legacy Bowes, a renowned HR consulting firm. This acquisition marked a milestone in TIPI’s journey toward enhancing its service offerings and underlining its dedication to meeting its clients’ evolving HR needs. Understanding the pivotal role of human resources in organizational success, TIPI introduced Legacy Bowes’ HR-On-Call service to clients on the TIPI Care Plan. This initiative provides plan administrators indispensable guidance, ensuring that clients receive the tailored support necessary to navigate the intricacies of human resource management effectively. Illustrating its commitment to talent’s professional growth and development, TIPI provides access to Legacy Bowes’ meticulously developed leadership and development training programs alongside executive search and recruitment services designed to nurture talent and promote organizational growth. Among these initiatives, its training division proudly offers a ‘Lateral Violence to Lateral Kindness’ program and Truth2Action: Reconciliation for Business, a truth and reconciliation awareness program, overseen by dedicated vice presidents. Beyond pension and benefits, TIPI operates another line of business in the property and casualty division, prioritizing Indigenous employment. This division extends comprehensive services from property coverage and community asset protection to commercial liability and Directors & Officers insurance. This positions TIPI as a distinguished brokerage that helps its clients manage risks and protect their most valuable assets. Recognizing the power of data, TIPI implemented its own CRM program to collect valuable data such as resolved claims, outstanding claims, and any complaints received. This data collection is essential to better-serving clients. TIPI believes in the power of teamwork when it comes to serving its clients. Its team members come from diverse insurance backgrounds, providing prompt and knowledgeable client assistance. 100 percent of TIPI’s pension and benefits team of nine brokers identify as First Nation, reflecting its dedication to supporting and providing opportunities to Indigenous professionals. TIPI’s personal care for its clients and plan members cannot be overstated. In one instance, the company assisted a member who had tragically passed away in an accident. During this challenging time, TIPI personally helped facilitate the accidental death claims and pension claims processes. This involved the timely completion of claim forms, liaising with the medical examiner’s office to submit the necessary information to the carrier, and advising the client on managing the funds received. Additionally, the company guided the widow in handling the remaining pension assets. TIPI’s pension and benefits division is a testament to its expansive reach. By prioritizing the empowerment of its members and fostering strong relationships with First Nation partners, TIPI expands its presence across the country and champions a more inclusive and informed approach to retirement planning and benefits management. This article was original published in the Top Benefits Administration Services Providers in Canada 2024 by Manage HR Magazine.
August 4, 2023
By Madeleine Bote for Industry West Magazine