Members of the Brantford Fire Department responded to a fire alarm system call at Russell Reid Public School at 10:26 p.m. on Tuesday, June 24, 2025.
Fire crews arrived on scene at 10:30 p.m. and discovered a 24-inch box fan on fire inside a classroom. The fire was quickly extinguished using a dry chemical fire extinguisher.
This incident is an important reminder of how effective fire detection and alarm systems can be in preventing or reducing property damage due to fire. The early detection by smoke detectors installed in the school’s hallways, combined with a quick emergency response from the Brantford Fire Department, resulted in minimal damage to the interior of the school.
“Had the school not taken the necessary steps to properly install and maintain their fire detection systems, the consequences for Russell Reid Public School could have been far more severe,” said Todd Binkley, Fire Chief for the City of Brantford.
The Brantford Fire Department reminds property owners to know and comply with the fire prevention and life safety systems outlined in the Ontario Fire Code. The Brantford Fire Department’s Fire Prevention team routinely inspects properties within the City of Brantford to ensure they meet the requirements outlined in the Ontario Fire Code that not only save properties but more importantly, lives.
