It's been an unusually busy start to the year for Sarnia Fire and Rescue.
The department has responded to 13 structure fires this month, not including burnt food or vehicle fires.
The causes have ranged from unattended cooking, to electrical to arson.
Fire Life Safety Educator Mike Otis has a number of public safety tips.
"Never leave cooking unattended, unattended cooking is the number one cause of house fires," says Otis. "Always have working smoke alarms. Check them at least once a month and change the batteries at least once a year. Practice your home escape plans, know at least two ways out and have a safe meeting place. Also, ensure you have working CO alarms adjacent to all sleeping areas."
Otis says increased overtime costs aren't much of a concern unless there are multiple blazes at the same time.
Meanwhile, the Canadian Commission of Building and Fire Codes is calling for all new home builds to include sprinkler systems.
They say fires grow more quickly nowadays because furnishings are made from plastic and other highly flammable products.