'That’s a fire hazard': Ontario fire marshal warns public to not sterilize face masks in the microwave
Cloth face mask should be cleaned in the washing machine and not "sanitized" in the microwave. Refer to the CDC on more info: https://t.co/7mE81Kzj5z pic.twitter.com/Zhig3GtXga
— NC State Fire and Life Safety (@ncstatefls) April 30, 2020
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ontario’s fire marshal John Peg is warning people in the province to not use microwaves as a way to sterilize face masks for re-use.
"Heating a face mask in a microwave, in an effort to decontaminate it, is a potential fire risk and should never be done," Pegg said in a statement.
The fire marshal outlines that cloth masks can overheat and catch on fire, and many disposable masks have metal components, like nose wire or staples holding the straps, which can cause sparks or a fire if heated in a microwave.
Dr. Barbara Yaffe, Ontario’s associate medical officer of health, answered a question about this practice in a press conference on Tuesday. She said reusable masks should be laundered in hot water.
“Cloth masks, every time after you use it you should wash it, launder it, in hot water,” Dr. Yaffe said “Definitely don’t put it in the microwave. That’s a fire hazard.”
DO NOT put cloth masks in your microwave to disinfect them! Not sure how this myth started, but it is absolutely not true. Cloth will catch fire. The only appropriate way to disinfect a cloth mask is to wash it with detergent.
Pics from @WBTV_News & NH State Fire Marshal's Office pic.twitter.com/eoAWoRICBP— Plain Twp. Fire Dept (@PlainTwpFire121) April 29, 2020
In an email to Yahoo Canada, the office of the provincial fire marshal confirmed they are not aware of any fires in Ontario related to people putting heating masks in microwaves but they are aware of these circumstances in the U.S. and U.K.
Officials are also recommending that people give significant consideration to fire safety during the COVID-19 outbreak, as more time is being spent indoors.
Pegg notes that there have been 51 fire fatalities between Jan. 1 and May 4 in Ontario, a 65 per cent increase from the same time last year. A total of 17 people have died in the province in March alone.
The fire marshal recommends that people adhere to the following protocols to reduce the risk of fires in their home:
Always stay in the kitchen when you are cooking - unattended cooking is a leading cause of home fires
Keep a close eye on anyone drinking alcohol while attempting to cook or smoke
Encourage smokers to smoke outside the home and garage and thoroughly extinguish all smoking materials in water or sand
Always blow out candles before leaving the room or going to bed
Avoid overloading electrical outlets and running electrical cords under rugs or furniture which can damage the cords and cause a fire
Ensure items that can burn are at least one metre away from space heaters
Test your alarms by pressing the test button - only working smoke alarms give you the early warning required to safely escape a fire in your home
Practice your home fire escape plan and make sure everyone knows two ways out of each room, if possible
Keep all exits clear of obstructions that might hinder a safe escape