Who enforces fire safety in Nunavut?

The Nunavut Fire Marshal's Office in the Department of Community Services, working with local assistants such as community fire chiefs.

How often do I patrol on a fire watch in Nunavut?

The Fire Safety Act does not set one schedule. Follow the frequency set by the fire department, the Fire Marshal's office, the owner's plan or your post orders.

Can exit doors be locked while an arena or hall is in use?

Under section 18(1) of the Fire Safety Act, main doors of these public buildings with more than 50 seats must open outwards and may only be secured with standard panic hardware while the public is inside.

What should I do after a fire is put out?

Do not disturb the scene. The local assistant must investigate every fire, and must secure the scene and tell the Fire Marshal if the fire looks deliberate.

Is the certificate accredited or officially recognised?

No. It is a private certificate of completion for knowledge only. It is not recognised, accredited or approved by any government, licensing body, regulator or educational institution, and it does not replace any licence, certification or training required by law.

Nunavut Fire Watch Course 2026

Question 1 of 25

What is the name of Nunavut's main fire safety law?

The Fire Protection and Prevention Act
The Fire Safety Act
The Fire Services Act
The Fire Code Act

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Answer: B. The Fire Safety Act

Nunavut's fire law is the Fire Safety Act; the Fire Marshal's Office operates under its authority.

Question 2 of 25

Which office runs fire safety and Fire Code inspections across Nunavut?

The Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission
Transport Canada's safety branch
The Nunavut Fire Marshal's Office (NFMO)
The Ontario Fire Marshal's Office

Show answer

Answer: C. The Nunavut Fire Marshal's Office (NFMO)

The Nunavut Fire Marshal's Office promotes and enforces fire and building safety and carries out Fire Code inspections.

Question 3 of 25

Which territorial department is the Nunavut Fire Marshal's Office part of?

Department of Community Services
Department of Culture and Heritage
Department of Economic Development
Department of Family Services

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Answer: A. Department of Community Services

The Government of Nunavut lists the Fire Marshal's Office under the Department of Community Services.

Question 4 of 25

Which fire code do Nunavut's Fire Safety Regulations adopt?

The Alberta Fire Code
The National Fire Code of Canada
The International Fire Code
NFPA 1 only

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Answer: B. The National Fire Code of Canada

Section 2(1)(b) of the Fire Safety Regulations adopts the National Fire Code of Canada.

Question 5 of 25

Under section 3(1) of the Fire Safety Regulations, which buildings does the National Fire Code apply to?

Only buildings over three storeys
Only buildings in Iqaluit
All buildings
Only government buildings

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Answer: C. All buildings

Section 3(1) says the National Fire Code adopted under the regulations applies to all buildings.

Question 6 of 25

Under section 4 of the Fire Safety Regulations, who must make sure a building complies with the Fire Code?

The RCMP
The building owner
The nearest neighbour
The security guard on duty

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Answer: B. The building owner

Section 4 says every owner of a building must ensure the building complies with the National Fire Code.

Question 7 of 25

Since Nunavut adopted the Building Code Act in 2018, which office enforces building safety codes?

The district education authority
The security company hired for the site
The Office of the Chief Building Official
The WSCC's chief safety officer

Show answer

Answer: C. The Office of the Chief Building Official

The NFMO 2021 annual report says enforcement of building safety codes moved from the NFMO to the Office of the Chief Building Official after the Building Code Act was adopted in September 2018.

Question 8 of 25

In a Nunavut community that has a fire department, who is a local assistant to the Fire Marshal because of their job?

The mayor's executive assistant
The fire chief or acting fire chief
The head security guard on site
The hamlet bylaw officer on duty

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Answer: B. The fire chief or acting fire chief

Section 5(1)(a) of the Fire Safety Act makes the chief or acting chief of the fire department a local assistant.

Question 9 of 25

In a Nunavut community with no fire department, who is the local assistant to the Fire Marshal?

The senior administrative officer (SAO)
The commander of the RCMP detachment
The principal of the local school
Nobody, as no assistant is needed

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Answer: A. The senior administrative officer (SAO)

Section 5(1)(b) of the Fire Safety Act names the senior administrative officer where there is no fire department.

Question 10 of 25

Under the Fire Safety Act, what may the Fire Marshal order a building owner to do?

Hire a security company the Fire Marshal picks
Prepare a fire safety plan and post it
Pay the wages of the guards on fire watch
Close the building on every weekend

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Answer: B. Prepare a fire safety plan and post it

Section 12(1) lets the Fire Marshal order an owner to take fire safety measures, such as installing alarms where the code requires them or preparing and posting a fire safety plan.

Question 11 of 25

An Assistant Fire Marshal wants to inspect a private home. What does the Fire Safety Act require?

A letter from the WSCC
A security guard as escort
Consent or a warrant
Nothing; they can always enter

Show answer

Answer: C. Consent or a warrant

Section 11 allows inspections, but entry into a private dwelling needs consent or a warrant.

Question 12 of 25

Under section 20.2 of the Fire Safety Act, what is an offence?

Calling the fire department to report some smoke
Testing a smoke alarm by pressing its test button
Tampering with a required alarm without lawful excuse
Writing each round in the fire watch log book

Show answer

Answer: C. Tampering with a required alarm without lawful excuse

Section 20.2 makes it an offence to interfere with or remove, without lawful excuse, a required device or safeguard for detecting, containing or suppressing fire.

Question 13 of 25

Under section 17.2 of the Fire Safety Act, which buildings must have a fire safety plan posted?

Only hospitals, clinics and health centres
Every building to which the public has access
Only buildings that have sprinkler systems
Only apartment buildings with ten or more units

Show answer

Answer: B. Every building to which the public has access

Section 17.2 says every building to which the public has access must have a fire safety plan posted in a conspicuous place.

Question 14 of 25

Section 18(1) of the Fire Safety Act covers doors in theatres, schools, churches and similar places with seating for more than how many people?

500
50
25
10

Show answer

Answer: B. 50

Section 18(1) applies to these structures when they have seating capacity for more than 50 persons.

Question 15 of 25

How must the main doors of a public hall covered by section 18(1) be locked while the public is inside?

They must be nailed shut
With a bolt from the outside
With a padlock and chain
Only with standard panic hardware

Show answer

Answer: D. Only with standard panic hardware

While in public use, these doors must open outwards and must not be bolted, barred or locked except with standard panic hardware.

Question 16 of 25

What can happen to someone who breaks the door rules in section 18(1) of the Fire Safety Act?

A written warning, but never a fine
No penalty, because the rule is only advice
The loss of the person's driver's licence
A fine of up to $10,000, plus a daily fine

Show answer

Answer: D. A fine of up to $10,000, plus a daily fine

Section 19 makes it an offence, with a fine of up to $10,000 and a further $500 for each day after conviction that the contravention continues.

Question 17 of 25

Who must investigate every fire in a Nunavut community?

The local assistant to the Fire Marshal
The building's insurance company only
The security guard who found the fire
Nobody, unless someone was hurt in it

Show answer

Answer: A. The local assistant to the Fire Marshal

Section 5.2(1) says a local assistant must investigate, in a general way, the cause, origin and circumstances of every fire in their jurisdiction.

Question 18 of 25

A local assistant believes a fire was set on purpose. What must they do under section 5.2(2)?

Ask the guard to write the official fire report
Clean up the scene so the building can reopen
Wait a week, then send a short note to the WSCC
Secure the scene and tell the Fire Marshal at once

Show answer

Answer: D. Secure the scene and tell the Fire Marshal at once

Where a fire appears deliberate, the local assistant must immediately secure the scene and notify the Fire Marshal. Guards should not disturb the scene.

Question 19 of 25

Under section 5.3 of the Fire Safety Act, how soon must a local assistant report an injury caused by a fire?

Within 24 hours
At the end of the year
Within 30 days
Only if the person dies

Show answer

Answer: A. Within 24 hours

Section 5.3 requires a fire death to be reported immediately and a fire injury within 24 hours.

Question 20 of 25

Does the Fire Safety Act set one fire watch patrol schedule for all of Nunavut?

Yes, one round every five minutes
No, the schedule is set for each site
Yes, one round every two hours
Yes, one round at the start of each shift

Show answer

Answer: B. No, the schedule is set for each site

The Act does not set a territory-wide patrol interval, so follow the schedule set for your site, such as hourly rounds used by some Canadian fire departments.

Question 21 of 25

When is a fire watch usually needed?

Whenever there is a heavy snowfall in the town
Whenever a guard is working at the site alone
Only while a fire drill is being held inside
When the alarm or sprinklers are out of service

Show answer

Answer: D. When the alarm or sprinklers are out of service

A fire watch is an alternative measure used while a fire protection system is shut down. Vancouver, for example, requires one the whole time a system is out of service.

Question 22 of 25

A fire watch must be able to check every room on the route. What does Medicine Hat's fire watch guide say each fire watch should have?

A list of tenants' phone numbers
A spare fire alarm control panel
Keys or access codes for all rooms
A crowbar to open locked doors

Show answer

Answer: C. Keys or access codes for all rooms

Medicine Hat's guide says each fire watch person needs keys and/or access codes to enter all rooms and spaces. If you still cannot get in somewhere, report it right away.

Question 23 of 25

When is the right time to write a round in your fire watch log?

Only when you find smoke or fire
As soon as you finish each round
At the end of the week, from memory
Before the round starts, to save time

Show answer

Answer: B. As soon as you finish each round

Record each round when it is completed, with the time and your initials. Never log a round you did not do.

Question 24 of 25

Why does a hot work fire watch continue after the welding stops?

Because the law requires guards to weld
Because hidden materials can catch fire later
To count the workers as they leave
To guard the welding tools until morning

Show answer

Answer: B. Because hidden materials can catch fire later

Sparks from hot work can land in hidden spots and ignite later, so the watch continues after the work ends. Winnipeg, for example, requires at least 60 minutes.

Question 25 of 25

Besides local assistants, who investigates fires in Nunavut, according to the NFMO's 2024 annual report?

NFMO staff or RCMP members
Private security companies
The building owners themselves
Insurance adjusters only

Show answer

Answer: A. NFMO staff or RCMP members

The report says fires are investigated by a local assistant to the Fire Marshal, NFMO staff or uniformed RCMP members.

Nunavut Fire Watch Course 2026

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