Barrie has about 32 highrises ranging from waterfront condos to apartment buildings.
The Ontario Building Code defines 'highrise' as those being seven storeys or more in height.
So what should all those residents do if the fire alarm sounds?
"The most important thing is every single time you hear an alarm you have to get moving. You have to respond as if you have your plan and you're ready to go," said Barrie Fire Information officer Samantha Hoffmann.
There are three things you should think about, Hoffmann says, long before your sleep may be interrupted by a piecing smoke detector: Prevention, Detection and Escape.
Learn what fire protection systems are in your building or even a hotel where you're staying and make a plan in the event of a fire.
High-rise fire safety has topped headlines in the wake of an horrific blaze at a 24-storey apartment building in London that claimed at least 12 lives and left dozens more injured.
"I would love to say that we would never ever see that happen in Barrie and in the province of Ontario because our buildings are built safer. But it really is up to the people that live in those buildings to make sure that the systems are functioning. That the systems are working and that they know what to do should a fire happen," Hoffmann said.
All highrise residential buildings in Ontario are non-combustible construction, meaning they are made not to burn. Floors and ceilings are built with fire-resistant materials and are separated into fire compartments. The compartments help contain a fire to within one or a few units - an effective measure that was demonstrated at a residence fire at Georgian College in May 2016.
When it comes right down to it though, it's your call about where to go.
"The choice is yours and the choice is to go or to stay. If you can get from your apartment outside without seeing or smelling smoke it's definitely the safest place to be," explains Hoffmann.
"If you can't. You wait. If we're on scene already it's too late and you need to know how to protect yourself in place."
It's not the fire that kills people. It's the smoke and residents need to know how to protect themselves.
"If you live in a tall building there's no reason to ever breath smoke. So you might want to seal your doors, duck tape, block the vents. Stop any smoke from getting in. Close as many doors between you and where the smoke is coming in. Get out on your balcony. Wait for help," Hoffmann said.
Hoffmann urges residents to learn their building's 'Fire Safety Plan' designed specifically for their building.
Explore the building and get to know all the exits and never attempt to leave a building via the elevator.
"If it takes you longer than one minute to get out, consider revising your plan, installing more smoke alarms and practicing more often," said Hoffmann.
