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December 4, 2024

Fire Prevention Safety Information

Types of Smoke Alarms – Part 1

Smoke alarms are very important to fire safety in your home, the death rate in home structure fires is approximately 60% lower in homes with working smoke alarms than in homes with no alarms or none that worked, according to the latest NFPA research.

There are different types of alarms that can be purchased that have different pros and cons:

Most often, you will see information pertaining to Photoelectric vs Ionization alarms. The difference between these two types is the sensor that is used to detect the smoke. An ionization smoke alarm is generally more responsive to flaming fires (imagine a fire where you can see the flame), while a photoelectric smoke alarm is generally more responsive to smoking, smoldering fires (such as a cigarette).

To get an alarm that is just as responsive to smoldering fires as it is to flaming fires, you can get an alarm that has dual sensors. These alarms have both an ionization sensor and a photoelectric sensor that will cause the alarm to sound.

There are also combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms that have both sensors to sense smoke and to sense for carbon monoxide (CO). These alarms may look like smoke alarms and are mounted on the ceiling or the wall near the ceiling. If your house has fuel-burning equipment or appliances (oil or gas boiler, oil or gas furnace, oil or gas water heater, fireplace, etc.), an attached garage, or a fuel-burning generator, then you will need to also have carbon monoxide detection within your house.

Check back next month for more information on Smoke Alarms or contact us.

The author of this content cannot be liable for any use or misuse of the contents. This is a guideline and is meant for information only.

Smoke Detector

November 27, 2024

Fire Prevention Safety

Turkey Fryer Fire Safety

Prevent fires when using a turkey fryer, from the U.S. Fire Administration:

Frying food puts you at the greatest risk of cooking fires. Before you fry a turkey, review these tips to keep you and your loved ones safe.

Turkey fryers can tip over easily, spilling hot cooking oil over a large area. Make sure your turkey fryer is on a sturdy, level surface and do not move it once it is in use.
Make sure it is at least 10 feet from your home and not under roof eaves.
An overfilled cooking pot will cause cooking oil to spill when the turkey is put in. Test the amount of oil you need by filling your fryer with water.
A partially frozen turkey will cause cooking oil to splatter when you put it in the cooking pot. Make sure your turkey is fully thawed without frost on it before you fry it.
Without thermostat controls, deep fryers can overheat oil to the point of starting a fire. If your turkey fryer does not have a thermostat, use a kitchen thermometer that attaches to the side of the pot. This will help you monitor the temperature of the oil.
The sides of the cooking pot, lid and pot handles can get dangerously hot. Always use protective oven mitts. Keep children and pets at least 3 feet from the turkey fryer.

The author of this content cannot be liable for any use or misuse of the contents. This is a guideline and is meant for information only.

Turkey fryer fire safety

November 22, 2024

Fire Prevention Safety Information

Fire Safety Tips When Cooking

With the Holiday Season fast approaching, below you will find some cooking safety tips from the U.S. Fire Administration:

Cooking is, by far, the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries. Home cooking fires happen most often on Thanksgiving.

In 2021, fire departments in the United States responded to an estimated 170,000 home cooking fires. These fires caused an estimated 135 deaths, 3,000 injuries and over $494 million in property loss.

Stand by your pan:

If you leave the kitchen, turn the burner off.

Watch what you are cooking:

Fires start when the heat is too high. If you see any smoke or the grease starts to boil, turn the burner off.

Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove:

Then no one can bump them or pull them over.

Keep a pan lid or baking sheet nearby:

Use it to cover the pan if it catches on fire. This will put out the fire.

Set a Timer:

If you are simmering or baking, set a timer so you don’t get distracted and forget you are cooking.

In case of an oven fire:

Turn off the oven and keep the door closed until it is cool.

Microwave Fire:

If you have a fire in your microwave oven, turn it off immediately and do not open the door until it is cool.

The author of this content cannot be liable for any use or misuse of the contents. This is a guideline and is meant for information only.

Cooking Fire

November 13, 2024

Information

Winterize Your Sprinkler System Before the Freeze

The time to winterize your Sprinkler System is before freezing weather hits!

According to NFPA statistics, 10% of sprinkler system failures are due to lack of maintenance and 7% of failures are due to damaged system components. With a little care these types of failures can be avoided when the temperature starts to drop!

Per the National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA); sprinkler systems exposed to cold weather are especially vulnerable. During cold months, these systems are more susceptible to catastrophic failure. Frozen sprinkler pipes are among the more common service calls throughout winter months.

Maintaining a minimum of 40 degrees (F) is imperative in ensuring the sprinkler pipes do not freeze. Many areas that go unnoticed during the summer can create issues in cold months, these areas include, but are not limited to, entry ways (vestibules) and stairwells, unoccupied spaces, and areas that are not properly insulated.

The low point and auxiliary drains are required to be drained after each operation of the system, before the onset of freezing weather, and as needed after that. How often these drains shall be operated throughout the cold season will depend on how much condensation is in the drain.

Removing water from a dry system is an essential part of a good maintenance program. Failure to keep the dry system free of water can result in damage and expensive repairs to both the system and the building.

When not properly maintained, fire protection systems can freeze, burst, and fail to function entirely. It is extremely important to ensure that these systems are properly maintained to make sure they are ready to operate in the event of an emergency.

The author of this content cannot be liable for any use or misuse of the contents. This is a guideline and is meant for information only.

Exploded Backflow from Non Heated Riser Room Frozen Pipe IFP

November 6, 2024

Safety

What to Do in Case of a Fire

From the American Red Cross:

Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas.
Once a month check whether each alarm in the home is working properly by pushing the test button.
Replace batteries in smoke alarms at least once a year. Immediately install a new battery if an alarm chirps, warning the battery is low.
Teach your children what smoke alarms sound like and what to do when they hear one.
Ensure that all household members know two ways to escape from every room of your home, and where to meet up outside.
Practice your fire escape plan at least twice a year and at different times of the day. Practice waking up to smoke alarms, crawling low and meeting outside. Make sure everyone knows how to call 9-1-1.
Emphasize “get out, stay out.” Only professional firefighters should enter a building that is on fire—even if other family members, pets or prized possessions are inside.
Use quick-release devices on barred windows and doors. Security bars without release devices can trap you in a deadly fire. If you have security bars on your windows, be sure one window in each sleeping room has a release device.
Consider getting escape ladders for sleeping areas on the second or third floor. Learn how to use them and store them near the windows.
Teach household members to STOP, DROP and ROLL if their clothes should catch on fire.

The author of this content cannot be liable for any use or misuse of the contents. This is a guideline and is meant for information only.

Burning house.

October 30, 2024

Safety

Fire FAQ

Fire FAQ from the American Red Cross:

When do home fires happen?

Home fires can happen at any time, but they generally increase during the fall and winter, with December and January being the peak months. Home fires are also more common on Saturday and Sunday and tend to peak between 6:00 and 7:00 PM.

Where are home fires most likely to start?

Home fires are more likely to start in the kitchen than any other room in the home. The second leading cause of home fires are heating sources like wood stoves, and fireplaces. Fires caused by smoking are the leading cause of deaths.

My home has a smoke alarm, is that all I need to do?

No, to function properly, smoke alarms must be maintained. In 2005, the NFPA reported that 74 percent of home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. Once a month you should use the test button to check each smoke alarm. And at least once a year, all smoke alarm batteries should be replaced. In addition, smoke alarms can become less sensitive over time and should be replaced at least every 10 years.

How can I create a fire escape plan?

Begin by determining at least two ways to escape from every room of your home. For floors above ground level, escape ladders should be stored near the window. Also, make sure to select a central location at a safe distance from your home where family members can meet after escaping. After creating and discussing your plan with all members of your household, the Red Cross recommends that you practice your plan at least twice a year.

What if my escape route is covered in smoke?

If you see smoke or fire in your first escape route, use your second way out. If you must exit through smoke, crawl low under the smoke. If you are escaping through a closed door, feel the door before opening it. If it is warm, use your second way out. If smoke, heat, or flames block your exit routes, stay in the room with the door closed. Place a rolled towel underneath the door. Open the window- but do not break it. Signal for help waving a brightly colored cloth or shining a flashlight at the window. If there is a phone in the room, call the fire department and tell them your exact location.

The author of this content cannot be liable for any use or misuse of the contents. This is a guideline and is meant for information only.

Fire Escape Plan

October 23, 2024

Information

Wet vs Dry Sprinklers

Wet vs Dry Sprinkler types of systems from the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association):

Wet sprinklers are the most common type of sprinklers. In this system, the sprinkler piping is constantly filled with water. When the temperature at the ceiling gets hot enough the glass bulb or fusible link in a sprinkler will break. Since the system is already filled with water, water is free to flow out of that sprinkler head. Contrary to what Hollywood would have you think, not all sprinkler heads will operate at once in this type of system. The temperature around that specific sprinkler head needs to be high enough to break the glass bulb or fusible link that is holding water back. Once that happens, water will immediately start flowing from only that head. Wet pipe sprinkler systems are the most reliable and cost effective. Therefore, they should be the first type considered when selecting a sprinkler system. However, there are times when a wet pipe sprinkler system may not be appropriate. One of the major factors in determining if a wet pipe system can be used is the temperature of the space can be maintained above freezing.
Dry sprinklers are very similar to wet pipe systems with one major difference. The pipe is not constantly filled with water. Instead, the water is held behind a dry pipe valve, usually some distance away from where the sprinklers are located. Like a wet pipe system, when the temperature at the ceiling becomes hot enough, the glass bulb or fusible link of the sprinkler breaks. However, in this case, water isn’t immediately available because the pipe is not water filled. Instead, air is released from the now open sprinkler head. This creates a drop in pressure causing the dry pipe valve to open and water to fill the system. Water will then flow from the open sprinkler head. A dry pipe system is a great option for unconditioned spaces, or locations where the temperature of the space cannot be guaranteed to be high enough to prevent water in the system from freezing.

The author of this content cannot be liable for any use or misuse of the contents. This is a guideline and is meant for information only.

Fire sprinkler

October 16, 2024

Safety

Apartment Fire Safety

Important safety information from the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association)

People living in an apartment building need to think ahead and be prepared in the event of a fire. It is important to know the fire safety features in your building and work together with neighbors to help keep the building as fire safe as possible.

Know the plan
Make sure that you’re familiar with your building’s evacuation plan, which should illustrate what residents are supposed to do in the event of an emergency. The evacuation plan should be posted in places where all residents can see and review it, and the building management should hold a fire drill with occupants at least once a year. Most states also require that buildings periodically test their fire safety systems as well. Be sure to participate when your building drills take place. When looking for an apartment or high-rise home, look for one with an automatic sprinkler system. Sprinklers can extinguish a home fire in less time that it takes for the fire department to arrive.
Practice is key
Whether your building has one floor or 50, it’s essential that you and your family are prepared to respond to a fire alarm. Identify all the exits in your building and if you are using an escape planning grid, mark them on your escape plan. Make sure to mark the various stairways too, in case one is blocked by fire.
Never use the elevator
In case of fire, always use the stairs to get out, never the elevator. Make sure to practice using the stairs as part of your escape plan. If someone in your family has difficulty climbing down steps, make sure to incorporate a contingency for this into your plan.
Stay low
Smoke from a fire is toxic and deadly no matter what kind of structure you live in. When you hold your fire drill, everyone in the family should practice getting low and going under the smoke to the exit. In the event of a fire, if both stairwells are filled with smoke, stay in your apartment and wait for the firefighters.
Seal yourself in for safety
If you can’t exit an apartment building due to smoke or fire in the hallway, call the fire department to report your exact location and gather in a room with a window to await their arrival. Close all doors between you and the fire. Use duct tape or towels to create a seal around the door and over air vents in order to keep smoke from coming in.
Stay by the window
If possible, you should open your windows at the top and the bottom so fresh air can get in. Don’t break the window – if smoke enters the room from outside the building, you won’t be able to protect yourself.
Signal to firefighters
Wave a flashlight or light-colored cloth at the window to let the fire department know where you are located.

The author of this content cannot be liable for any use or misuse of the contents. This is a guideline and is meant for information only.

Apartment Building on Fire

October 9, 2024

Fire Prevention

Severe Weather Fire Safety

Below are several steps you can take to prevent fire during severe weather from the US Fire Administration

Never use candles for emergency lighting. Use flashlights and stock up on extra batteries.
Make sure your smoke alarm has a backup battery.
Use surge protectors.
Consider unplugging appliances.
Disconnect motor vehicle batteries in flood-prone areas.
Connect appliances to portable generators with heavy-duty extension cords.
Don’t fuel your generator when it is running. Spilling gas on a hot engine can cause a fire.

The author of this content cannot be liable for any use or misuse of the contents. This is a guideline and is meant for information only.

Flashlight power outage

June 13, 2023

Fire Prevention Information

Fire Sprinkler Myths

Myths about Automatic Fire Sprinklers from the American Fire Sprinkler Association:

MYTH: “Water damage from a sprinkler system will be more extensive than fire damage.”

FACT:

Water damage from a home sprinkler system will be much less severe than the damage caused by water from fire-fighting hose lines or smoke and fire damage if the fire goes unabated. Quick response sprinklers release 8-24 gallons of water per minute compared to 50-125 gallons per minute released by a firehose.

MYTH: “When a fire occurs, every sprinkler head goes off.”

FACT:

Sprinkler heads are individually activated by fire. Residential fires are usually controlled with one sprinkler head. 90% of all fires are controlled with six or fewer heads, and a study conducted in Australia and New Zealand covering 82 years of automatic sprinkler use found that two or fewer sprinklers controlled 82% of the fires which occurred.

MYTH: “A smoke detector provides enough protection.”

FACT:

Smoke detectors save lives by providing a warning system but can do nothing to extinguish a growing fire or protect those physically unable to escape independently, such as the elderly or small children. Too often, battery-operated smoke detectors fail to function because the batteries are dead or have been removed. As the percent of homes in America that were “protected” with smoke detectors increased from zero to more than 70%, the number of fire deaths in homes did not significantly decrease.

MYTH: “Sprinklers are designed to protect property but are not effective for life safety.”

FACT:

Sprinklers provide a high level of life safety. Statistics demonstrate that there has never been any multiple loss of life in a fully sprinklered building. Property losses are 85% less in residences with fire sprinklers compared to those without sprinklers. The combination of automatic sprinklers and early warning systems in all buildings and residences could reduce overall injuries, loss of life, and property damage by at least 50%.

The author of this content cannot be liable for any use or misuse of the contents. This is a guideline and is meant for information only.

Fire Sprinkler Head