Tag Archive for: #nfpa

The Local Skinny! Central Station Marks Fire Safety Week With Open House Oct. 9

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There’s just something about a shiny, red fire engine that kindles excitement, from young children to older folks who are still kids at heart. And on Thursday, Oct. 9, the community is invited to come take an up-close-and-personal look at Central Fire Station’s newest piece of equipment – Engine No. 1 – as part of an Open House in observance of Fire Safety Week.

But that’s not the only thing to enjoy, said Battalion Chief Lee Edmonds. There will be pizza, Edmonds said, along with other fire safety demonstrations during the 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. open house at Central Fire Station, located at 211 Dabney Dr.

You can learn how to properly use a fire extinguisher and learn techniques for safely exiting a burning structure in the “Smoke House,” a mobile training trailer that teaches how to get low and crawl in a smoke-filled space.

This year’s Fire Safety Week theme is “Charge into Fire Safety,” which Edmonds said puts an emphasis on those rechargeable lithium ion batteries that find their way into so many household items these days.

“You’d be surprised how much stuff in your house runs off lithium ion batteries,” he said, stressing the importance of their proper use and disposal. It’s important to buy, charge and recycle batteries safely, he said.

The fire station always welcomes visitors, but the Open House will provide opportunities for learning about safety and how to respond in case of an emergency.

Learn more about Fire Safety Week at https://www.nfpa.org/

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Grilling Safety Tips To Remember As Cookout Season Kicks Off

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– information courtesy of the National Fire Protection Association

OK, the long holiday weekend is upon us and chances are, your mind has wandered a time or two about weekend activities – how to make the best use of that extra day off from work?

If cookouts and backyard grilling have popped into your head, the National Fire Protection Association has a few reminders to make sure your weekend activities around the grill are safe ones.

“Because outdoor grilling involves the use of a fuel source to generate an open flame, it inherently presents potential fire risks that needs to be taken seriously,” said Lorraine Carli, vice president of Outreach and Advocacy at NFPA.

Between 2017 and 2021, fire departments across the country responded to almost 11,500 fire calls each year that involved grills, barbecues or hibachis.

Of that number, more than 5,700 were structure fires and another 5,600 were simply outside or unclassified fires.

The NFPA has broken down the statistics further to note that May accounts for 12 percent of the grill fires that were reported, and the percentages inch up as the summer progresses. July was the leading month for grilling fires, with 16 percent.

They cause $172 million in direct property damage, killed an average of 2 people each year and injured 176 more.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that, for the same fire-year period, an annual average of 22,155 patients went to emergency rooms because of injuries involving grills.

Close to half were for burns, both from fire and from contact with hot objects. Children under 5 account for almost half of the close to 3,000 contact-fire burns for that 5-year period.

Adults should supervise closely all children who are close to a grill when it’s in use to avoid them touching, falling or bumping into the hot surface and coals.

“These numbers reinforce that grilling fires can and do happen. However, there’s no need to avoid grilling during Memorial Day or in the months ahead,” said Carli. “Instead, by following simple safety precautions, people can greatly reduce the risk of experiencing a grilling fire.”

See a comprehensive list from NFPA at tips, recommendations, and resources for grilling safely, including these key messages:

  • For propane grills, check the gas tank for leaks before use in the months ahead. (Watch NFPA’s video on how to check for leaks.)
  • Keep your grill clean by removing grease or fat buildup from the grills and in trays below the grill.
  • Place the grill well away from the home, deck railings, and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
  • Always make sure your gas grill lid is open before lighting it.
  • Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the grilling area.
  • If you use starter fluid when charcoal grilling, only use charcoal starter fluid. Never add charcoal fluid or any other flammable liquids to the fire. When you have or are finished grilling, let the coals cool completely before disposing in a metal container.
  • Never leave your grill unattended when in use.

 

Henderson Fire Dept

Are You Winter Freeze Ready? Tips to Keep Your Family Safe and Warm

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-Information courtesy the Henderson Fire Department

With cold weather in mind, the Henderson Fire Department has provided the following tips, courtesy of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), to keep residents safe and warm during the winter freeze:

  1. Furnaces should be inspected and serviced by a qualified professional at least once a year.
  2. Chimney and vents should be cleaned and inspected by a qualified professional at least once a year. Creosote build-up is the leading cause of chimney fires.
  3. Wood for the fireplace or a wood stove should be dry, seasoned wood.
  4. Fireplace screens should be metal or heat-tempered glass in good condition and secure.
  5. A covered ready-to-use metal container to dispose of cooled ashes should be available but kept 10 feet from the home or other buildings.
  6. Teach children to stay at least three feet away from the fireplace, wood/pellet stove, oil stove or space heater.
  7. Portable space heaters should have an automatic shut-off.
  8. Portable space heaters should be plugged directly into an outlet – never an extension cord – and placed at least three feet from anything that can burn. Place notes throughout your home to remind you to turn off heaters when you go to bed or leave a room.
  9. Test your smoke alarms to ensure they are working. You need smoke alarms on every level of the house, inside each sleeping room and outside each separate sleeping area. For the best protection, the smoke alarms should be interconnected so that when one sounds, they all sound.
  10. Test your carbon monoxide alarms to ensure they are working. Carbon monoxide alarms should be located outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home.

For more information on fire safety, please visit www.nfpa.org.