Using Alternative Heating Safely

Most Town of Plymouth residents have winter heating costs on their mind.  Whether primarily heating their homes with oil, gas, or electricity, local families are cautiously preparing for the challenge of high energy costs this winter.  While heating costs could be devastating for many wallets, increased use of alternative heating equipment – like pellet stoves, wood or coal stoves and space heaters – could have an even more devastating effect on the possibility of serious home heating fires.

As a leading cause of home fires, heating is a concern for every community this winter.  This year, with the projected increase in use of alternative heating equipment, families need to be especially vigilant to use all heating equipment properly.

Alternative heating sources are not inherently a greater fire risk; with caution they can be used safely.  That is why the Terryville Fire Department is encouraging residents using pellet stoves, wood or stoves, space heaters or any other non-traditional home heating equipment this winter to follow this advice:

Portable electric space heaters

·         Turn heaters off when you go to bed or leave the room.

·         Use and purchase portable space heaters with an auto shut off so if they are tipped over they will shut off.

·         Place space heaters on a solid, flat surface at least 3 feet away from anything that can burn.

Fuel-burning space heaters

·         Always use the proper fuel as specified by the manufacturer.

·         When refueling, allow the appliance to cool and refuel outside or in a well-ventilated area.

·         If the pilot light of your gas heater goes out, allow 5 minutes or more for the gas to dissipate before trying to ignite the pilot light, do not allow gas to accumulate, and light the match before you turn on the gas to the pilot to avoid flashback.

Wood and pellet-burning stoves

·         Wood or coal stoves should bear the label of a recognized testing laboratory.

·         In wood stoves. Burn only dry, seasoned wood.  In pellet stoves, burn only dry, seasoned wood pellets.

·         Keep the doors of your wood or coal stove closed unless loading or stoking the live fire.

At best, not heeding this advice could result in superficial property damage.  At worst, you could lose loved ones who may be unable to escape the rapid course of a preventable fire, as well as the comfort and safety you have always felt in your home.  And, please install a CO detector in your home to protect your family from carbon monoxide, the silent killer.  Please join the Terryville Fire Department in ensuring that our community is safe from heating incidents this winter.

Have a happy and safe holiday season!

Submitted by CaptainTony Orsini, Terryville Fire Department

Health & Safety Officer

Source:  National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

Candle Fire Safety

The U.S. Fire Administration and the Terryville Fire Department are urging the public

to keep safety in mind when using candles. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, candles

cause an estimated 15,600 fires in residential structures, 150 deaths, 1,270 injuries, and

$539 million in estimated direct property damage each year.

Some candle fire statistics

 ·         Over half (55%) of home candle fires start because a candle is too close

to some combustible material.

·         More candle fires (38%) begin in the bedroom than in any other room.

·         Falling asleep is a factor in 12% of home candle fires and 26% of the

associated deaths.

·         Half of all civilian candle fire deaths occur between midnight and 6 a.m.

·         December is the peak month for candle fires; Christmas is the peak day.

·         Young children and older adults have the highest death risk from candle fires.

·         The risk of a fatal candle fire appears higher when candles are used for light.

Source: National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) – Candles Fires,

September 2007

Tragic and Preventable Candle Fires

 ·         Three sleeping boys died when a candle left burning in the living room

ignited nearby combustibles.

·         A man and his three children died in a fire when wax from an unattended

candle dripped on curtains, igniting them.

·         Eleven members of a family died in a fire when a lighted candle ignited

a mattress.

·         Two children died in a fire when a lighted candle rolled under the

Christmas tree.

·         A mother and young baby died when a burning candle used for religious

observances ignited cabinetry.

Fact: The majority of candle fires result from human error

and negligence.

Candle Fire Safety Tips

 ·         Avoid using lighted candles.

·         If you do use candles, ensure they are in sturdy metal, glass, or ceramic

holders and placed where they cannot be easily knocked down.

·         Keep candles out of reach of children and pets.

·         Set a good example by using matches, lighters, and fire carefully.

·         Children should never be allowed to play with matches, lighters or candles.

·         Never put candles on a Christmas tree.

·         Never leave the house with candles burning.

·         Extinguish candles after use.

·         Establish a fire-safe home, especially a safe sleeping environment.

·         And NEVER leave burning candles unattended.

Submitted by Captain Tony Orsini, Terryville Fire Department

Health and Safety Officer

Cooking Fire Safety

Many families gather in the kitchen to spend time together, but it can be one

of the most hazardous rooms in the house if you don’t practice safe cooking behaviors. 

Cooking equipment, most often a range stovetop, is the leading cause of reported

home fires and home fire injuries in the United States.  Cooking equipment is also the

leading cause of unreported fires and associated injuries.

It is a recipe for serious injury or even death to wear loose clothing

(especially hanging sleeves), to walk away from a cooking pot on the stove,

or to leave flammable materials, such as potholders or paper towels, around the stove. 

Whether you are cooking the family holidaydinner or a snack for the children,

practicing safe cooking behaviors will help keep you and your family safe.

The following are some safety practices recommended by the

Terryville Fire Department:

Watch What You Heat

·         The leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking.

·         Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. 

If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.

·         If you are simmering, baking, roasting, or boiling food, check it regularly,

remainin the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that

you are cooking.

·         Stay alert!  To prevent cooking fires, you have to be alert.  You will not

be if you are sleepy, have been drinking alcohol, or have taken medicine

that makes you drowsy.

Keep Things That Can Catch Fire and Heat Sources Apart

·         Keep anything that can catch fire – potholders, oven mitts, wood utensils,

paper or plastic bags, food packaging, towels, or curtains – away from your

stovetop.

·         Keep the stovetop, burners, and oven clean.

·         Wear short, close-fitting or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking. 

Loose clothing can dangle onto stove burners and catch fire if it comes

into contact with a gas or electric burner.

Use Equipment for Intended Purposes Only

Cook only with equipment designed and intended for cooking, and heat your home

only with equipment designed and intended for heating.  There is additional danger

of fire, injury, or death if equipment is used for a purpose for which it was not intended.

Protect Children from Scalds and Burns

·         Young children are at high risk of being burned by hot food and liquids. 

Keep children away from cooking areas by enforcing a “kid-free zone” of

3 feet around the stove.

·         Keep young children at least 3 feet away from any place where hot

food or drink is being prepared or carried.  Keep hot foods and liquids

away from table and counter edges.

·         When children are present, use the stove’s back burners whenever

possible.

·         Never hold a child while cooking, drinking, or carrying hot foods or

liquids.

·         Teach children  that hot things burn.

·         When children are old enough, teach them to cook safely.  Supervise

them closely.

Prevent Scalds and Burns

·         To prevent spills due to overturn of cooking utensils or appliances

containing hot food or liquids, use the back burner whenever possible

and/or turn pot handles away from the stove’s edge.  All appliance cords

need to be kept coiled and away from counter edges.

·         Use oven mitts or potholders when moving hot food from ovens,

microwave ovens, or stovetops.  Never use wet oven mitts or potholders

as they can cause scald burns.

·         Replace old or worn oven mitts.

·         Treat a burn right away, putting it in cool water.  Cool the burn for

3 to 5 minutes.  If the burn is bigger than your fist or if you have any

questions about how to treat it, seek medical attention immediately.

Install and Use Microwave Ovens Safely

·         Place or install the microwave oven at a safe height, within easy

reach of all users.  The face of the person using the microwave oven

should always be higher than the front of the microwave oven door. 

This is to prevent hot food or liquid from spilling onto a user’s face or

body from above and to prevent the microwave oven itself from falling

onto a user.

·         Never use aluminum foil or metal objects in a microwave oven. 

They can cause a fire or damage the oven.

·         Heat food only in containers or dishes that are safe for microwave use.

·         Open heated food containers slowly away from the face to avoid

steam burns.  Hot steam escaping from the container or food can cause burns.

·         Foods heat unevenly in microwave ovens.  Stir and test before eating.

How and When to Fight Cooking Fires

·         When in doubt, just get out.  When you leave, close the door behind

you to help contain the fire.  Call the fire department – dial 9-1-1 after you leave.

·          If you do try to fight the fire, be sure others are already getting out and

you have a clear path to the exit.

·         Always keep an oven mitt and a lid nearby when you are cooking. 

If a small grease fire starts in a pan, smother the flames by carefully sliding

the lid oven the pan (make sure you are wearing an oven mitt). 

Turn off the burner.  Do not move the pan.  To keep the fire from restarting,

leave the lid on until the pan is completely cool.

·         In case of an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed to

prevent the flames from burning you or your clothing.

·         If you have a fire in your microwave oven, turn it off immediately and

keep the door closed.  Never open the door until the fire is completely out. 

 Unplug the appliance if you can safely reach the outlet.

·         After a fire, both ovens and microwaves should be checked and/or

serviced before using again.

Nuisance Smoke Alarms

·         If a smoke alarm sounds during normal cooking, press the pause

button if the smoke alarm has one.  Open the door or window or fan the

area with a towel to

get the air moving.  Do not disable the smoke alarm or take out the

batteries.

·         You may have to move the smoke alarm farther away from the

kitchen.  Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for determining

the proper location of smoke alarms.

·         Treat every smoke alarm activation as a likely fire and react quickly

and safely to the alarm.

This fire safety information is provided by the U.S. Fire Administration.

Submitted by Captain Tony Orsini, Terryville Fire Department

Health & Safety Officer

Terryville Fire Department

Escape Planning

Get Out Safely

More than 4,000 Americans die each year in fires.  Approximately

20,000 are injured.  Deaths from failed emergency escapes are particularly

avoidable.  The United States Fire Administration and the Terryville Fire

Department believe that having a sound escape plan will greatly reduce

fire deaths and protect you and your family’s safely if a fire occurs.

In the event of a fire, remember – time is the biggest enemy and every

second counts!  Escape plans help you get out of your home quickly. 

In less than 30 seconds a small flame can get out of control and turn into

a major fire.  It only takes minutes for a house to fill with black smoke

and become engulfed in flames.

Special Considerations

·         Practice Escaping From Every Room In The Home

Practice escape plans every month.  The best plans have two

ways out of each room.  If the primary way is blocked by fire

or smoke, you need a second way out.  A secondary route might

be a window onto an adjacent roof or a collapsible ladder for

escape from upper story windows.  Purchase only collapsible ladders evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratory (UL).  Make sure that windows are not stuck, screens

can be taken out quickly and that security bars can be properly

opened.  Also, practice feeling your way out of the house in the

dark or with your eyes closed.

Security bars may help to keep your family safe form intruders,

but they can also trap you in a deadly fire!  Windows and doors

with security bars must have quick release devices to allow them

to be opened immediately in an emergency.  Make sure everyone

in the family understands and practices how to properly operate

and open locked or barred doors and windows.

·         Immediately Leave The Home

When fire occurs, do not waste any time saving property. 

Take the safest exit route, but if you must escape through smoke,

remember to crawl low, under the smoke and keep your mouth

covered.  The smoke contains toxix gases which can disorient

you or, at worst, overcome you.

·         Never Open Doors That Are Hot To The Touch

When you come to a closed Door, use the back of your hand

to feel the  top of the door, the doorknob, and the crack between the

door and door frame to make sure that the fire is not on the

other side.  If it feels hot,  use your secondary escape route. 

Even if the door feels cool, open it carefully.  Brace your shoulder

against the door and open it slowly.  If heat and smoke come in,

slam the door and make sure it is securely closed, then use

your alternate escape route.

·         Designate A Meeting Place Outside and Take Attendance

Designate a meeting location away from the home, but not

necessarily across the street.  For example, meet under a specific

tree or at the end of the driveway or front sidewalk to make sure

everyone has gotten out safely and no one will be hurt looking

for someone who is already safe. 

Designate one person to go to a neighbor’s home to phone the

fire department.

·         Once Out, Stay Out

Remember to escape first, then notify the fire department

using the 911 system.      Never go back into a burning building

for any reason.  Teach children not to hide from firefighters.  If

someone is missing, tell the firefighters.  They are equipped to

perform rescues safely.

Finally, having working smoke detectors installed on every level of

your home dramatically increases your chances of survival.  Smoke

detector batteries need to be tested every month and changed with new

ones at least once a year.  Also, consider replacing the entire smoke detector

every ten years, or as the manufacturer guidelines recommend.  In addition,

carbon monoxide detectors should be installed, checked monthly, and

maintained in good working order.

Submitted by Captain Tony Orsini, Terryville Fire Department

Health & Safety Officer

Source:  United States Fire Administration

Smoke Alarms

In the event of a fire, installed and maintained smoke alarms will provide

an early warning alarm to your household.  This alarm could save your own

life and those of your loved ones by providing the chance to escape.

Why should you have Smoke Alarms?

In the event of a fire, a smoke alarm can save your life and those of your

loved ones. They are a very important means of preventing house and apartment

fire fatalities by providing an early warning signal – so you and your family can

escape. Smoke alarms are one of the best safety devices you can buy and

install to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your family.

What types of Smoke Alarms are available?

There are many different brands of smoke alarms available on the market

but they all fall under two basic types: ionization and photoelectric.

Ionization alarms sound more quickly when flaming, fast moving fire occurs. 

Photoelectric alarms are quicker at sensing smoldering, smoky fires. 

There are also combination smoke alarms that combine ionization and

photoelectric into one unit, called dual sensor smoke alarms.

Because both ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms are better

at detecting distinctly yet potentially fatal fires, and because homeowners

cannot predict what type of fire might start in a home, the U. S. Fire

Administration recommends the installation of  both ionization and

photoelectric or dual sensor smoke alarms.

In addition to the basic types of alarms, there are alarms made to meet

the needs of people with hearing disabilities.  These alarms may use strobe

lights that flash and/or vibrate to assist in alerting those who are unable to

hear standard smoke alarms when they sound.

Where do you put Smoke Alarms?

Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including the basement. 

Many fatal fires begin late at night or in the early morning.  For extra safety,

install smoke alarms both inside and outside sleeping areas.  Since smoke and

many deadly gases rise, installing your smoke alarms at the proper level

will provide you with the earliest warning possible.  Always follow the

manufacturer’s installation instructions.

Where can you get Smoke Alarms?

Many hardware, home supply, or general merchandise stores carry

smoke alarms.

Are Smoke Alarms difficult to install?

If your smoke alarms are hard wired, that is wired into the electrical

system, you need to have a qualified electrician do the initial installation

or install replacements.  For battery powered smoke alarms, all you will

need for installation is a screw driver. Some brands are self adhesive and

will easily stick to the wall or ceiling where they are placed.  For all installations,

be sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions because there are

differences between various brands.  If you are uncomfortable standing on a

ladder, ask a relative or friend for help.

How do you keep your Smoke Alarm working?

If you have a smoke alarm with batteries:

1.      Smoke Alarms powered by long-lasting batteries are designed

to replace the entire unit according to manufacturer’s instructions.

2.      In standard type battery powered smoke alarms, the batteries

need to be replaced at least once per year and the whole unit should

be replaced every 8-10 years.

3.      In hard-wired, battery back up smoke alarms, the batteries need

to be checked monthly, and replaced at least once per year. 

The entire unit should be replaced every 8-10 years.

Helpful Tips

Pick a holiday or birthday and replace batteries each year on that day.

If your smoke alarm starts making a “chirping” noise, replace the batteries

and reset it.

What if the Smoke Alarm goes off while you are cooking?

Then it’s doing its job.  Do not disable your smoke alarm due to cooking

or non-fire causes.  You may not remember to put the batteries back in

the alarm after cooking. Instead clear the air by waving a towel near the

alarm, leaving the batteries in place.  The smoke alarm may need to be

moved to a new location.  Some of the newer models have a “hush” button

that silences nuisance alarms.

How long will your Smoke Alarm last?

Most smoke alarms installed today have a life span of about 8-10 years.

  After this time, the entire unit should be replaced.  It is a good idea to

write the date of purchase with a marker on the inside of your alarm so

you will know when to replace it.  Some of the newer smoke alarms 

already have the purchase date written inside. 

In any event, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for replacement.

Is there anything else you should know?

Some smoke alarms are considered to be “hard-wired”.  This means

they are connected to the household electrical system and may or may

not have battery backup.  It’s important to test every smoke alarm monthly

and replace batteries with new ones at

least once per year.

Submitted by Captain Tony Orsini, Terryville Fire Department

Health & Safety Officer

Source:  U. S. Fire Administration.