NFFF News Release: In an effort to make personal safety a top priority, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) and the Chicago Fire Department (CFD) today released a new video, Chicago Fire Department – Everyone Goes Home®. Members of the CFD and families of fallen firefighters share their stories in this compelling and moving testimonial of the importance of adhering to safety standards and accepting personal responsibility for following procedures.
Chicago Fire Commissioner Robert Hoff was impressed by a video that the NFFF and the Fire Department of New York produced several years earlier to educate members about the importance of training and safety standards. The FDNY leadership had noticed behavioral improvement among its members following the release of their video. Hoff felt that the members of the CFD could benefit from hearing first-hand accounts of the lessons learned by their colleagues and invited the NFFF to collaborate on a video for Chicago.
“The culture of firefighting requires us to do everything we can to make sound decisions so we can be in a position to help the people we serve when they most need it,” said Ronald J. Siarnicki, executive director of the NFFF. “With this video the firefighters and leadership of the Chicago Fire Department are clearly showing the rest of the fire service you can still be a firefighter and at the same time do your best to make sure Everyone Goes Home®.”
(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)
Firefighter James Rice, 46-years-old, an 11-year veteran of the Peabody Fire Department, died of injuries combating a 3-alarm fire. It is reported that Firefighter Rice died inside the multiple-family apartment complex between the 1st and 2nd floors.
According to The Boston HeraldFirefighter Jim Rice inhaled toxic fumes while battling the blaze and received emergency medical treatment at the fire scene.Firefighter Rice was then transported to the North Shore Medical Center in Salem, Mass. where he was pronounced dead.
“Firefighter James Rice was liked and loved by everyone. He was a very popular firefighter he was also a popular man in the community. And he’ll be missed by all of us in the Peabody Fire Department and throughout the entire City of Peabody.
Firefighter Jim Rice leaves a wife and three children. The fire in under investigation by Massachusetts State Troopers, The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, and Peabody Fire Department Firefighters.
(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)
At least 150 SFFD firefighters, about half the Bay City’s firefighting force, responded and combated a five-alarm blaze where strong winds were a factor, fanning the flames, and pushed the fire that engulfed two structures
It was reported that the fire started in the backyard of a 3-story condominium at 1502 Golden Gate Ave, to where the fast moving fire quickly caught an adjacent 4-story apartment build, located on 1015 Pierce, on fire as well shortly around noon. Two other structures, including a school were damaged at the fire scene.
At one point in the firefighting efforts the blaze was so hot and intense a search for trapped residents could not be done. Firefighters evacuated also for a time for fear of a structure collapse. SFFD Fire Chief Hayes-White stated that firefighters had to forcefully battle the fire or risk losing controlled. “If you don’t make an aggressive attack it is likely you will lose the entire block,” Chief Hayes-White said.
As for injuries on the fire ground, it was reported that one firefighter received minor burns on the back of the neck, and one resident was suffering from smoke inhalation and was treated. Both firefighter and resident were taken to the hospital for treatment. The 5-alarm building blaze left up to 60 residents homeless.
Firefighting crews fought the blaze for more than two hours, around 3:00p.m. PST the fire was declared under control. Cause of the fire is unknown at this time and an arson investigating team will be investigating a cause according to SFFD Fire Chief Hayes-White.
(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)
There was a three- alarm fire yesterday, 12/19/11 at 2:30 pm in the afternoon, in the 800 block of West Boxborough Drive in the Ballymeade Community just outside Wilmington, Delaware. The fire destroyed one house and causing heavy smoke & water damage to several other homes.
The Claymont Fire Company responded and was assisted by many surrounding fire companies fighting the townhouse fire. During the fire there was a radio transmission of a “Mayday” in which initiated a firefighter accountability count of all firefighters on the fire ground. All firefighters were accounted for. At 8 minutes 32 seconds into the following YouTube audio, the Claymount DE fire departments “Mayday” call was canceled. The dispatcher working this alarm transmitted that the “Mayday” restriction was lifted with all firefighters on the fire ground accounted for.
The fully engulfed townhouse that caught fire, in flames with fire shooting out top-floor windows and with fire extending into the exposed connecting housing units collapsed into a pile or rubble. The Townhouse was completely destroyed with adjacent homes damaged with one missing a roof, and the other home in pretty bad shape.
Dozens of firefighters were on-scene combating this three-alarm blaze for several hours.
It has been reported the no one was injured in the fire. Official cause of the townhouse fire fire is being investigated. The Red Cross will be assisting & helping the victims of this three-alarm fire who are now without a home days before Christmas Day.
(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)
Consumer Injuries Involving Decorations and Decorating Are on the RiseCPSC and UL Provide Tips for a Safe Holiday Home
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Holiday decorating plans do not normally include lacerations, falls and fires. Unfortunately, these hazards make an unwelcome appearance in the homes of thousands of consumers each year. To help avoid hidden decorating dangers, CPSC and UL are providing families with tips for a safe holiday home.
Reports of falls from ladders while stringing lights and hanging decorations, incidents of lacerations from broken glass ornaments and other holiday-related injuries are increasing. During November and December 2010, CPSC estimates that more than 13,000 people were treated in emergency departments nationwide due to injuries involving holiday decorations. This is an increase from 10,000 in 2007 and 12,000 in 2008 and in 2009.
Although estimates of deaths and injuries related to Christmas tree and candle fires are down, there are still an alarming number of incidents. Live trees or other evergreen decorations that have dried out burn fast and hot in a matter of seconds if they come in contact with an open flame.
Between 2006 and 2008, there was an annual average of four deaths and $18 million in property damage related to Christmas tree fires. During this same time period, CPSC received reports of about 130 deaths and $360 million in property losses related to candle fires.
"A well-watered tree, carefully placed candles, and carefully checked holiday light sets will help prevent the joy of the holidays from turning into a trip to the emergency room or the loss of your home," said Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. "Follow CPSC's safety tips and give your family the gift of a safe holiday home."
"This is easily the busiest time of year, but it's important to make time for safety while celebrating the holidays," said John Drengenberg, director of consumer safety at UL. "By committing a few minutes each day to safety, many accidents can be avoided and your holidays will be memorable for all the right reasons."
CPSC and UL suggest using the following 12 safety tips to help keep your holiday home safe this year:
Trees and Decorations
Buying live trees, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green, its needles are hard to pull from branches, and its needles do not break when bent between your fingers. The bottom of a fresh tree is sticky with resin and, when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.
Setting up a tree at home, place it away from heat sources, such as fireplaces, vents, and radiators. Because heated rooms rapidly dry out live trees, be sure to monitor water levels daily and keep the tree stand filled with water. Place the tree out of the way of traffic, and do not block doorways with the tree.
Buying an artificial tree, look for the label "Fire Resistant." Although this label does not mean that the tree will not catch fire, it does indicate that the tree is more resistant to catching fire.
Decorating a tree in homes with small children, take special care to avoid sharp, weighted, or breakable decorations. Keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children who could swallow or inhale small pieces, and avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that may tempt a child to eat them.
Candles
Keep burning candles within sight. Extinguish all candles before you go to bed, leave the room, or leave the house.
Keep candles on a stable, heat-resistant surface where kids and pets cannot reach them or knock them over. Lighted candles should be placed away from items that can catch fire and burn easily, such as trees, other evergreens, decorations, curtains and furniture.
Lights
Use only lights that have been tested for safety by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, such as UL. Lights for both indoor and outdoor usage must meet strict requirements that testing laboratories are able to verify. On most decorative lights available in stores, UL's red holographic label signifies that the product meets safety requirements for indoor and outdoor usage. UL's holographic label, with the green UL Mark, signifies it meets requirements for only indoor usage.
Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Throw out damaged sets and do not use electric lights on a metallic tree.
Check each extension cord to make sure it is rated for the intended use.
Check outdoor lights for labels showing that the lights have been certified for outdoor use, and only plug them into a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI)-protected receptacle or a portable GFCI.
Fireplaces
Use care with "fire salts," which produce colored flames when thrown on wood fires. They contain heavy metals that can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation and vomiting if swallowed. Keep them away from children.
Do not burn wrapping papers in the fireplace. A flash fire may result as wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely.
To find more valuable safety information for keeping your home safe and bright this holiday season, please visit www.cpsc.gov or UL's www.SafetyAtHome.com
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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $900 billion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals - contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.
(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)
December 2011 – Festive lighting, windowsill candles and ornamented Christmas trees are staples of the holidays, but these decorative items also pose a fire risk if handled improperly. In 2005-2009, on average, one of every 18 reported home Christmas tree fires resulted in a death, compared to an average of one death per 141 total home fires.
Holiday lights and other decorative lighting were involved in an estimated average of 150 home fires per year during the same time. These fires caused an average of eight civilian deaths, 14 injuries, and $8.5 million in direct property damage per year.
“December is an exciting time where almost every home on the block is accented with decorations and seasonal lighting,” said Lorraine Carli, vice president of communications for the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). “Though decorations such as candles or Christmas trees certainly spread holiday cheer, it is important to follow basic safety steps so celebrations go off without a hitch.”
Video:A demonstration showing how flammable a dry Christmas tree can be as opposed to a tree watered regularly.
Be careful with holiday decorations. Choose decorations that are flame resistant or flame retardant.
Keep lit candles away from decorations and other things that can burn.
Use lights that have the label of an independent testing laboratory. Check the packaging; some lights are only for indoor use.
Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Connect no more than three strands of mini light sets and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs.
Use clips, not nails, to hang lights so the cords do not get damaged.
Keep your tree well watered. A dry tree can be extremely dangerous. See how flammable a dry Christmas tree can be in comparison to a well-watered tree in a demonstration by NFPA.
Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Connect no more than three strands of mini string sets and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs.
Never use lit candles to decorate the tree.
Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to bed.
Get rid of the tree when it is dry. Check with your local community to find a recycling program.
Bring outdoor electrical lights inside after the holidays to prevent hazards and make them last longer.
About the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) NFPA is a worldwide leader in fire, electrical, building, and life safety. The mission of the international nonprofit organization founded in 1896 is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education.
(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)
As we move closer to winter and home fire deaths begin to increase, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) remind everyone that fire safety and prevention are especially important in the coming months. Because home fires are more prevalent in winter than in any other season, NFPA and USFA are once again jointly sponsoring a special initiative – Put a Freeze on Winter Fires – to help raise public awareness about winter fires.
“These fires are a painful reminder of what we see every year – the temperatures drop and fires increase,” said NFPA President Jim Shannon. According to NFPA statistics, space heaters account for about one third of home heating fires and approximately 80 percent of the home heating fire deaths.
The USFA’s Winter Residential Building Fires(PDF, 1 MB) report shows that each winter an estimated 108,400 residential building fires occur in the United States, resulting in 945 deaths, 3,825 injuries, and $1.7 billion in property loss. Cooking is the leading cause of winter residential building fires at 36 percent followed by heating at 23 percent. Winter residential building fires occur mainly in the early evening hours, peaking from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
“The winter season brings the highest number of home fires, more than at any other time of year,” said USFA’s Deputy Fire Administrator Glenn Gaines. “Home fires increase in part due to cooking and heating. Winter storms can also interrupt electrical service and cause people to turn to alternative heating sources that contribute to the increased risk of fire during the winter months.”
The NFPA and USFA recommend following these safety tips to prevent winter home fires:
Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period, turn off the stove.
Space heaters need space; keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from each heater.
Check electrical cords often and replace cracked or damaged electrical or extension cords. Do not try to repair them.
Never use your oven or stovetop to heat your home. They are not designed for this purpose and can be a fire hazard. In addition, carbon monoxide (CO) gas might kill people and pets.
Do not put your live Christmas tree up too early or leave it up for longer than two weeks. Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.
Avoid using lighted candles. If you must use candles, place them in sturdy candleholders that won’t burn.
If you smoke, use only fire-safe cigarettes and smoke outside.
“Winter fires are preventable,” Gaines emphasized. “Everyone should find out what they need to know to prevent a tragedy and have a safe winter season.”
For more information about the causes of winter fires, winter storm fire safety, holiday fire safety, and tips that will help prevent the incidence of fire in the home, visit the USFA website at www.usfa.fema.gov/winter and the NFPA website at www.nfpa.org/winter.
About the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) As an entity of the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency, the mission of the USFA is to provide national leadership to foster a solid foundation for our fire and emergency services stakeholders in prevention, preparedness, and response.
About the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) NFPA is a worldwide leader in fire, electrical, building, and life safety. The mission of the international nonprofit organization founded in 1896 is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education.
(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)
This week, on Thursday, is Thanksgiving Day with the holiday cooking starting across the country as well as marking the start to the holiday season. It is also a time to be reminded and encourage while cooking to take extra precautions and fire safety measures to prevent any kitchen fires from starting. It is hope that this Thanksgiving will be as safe as it was last year.
Fire statistics show that firefighters have responded to a number of kitchen fires each Holiday Season in years past. It is often the case that while the holiday meal is being put together the cook’s attention is diverted from the cooking thus raising the risk of a fire to start. The extra people in the home while the holiday meal is cooking can add to the confusion with the chance of the cook leaving something on the stove too long. The next thing you know, you have a kitchen fire.
DON’T BE A FIRE STATISTIC!
Turkey Fryers are often the source of cooking-related fires when they are used to prepare a holiday season meal. From YouTube® here’s a very important example of what could happen if a turkey fryer is used improperly:
U.S. fire departments are responding to more than 1,000 fires each year when a deep fryer is involved. The National Fire Association says deep fryers fires can result in more than $15 million in property damage each year and hot oil splatter can cause serious burns to an adult or life-threatening to a child.
Using turkey fryers this year to cook a turkey you most take several fire safety steps to insure their safety. Always use the turkey fryer outside and NOT in the garage or house. Make sure the turkey is completely defrosted and dried off before putting in the hot oil. Forgetting to simply drying off the turkey will result in the stating of hot oil splashing and then things begin to catch fire. The BIGGEST DANGER when using the turkey deep-fryer is when it’s not thawed or dried correctly, which can cause the grease or hot oil to splash or thaw. The YouTube® Turkey Fryer Fire Demonstration, presented by William Shatner & State Farm® demonstrated and showed the result of not following proper, very simple, fire safety precautions.
A full charged fire extinguisher should be kept near the door of the kitchen as well as near where you are using the turkey fryer outside. The fire extinguisher is to be used to fight small fires, when they are just started, and one should always escape from the fire area if the fire gets out of had where it cannot be put out with portable fire extinguish. When there is a fire, don’t hesitate to call 911, and call before fighting the fire or have someone call when you are using the fire extinguisher.
As the popularity of turkey fryers increase, more people are at risk for injury or property damage as information from State Farms Insurance states.
Fire Safety does not stop just because it’s the holiday season, and we need to keep this in mind as we celebrating. Remember that one of the leading causes of home fires is unattended cooking. When you are cooking, stay in the kitchen, stay with that turkey fryer. If you have to leave, for whatever reason, make sure you turn the appliance off. If there’s a pot on the stove, move it from one heat element after turning element off to another cooler element. If you ever have a pot of grease or hot oil catch fire, cover it with a lid, turn off the switch to it, and NEVER NEVER put a grease/hot oil fire with water as that will result only making a bad fire into a worse fire.
A little extra attention during the hectic holiday season goes a long way to keeping family and guests fire safe.
(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)
With colder winter months ahead and temperatures already turning cooler the need to supplement extra heat with the use of space heaters will be on the raise. During winter there are more fires caused by heating devices when precautions and safe guards are not in use or observed.
Already for the month of November there have been serious damaging fires that have happened most probably due to electrical space heaters. When there are these types of fire there’s reason to speculate that fire safety and fire prevention practices were lacking
Here are fires that happen so far, with suspected space heater as a cause for this month with no real digging for on the internet…
November 2: White Plains, New York — A fire killed 16 dogs, including puppies… in a suburban breeder’s backyard kennel, which an inspector later said was illegal.…the cause of the fire may have been a heat lamp or space heater….16 dogs die in fire at NY kennel that inspector says was illegal; space heater eyed as cause…
November 4, 2011: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma —Fire Official: Space Heater To Blame For Blaze. A space heater is believed to have caused a house fire in southeast Oklahoma City, fire officials said.
November 4, 2011: St. Louis, Missouri — Space heater to blame in St. Louis house fire…after a space heater caught fire in the room…
November 11, 2011: Atlanta, Georgia — House burns after Atlanta space heater fire…after a space heater was left on…and didn’t think twice about leaving a small space heater on top of a bedroom dresser…
November 11, 2011: Summit, Arkansas — A electric heater appeared to be the cause of a fire that destroyed a home Friday in Summit, fire officials said. …The fire appeared to have started from an electrical space heater in the front bedroom…The four-bedroom is a total loss…
November 12, 2011: Volney, New York – An apartment building blaze…Space heater suspected cause in fire… believed that the fire was caused by a space heater plugged in to an extension cord in the middle of the building in one of the downstairs apartments.
At the Volney, New York fire this past weekend, firefighters say a space heater likely touched off the massive fire. It took more than two hours to put out and has left several people homeless. The following YouTube® shows a news report of the actual fire responseand scene…
Also, At the Volney, New York fire, one volunteer firefighter was reported being startled when a wall collapsed on him, luckily he wasn’t physically injured but was “a little dazed.” Another volunteer firefighter was slightly injured after falling five feet off a ladder. “Scene Safety” becomes paramount to the firefighter when on the fire ground but can be easily overlooked combating the fire but shouldn’t.
If you must use a space heater for heat, use it as safely as possible.
• When buying a heater, look for one that has been tested and labeled by a nationally recognized testing company, such as Underwriter’s Laboratories (UL).
• Keep the heater three feet away from drapes, furniture or other flammable materials.
• Place the heater on a level surface away from areas where someone might bump into it and knock it over.
• Avoid using extension cords. If you must use an extension cord, make sure it is a heavy duty cord marked with a power rating at least as high as that on the label of the heater itself.
• Never leave a space heater unattended or running while you sleep.
• Supervise children and pets when a space heater is in use.
• Keep electric heaters away from water. Never use them near a sink or in the bathroom.
(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)
Carbon dioxide that travels through piping to soda fountains in places such as popular fast food restaurants can be deadly if leaking occurs or if there’s an improperly connected carbon dioxide line to the soda machine. Leaking of carbon dioxide in a large amount will and have resulted in hazmat incidents.
Carbon dioxide is used in soda fountains to make the water “carbonated” with bubbles before it is blended with flavored syrup, such as that from Coke or Pepsi.
According to material safety data sheet on the gas, carbon dioxide in high concentration can quickly crowd out the oxygen in the air, leading to dizziness, unconsciousness and, sometimes death.
The Phoenix (AZ) Fire Department developed and has sent out via YouTube® for all emergency responders to view a “lesson learned” of a very important safety alert. The following YouTube® is to warn Firefighters, EMT’s, and Emergency Responders when responding about a new hazard of the job: Liquefied CO2 systems that are being used in fast food restaurants, convenience stories, and all other businesses…
This is a case study on what appeared to be a routine medical incident but involved CO2 exposure and a near miss.
(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)
November 9, 2011 – The number of home cooking fires on Thanksgiving Day was three times the national average of fires per day in 2009, according the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA.) NFPA is urging the public to keep fire safety in mind when preparing holiday meals.
“Thanksgiving can be a whirlwind of cooking and entertaining guests,” said Lorraine Carli, vice president of communications for NFPA. “With so much multitasking taking place, fire hazards around the oven or stovetop can easily be overlooked. Cooks should be conscious of fire safety this Thanksgiving whether the menu is meant to serve two or 20.”
Cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and related injuries. In 2005-2009, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 155,400 home fires per year involving cooking equipment. These fires caused an annual average of 390 civilian deaths, 4,800 civilian injuries, and $771 million in direct property damage.
To reduce the risk of cooking fires this holiday, NFPA recommends the following safety tips:
Keep anything that can catch fire such as oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains away from the stovetop.
Always stay in the kitchen while frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you have to leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
When simmering, baking, roasting, or boiling food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
Stay alert. If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, don’t use the stove or stovetop.
If you have a cooking fire…
Just get out! When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire.
Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number after you leave.
If you try to fight the fire, be sure others are getting out and you have a clear path (to your way out of the home and someone has called the fire department).
Keep a lid nearby when cooking to smother small grease fires. Smother the fire by sliding the lid over the pan and turn off the stovetop. Leave the pan covered until it is completely cooled.
For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.
About the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) NFPA is a worldwide leader in fire, electrical, building, and life safety. The mission of the international nonprofit organization founded in 1896 is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education.
(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)
