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Posts Tagged ‘fire’

Side-by-Side Fires to be Set by the Columbus Division of Fire To Help Columbus area Residents Understand Risks and Home Safety Technology

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

The Columbus Fire Division will be performing a live, side-by-side fire and sprinkler burn demonstration that vividly shows the tremendous speed of a typical home fire and its potential for deadly destruction. Also illustrated is the vital importance of home fire safety technology that can save lives and reduce property damage (smoke alarms and home fire sprinkler systems). The demonstration is open to the public.

WHEN: Wednesday, August 4, 2010 at 12 noon.

WHERE: The rear of the Division of Fire Training complex, located at the rear of 3675 Parsons Avenue.

WHY: More than 80 percent of all fire deaths occur in the home. The Columbus Division of Fire is using this important event to help people of every age understand how dangerous a home fire is, and how important prevention, detection, suppression and escape are.

This demonstration is part of the Fire Team USA workshop, which is being held at the Columbus Fire Training Center on Wednesday, August 4, 2010 and Thursday, August 5, 2010. Fire Team USA is a federally funded Fire Prevention grant administered by the Department of Homeland Security, Assistance to Firefighters grant program. For more information about Fire Team USA, visit www.fireteamusa.com or the event, please contact David Sawyer, Lieutenant, Fire Prevention Bureau, 645-5668.

Live Safe Foundation is an Ohio based non-profit organization (501c3), and leading grassroots movement, devoted to making and fire and life safety education, awareness initiatives and life saving tools available on a broad basis to communities, campuses, and institutions in an effort to reduce national fire fatalities and fire losses. Live Safe aims to help finance fire safety education where means are otherwise unavailable. Live Safe is developing and sponsoring programs to help groups find the resources needed to advance individual and community fire safety.

Tags: fire, fire safety, firefighters, firehouse, live burn
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June is Home Safety Month

Saturday, June 5th, 2010

Spread the word!

Every year the Home Safety Council promotes the month of June as “National Safety Month“, with an initiative that focuses on heightening awareness of important safety issues. Safety is a huge concern for everyone, particularly our aging parents and grandparents. The public is challenged to make their homes a safer place by assessing for the risks of the five leading causes of home injury: falls, poisoning, fires and burns, choking/suffocation, and drowing. The Home Safety Council website has many helpful resources on home safety tips for different situations for older adults and other populations.

Also, this month, AARP is launching an effort to protect individuals from common household calamities with their “30 for 30” home safety tips – providing 30 daily safety facts and tips. For each day in the month of June, “30 for 30″ provides a fact or tip for ensuring a safer home.

For example:

Did you know that 65,000 barbecue grill fires cause as much as $27 million in property losses each year? Have you thought about moving your grill a little farther from the house?
Did you know that most falls in homes happen in the bathroom, not on the stairs?
Did you know that cooking-related fires are the leading cause of injuries among people 65 years of age and older? Avoid wearing loose-fitting clothing while cooking and use a timer to remind yourself to check food you have in the oven.
Did you know that more people are injured using hand tools than power tools?
Did you know that each year approximately 3,800 injuries and 34 deaths occur in U.S. homes due to scalding from excessively hot tap water? To help avoid this, adjust the temperature setting of your home hot water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, or consider installing temperature limiting faucets on bathtubs, showers, and sinks.
Did you know that each year an average of 20,000 people are treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries associated with garage doors?
Did you know that many houses and apartments built before 1978 have paint that contains high lead levels and lead from paint, paint chips, and dust can pose serious health hazards if not take care of properly?

The facts connected with each of the “30 for 30″ tips suggest specific preventative actions. The entire list of 30 tips and facts is available at www.aarp.org.

Credits: www.aarp.org and www.homesafetycouncil.org

Live Safe Foundation is an Ohio based non-profit organization (501c3), and leading grassroots movement, devoted to making fire safety education, awareness initiatives and life saving tools available on a broad basis to communities, campuses, and institutions in an effort to reduce national fire fatalities and fire losses. Live Safe aims to help finance fire safety education where means are otherwise unavailable. Live Safe is developing and sponsoring programs to help groups find the resources needed to advance individual and community fire safety.

Tags: AARP, burns, fire, home, safety
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Prepare Your Pipes for Winter

Friday, November 20th, 2009

Cold winter temperatures can cause water pipes to freeze and burst. Although frozen water pipes aren’t a life threatening situation, they can cause extensive damage to homes when the water in the pipes thaws and sprays through the cracks caused by the ice. Another possible result of frozen pipes is fire, which occurs when propane torches are used to thaw pipes near wall studs, paneling, cabinet and other flammable materials.

The best defense against water and fire damage due to frozen pipes is to reduce your risk of having frozen pipes in the first place. So, before extremely cold temperatures set in, insulate pipes and faucets in unheated areas such as outside walls, garages, or crawl spaces by wrapping them with insulation specifically designed for this use.

Disconnect and drain outdoor hoses. If left attached, the water, when it freezes, can damage even frost-proof spigots. If you have an older spigot that is not frost proof, shut the water supply off to that spigot and open it to drain any water inside it. Seal access doors, air vents and cracks. Winter winds can quickly freeze exposed water pipes. Do not seal air vents that your furnace and water heater need for proper combustion.

If you leave your home for an extended period, make sure your thermostat is set no lower than 55° F and have someone check your house daily to make sure your heat is on or shut off. If no one is available to check your home, drain the water system (except interior sprinkler systems) until you return. Have your plumber’s phone number handy in the event that you need to reach him/her while you are away.

If your pipes freeze and you think you know where the freeze has occurred and want to thaw it yourself, do not, under any circumstance, warm the pipe with a torch and risk starting a fire. Consult a plumber to assist you and call your insurance agent.

Make sure you and your family members know how to shut off the water supply in the event that you have a pipe freeze, burst and thaw. Stopping the flow of water immediately can minimize the damage to your home. Remember to always be aware of the potential for electric shock in and around standing water.

Author: Fire Marshal Alan Perkins, CFPS, Washington Township Fire Department, Dublin, Ohio. For more information, contact: Leslie Dybiec, Public Information Officer Phone: (614) 652-3928 Fax: (614) 766-2507 or ldybiec@wtwp.com.

Tags: cold temperatures, fire, thermostat, water pipes, winter
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“Beautiful World” Tribute to Police, Fire and EMS

Monday, September 21st, 2009

Woodbury Public Safety Department in Minnesota produced a great tribute video that recognizes the real world that the Police, Fire and EMS have to work in but also the need to have a positive outlook on things. The sound track “Beautiful World” was performed (Lyrics and Instruments) by the Public Safety Director Lee Vague and his 11-year old son Grant (who has an amazing voice!), the video was created by Firefighter Paramedic Jason Arney-O’Neil and Paramedic, John Dillon.

For more video selections, please visit FlashoverTV – the first functioning video community website for fire rescue professionals.

Tags: beautiful, ems, fire, public safety, tribute, woodbury
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Household Inventory Important for Fire Insurance Claims

Friday, September 4th, 2009

Household Inventory Important for Fire Insurance Claims

Are you adequately insured? If the unthinkable happens and you have a damaging fire, some or all of your household contents will need to be replaced. Without a detailed household inventory, processing and collecting an insurance claim at the full value of your losses can be difficult to impossible.

Start your household inventory now and set a deadline for its completion. Begin by taking a camera or video recorder from room to room including the garage and around the outside of the house to document your structures and all their contents. Keep in mind that having a family member in the picture will help you establish your ownership of the items should you need to file an insurance claim. Each item should also be documented on a list with details of its name, description, size, age, model number, brand name, and any other information that helps determine its value.

Remember to list everything including items you can’t readily see because they’re in closets or dresser drawers. Keep receipts (or copies of them) with your inventory for big ticket items like stereo equipment, computers, large tools and equipment, artwork, silver, crystal, and jewelry. Check with your insurance agent to be sure that these items are adequately covered for replacement. Most agents can also provide you with a home inventory form to help guide you in collecting the information you need.

Put your videotape or photos and written descriptions with receipts in your safe-deposit box so you’ll have access to it if your home is destroyed.

Also, check the value of these items periodically to adjust your coverage as necessary.

When a disaster strikes home and everyone survives, the one item most home owners wish they had is a household inventory. If you don’t already have one, the time to make one is now.

Guest Author: Fire Marshal Alan Perkins, Washington Township Fire Department, Dublin, Ohio

For more information, contact:

Leslie Dybiec, Public Information Officer

Phone: (614) 652-3928

Fax: (614) 766-2507

ldybiec@wtwp.com

Tags: disaster, fire, insurance
Posted in Line of Duty | No Comments »

US Fireloss in 2008

Monday, August 31st, 2009