Have You Tested Your Smoke Alarms Recently?

Have You Tested Your Smoke Alarms Recently?

 
Smoke alarms are a key part of a home fire escape plan. When there is a fire, smoke spreads fast. Working smoke alarms give you early warning so you can get outside quickly.
   

The Asbury Park Fire Department encourages all residents to check their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure they are working and to follow these fire safety tips!
   

Home fires injure and kill thousands every year, smoke alarms that are properly installed and maintained play a vital role in reducing fire deaths and injuries. We encourage everyone to test their smoke alarms, replace any alarms that are 10 years or older and conduct a home fire drill.

The peak time for home fire fatalities is between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. when most families are sleeping. A working smoke alarm dramatically increases the chance for survival and provides advance warning of a fire resulting in more time to react and put a home escape plan into action.

Help keep your family safe by following these fire safety tips:

1.      Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including the basement, and in all sleeping areas.

2.      Retire old smoke alarms and replace with new ones every 10 years. Like any electronic device, smoke alarms wear out over time and need to be replaced. The life expectancy of smoke alarms is 10 years. Smoke alarms work by sensing smoke particles and after 10 years, the smoke sensors lose their sensitivity. The test button only confirms that the battery, electronics and alerting system are working; not that the smoke sensor is working.

3.      Plan and practice home fire drills regularly. Decide in advance who will help family members that may need assistance escaping (young children, older adults or people with disabilities).        

4.      Make sure children recognize the sound of your smoke alarm and how to respond to its signal.

5.      Know your battery type. Sealed smoke alarms equipped with 10-year batteries are becoming more common and the batteries do not need to be replaced if they are sealed into the unit. Check your smoke alarms to see what type of battery it uses. While 10-year, long-life batteries do not need to be replaced annually, the entire smoke alarm unit does need to be replaced every ten years.Hard-wired smoke alarms, not affected by the new law, should have a battery backup and like all smoke alarm units need to be replaced every 10 years.
6.   A closed door may slow the spread of smoke, heat and fire.

For questions, contact the Asbury Park Fire Marshal at 732-502-0364
 

Could Your Dryer Cause a Fire? Let's talk fire dryer facts.

Could Your Dryer Cause a Fire? Let's talk fire dryer facts.

When the APFD responds to clothes dryer-related fires, a lack of maintenance, buildup of lint, placing inappropriate items in the dryer and inadequate venting are frequently cited as contributing factors.
Fires can occur when lint builds up in the dryer or in the exhaust duct. Lint can block the flow of air, cause excessive heat build-up, and result in a fire in some dryers. Some important safety tips:

 Clean behind the dryer, where lint can build up. Clean around your dryer to minimize the amount of lint accumulation. Keep the area around the dryer clean and free of clutter.

 Don't leave a clothes dryer running if you leave the house or go to bed. 

 Clean the lint screen/filter before or after drying each load of clothes. If clothing is still damp at the end of a typical drying cycle or drying requires longer times than normal, this may be a sign that the lint screen or the exhaust duct is blocked. 

 Clean the dryer vent and exhaust duct annually. Check the outside dryer vent while the dryer is operating to make sure exhaust air is escaping. If it is not, the vent or the exhaust duct may be blocked. To remove a blockage in the exhaust path, it may be necessary to disconnect the exhaust duct from the dryer. Remember to reconnect the ducting to the dryer and outside vent before using the dryer again. APFD recommends having a qualified service technician clean the dryer vent and exhaust duct annually.

 Replace plastic or foil, accordion-type ducting material with rigid or corrugated semi-rigid metal duct.Most manufacturers specify the use of a rigid or corrugated semi-rigid metal duct, which provides maximum airflow. The flexible plastic or foil type duct can more easily trap lint and is more susceptible to kinks or crushing, which can greatly reduce the airflow.
 Take special care when drying clothes that have been soiled with volatile chemicals such as gasoline, cooking oils, cleaning agents, or finishing oils and stains. If possible, wash the clothing more than once to minimize the amount of volatile chemicals on the clothes and, preferably, hang the clothes to dry. 

There are several warning signs that dangerous lint buildup has occurred in your dryer and venting system, indicating that it needs a thorough cleaning: 

- Clothes take longer to dry or don't dry fully- Clothes are hotter than normal at the end of the drying cycle- Outside of dryer gets very hot- Outside exhaust vent flapper does not open very much, indicating low exhaust velocity- Laundry room becomes more humid than usual- Burnt smell is evident in the laundry room
Maintenance Tips:

- Inspect the venting system behind the dryer to ensure it is not damaged or restricted.

- Make sure the outdoor vent covering opens when the dryer is on. 

- Replace coiled-wire foil or plastic venting with rigid, non-ribbed metal duct.

- Have gas-powered dryers inspected every year by a professional to inspect the dryer and the gas line connection. 

- Check regularly to make sure nests of small animals and insects are not blocking the outside vent.