OCTOBER IS FIRE PREVENTION MONTH!

October is Fire Prevention month thorough the U.S. and hopefully you took some time this month for some fire prevention activity on the job or at home.

• Did you participate in a fire or emergency evacuation at your building or at home?

• Did you visit the local Fire Department to see a fire prevention demonstration or did the fire department visit your work place?

These are simple, common activities people take to keep "life safety" an important part of our daily activities in the workplace. Knowing what to do when an emergency occurs can save your life and the lives of your co-workers.

• Do you know the location of the nearest fire extinguisher in your work area and how to use one, should you decide to use it?

• Remember P-A-S-S: Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, Sweep back and forth to cover the burning material.

• Get involved!

• Look around your workplace to ensure you know a primary and secondary way out in the event of an emergency.

• Actively participate in any emergency drills. Know the correct emergency response procedures and where to meet, an be aware to assist a co-worker who may need additional assistance due to a disability.

And, when you're home:

• Ensure you have smoke detectors that operate in your home in compliance with your local fire ordinances.

• Have a charged and maintained fore extinguisher near cooking areas and home workshops.

• As with your workplace, ensure you have an accessible emergency egress and practice an emergency exit for yourself and anyone in your home.

• Never leave an unattended candle in any room!

If you need assistance with this topic or any workplace safety matter, please contact Fire Official Garrett Giberson of the Asbury Park Fire Department at 732-774-7400.

 

 PREPARE AND PREVENT, DON’T MISS AND SLIP. SAFETY WON’T MAKE YOU SORRY. SAFETY

FIRST. BE PROACTIVE IN 2019!

 

Wood Stove and Fireplaces

Wood Stove and Fireplaces

It is that time of year again!  Colder temps have us all looking to our home heating systems which, a good number of times, means wood stoves and fireplaces.  Careful attention to safety can minimize fire hazards.

To use them safely:

• Be sure the fireplace or stove is installed properly. Wood stoves should have adequate clearance (36 inches) from combustible surfaces and proper floor support and protection.
• Wood stoves should be of good quality, solid construction and design, and should be UL listed.
• Have the chimney inspected annually and cleaned if necessary, especially if it has not been used for some time.
• Do not use flammable liquids to start or accelerate any fire.
• Keep a glass or metal screen in front of the fireplace opening, to prevent embers or sparks from escaping, unwanted material from going in, and to help prevent the possibility of burns.
• The stove should be burned hot twice a day for 15-30 minutes to reduce the amount of creosote buildup.
• Don't use excessive amounts of paper to build roaring fires in fireplaces. It is possible to ignite creosote in the chimney by overbuilding the fire.
• Never burn charcoal indoors. Burning charcoal can give off lethal amounts of carbon monoxide.
• Keep flammable materials away from your fireplace mantel. A spark from the fireplace could easily ignite theses materials.
• Before you go to sleep, be sure your fireplace fire is out. NEVER close your damper with hot ashes in the fireplace. A closed damper will help the fire to heat up again and will force toxic carbon monoxide into the house.
• If synthetic logs are used, follow the directions on the package. NEVER break a synthetic log apart to quicken the fire or use more than one log at a time. They often burn unevenly, releasing higher levels of carbon monoxide.
• Never discard hot ashes inside or near the home. Place them in a metal container outside and well away from the house.

NFPA Announces Theme for Fire Prevention Week

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has announced “Not Every Hero Wears a Cape. Plan and Practice Your Escape!” as the theme for Fire Prevention Week.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has announced “Not Every Hero Wears a Cape. Plan and Practice Your Escape!” as the theme for Fire Prevention Week, October 6-12, 2019. This year’s campaign recognizes the everyday people who motivate their households to develop and practice a home fire escape plan; these seemingly basic behaviors can have life-saving impact.

“This year’s campaign works to celebrate people of all ages who learn about home fire escape planning and practice, bring that information home, and spur their families to action,” said Lorraine Carli, vice president of Outreach and Advocacy at NFPA. “From young students who learn about the campaign at school to parents who attend a community event like a fire station open house - all of them truly are heroes because they’re taking steps to make their households much, much safer from fire.”

“Not Every Hero Wears a Cape. Plan and Practice Your Escape!” also focuses on what a home escape plan entails and the value of practicing it. These messages are more important than ever, particularly because today’s homes burn faster than ever. Carli notes that synthetic fibers used in modern home furnishings, along with the fact that newer homes tend to be built with more open spaces and unprotected lightweight construction, are contributing factors to the increased burn rate.

“People tend to underestimate their risk to fire, particularly at home. That over-confidence lends itself to a complacency toward home escape planning and practice,” said Carli. “But in a fire situation, we’ve seen time and again that advance planning can make a potentially life-saving difference.”

A home escape plan includes working smoke alarms on every level of the home, in every bedroom, and near all sleeping areas. It also includes two ways out of every room, usually a door and a window, with a clear path to an outside meeting place (like a tree, light pole or mailbox) that’s a safe distance from the home. Home escape plans should be practiced twice a year by all members of the household.

For more information about Fire Prevention Week and “Not Every Hero Wears a Cape. Plan and Practice Your Escape!,” along with a wealth of resources to help promote the campaign locally, visit fpw.org.

About Fire Prevention Week

NFPA has been the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week since 1922. According to the National Archives and Records Administration's Library Information Center, Fire Prevention Week is the longest running public health and safety observance on record. The President of the United States has signed a proclamation declaring a national observance during that week every year since 1925. Visit www.firepreventionweek.org for more safety information.

About the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Founded in 1896, NFPA is a global, nonprofit organization devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards. The association delivers information and knowledge through more than 300 consensus codes and standards, research, training, education, outreach and advocacy; and by partnering with others who share an interest in furthering the NFPA mission. For more information visit www.nfpa.org. All NFPA codes and standards can be viewed online for free at www.nfpa.org/freeaccess.