Scioto Township Fire
Station 370
Scioto Township Fire Department
"We Proudly Serve"
3737 Ostrander Road
Ostrander, Ohio 43061
Phone: (740)666-2121
Fax: (740)666-1030
Fire Prevention - Informational Bulletin
Jack Guyton
Prevention Items:
Christmas Tree Safety Tips !
Tree Tips:
Consider an artificial tree (they are much safer and cleaner).
· A real tree should not lose green needles when you tap it on the ground.
· Cut 1 inch off the trunk to help absorb water.
·
Leave the tree outside until ready to decorate. 
· The stand should hold at least 1 gal. of water.
· A 6' tree will use 1 gallon of water every two days.
· Mix a commercial preservative with the water.
· Check the water level every day.
· Secure the tree with wire to keep it from tipping.
· Keep tree away from floor heaters, fire places, or other heat sources.
· Use only UL-listed lights and no more than 3 strands linked together.
· Use miniature lights--which have cool-burning bulbs.
· Turn off the Christmas lights when you sleep, or if you leave your home for very long.
· Never use candles, even on artificial trees.
· Clean the tree stand to improve the tree's water intake, use one capful of bleach to a cup of water.
· Dispose of the tree properly.
NEVER BURN A REAL TREE IN THE FIREPLACE.
Home Safety:
|
|
· Install a smoke detector or new batteries in the one(s) you have and TEST it. · Use only outdoor lights outside your home. · Examine light strings each year, discard worn ones. · Fasten the bulbs securely and point the sockets down to avoid moisture build up. · Connect no more than three strands together. · Never use indoor extension cords outside. · Avoid overloading wall outlets and extension cords. · Keep outdoor electrical connectors above ground and out of puddles and snow. |
|
· Unplug light string before replacing a bulb. Review the original package to verify proper wattage and voltage. · When connecting light strands, wrap a plastic bag around connections and tie ends with Teflon tape. · Never use electric lights on a metallic tree, use colored spot lights. · Make sure trees hung with X-mass lights are not touching power lines. · When using candles, place them a safe distance from combustibles. · Place candles in sturdy containers. Remember, hot wax burns kids. · Extinguish candles prior to going to bed. · Dispose of fireplace ashes into a metal container until cold. · After parties, check around and under sofa and chair cushions for smoldering cigarettes. (Provide lots of ash trays) · Install at least one carbon monoxide detector in your home. · Have an operable fire extinguisher readily available.
|
Gift Ideas:
|
Put together a gift basket containing one or more of the following items:
·
Three smoke detectors and batteries.
· A quality fire extinguisher. · A flashlight and batteries or light sticks. · A first-aid kit. · A carbon Monoxide detector. · A mobile phone. · A second floor escape ladder. · “Emergency kit"- energy bars, water, battery radio, flashlight/light sticks and a first-aid kit packed in a small travel bag. |
Please have an enjoyable and safe Holiday season.
Summer Time ! Grill Bulletin
As Ohioans prepare for barbecues and backyard grilling this summer, State Fire Marshal Michael P Bell urges families across the state to take safety precautions when using their grills.
Last year in Ohio, 103 fires resulted from the use of a gas or charcoal grill. Six people including one firefighter, were injured as a result of those blazes. According to reports collected from Ohio's fire departments, 72% of the grill fires started on the patio or yard while another 15% started on a porch or deck.
Most gas barbecue grills are fueled by Liquefied Petroleum (LP) gas or propane. Unburned LP gas accidentally released or leaking from a gas grill can cause a dangerous fire or explosion. Problems that lead to fires or explosions commonly occur at two times: during the first use of a grill after a long period of storage and when a new cylinder of propane gas is attached to the grill.
"We want people to have fun, yet be safe when grilling outside this summer". says Marshal Bell. "It is important to follow the manufacturer's directions and take some basic safety precautions when grilling."
Marshal Bell asks grill users to exercise the following precautionary measures when using grills:
-
Inspect grills closely prior to the first summertime use.
-
Keep your grill on a flat level surface 10' from any building. A grill should not be used inside or under a carport or breezeway. never use a grill indoors.
-
Do not move a grill that is in use.
-
Keep children and pets away from the grill area. Declare a three-foot "kid-free zone" around the grill
-
Periodically remove the grease and fat buildup in trays below the grill so it cannot be ignited by a hot grill.
For Charcoal Grills:
-
Use the proper starter fluid and store the can out of reach of children and away from heat sources
-
Never ad starter fluid when coals or kindling have already been ignited, and never use gasoline or other combustible or flammable liquids in place of starter fluid.
For Gas Grills:
-
Check the metal tubes that lead directly to the burner. During storage, insects can block these tubes. they can be cleaned following the manufacturer's instructions, typically by using a pipe cleaner or wire to remove the blockage.
-
Check hoses for cracks and repair any that are damaged.
-
Do not attempt to repair the tank valve or the grill yourself.
-
Never attempt to connect a cylinder to a grill unless they have matching connections.
-
Always open the lid of a grill before igniting it with an electric igniter.
-
If you smell gas, turn off the grill immediately and do not use it until the problem can be corrected.
|
The majority of fatal home fires happen at night when people are asleep. Contrary to popular belief, the smell of smoke may not wake a sleeping person. The poisonous gases and smoke produced by a fire can numb the senses and put you into a deeper sleep. Inexpensive household smoke detectors sound an alarm, alerting you to a fire. By giving you time to escape smoke detectors cut your risk of dying in a home fire nearly in half. Smoke detectors save so many lives that most states have laws requiring them in private homes.
|
|
Choosing a Detector Be sure that the smoke detectors you buy carry
the label of an independent testing laboratory. Several types
of detectors are available. Some run on batteries, others on
household current. Some detect smoke by using an "ionization"
sensor, others use a "photoelectric" detection system. All
approved smoke detectors, regardless of the type, will offer
adequate protection provided they are installed and maintained
properly. Is One enough? Every home should have a smoke detector outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement. The National Fire Alarm Code, developed by the NFPA, requires a smoke detector in each sleeping room for a new construction. On floors without bedrooms, detectors should be installed in or near living areas, such as dens, living rooms, or family rooms. Be sure everyone sleeping in your home can hear your smoke detectors' alarm. If any residents are hearing-impaired or sleep with bedroom doors closed, install additional detectors inside sleeping areas as well. There are special smoke detectors for the hearing -impaired; these flash a light in addition to sounding an audible alarm. For extra protection, NFPA suggests installing
detectors in dining rooms, furnace rooms, utility rooms and
hallways. Smoke detectors are not recommended for kitchens,
bathrooms or garages-where cooking fumes, steam, or exhaust
could set off false alarms - or for attics and other unheated
spaces where humidity and temperature changes might affect a
detectors operation. Where to Install Because smoke rises, mount detectors high on the wall or on the ceiling. Wall-mounted units should be mounted so that the top of the detector is 4 to 12 inches from the ceiling. A ceiling-mounted detector should be attached at least 4 inches from the nearest wall. In a room with a pitched ceiling, mount the detector at or near the ceilings highest point. In stairways with no doors at the top or bottom, position smoke detectors anywhere in the path of smoke moving up the stairs. But always position smoke detectors at the bottom of closed stairways, such as those leading to the basement because dead air trapped near the door at the top of a stairway could prevent smoke from reaching a detector located at the top. Possible Installation Schemas
Don't install a smoke detector too near a
window, door, or forced-air register where drafts could
interfere with the detectors operation. How to Install Most battery-powered smoke detectors and detectors that plug into wall outlets can be installed using only a drill and screwdriver, by following the manufacturers instructions. Plug in detectors must have restraining devices so that they cannot be unplugged by accident. Detectors can also be hard-wired into the building electrical system. hard-wired detectors should be installed by a qualified electrician. Never connect a smoke detector to a circuit that can be turned off by a wall switch. If "nuisance alarms" persist, do not disable
the detector, replace the detector instead. Maintenance Only a functioning smoke detector can protect you. Never disable a detector by "borrowing" its battery for another use. Following manufacturer's instructions, test all your smoke detectors monthly and install new batteries at least once a year. A good reminder is when you change your clocks in the spring or fall: change your clock, change your battery. Clean you smoke detectors using a vacuum cleaner without removing the detectors cover. Never paint a smoke detector. Smoke detectors don't last forever. Replace
any smoke detector that is more that 10 years old. |
