Thanksgiving Fire Safety Tips From NFPA

Keep Your Family Safe this Thanksgiving

Did you know that cooking fires are the #1 cause of fires? 

More cooking fires occur on Thanksgiving than on any other day of the year. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a rookie cooking your first holiday feast, the strategies for serving up a safe meal are the same. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of residential fires and we’re asking residents to follow these simple safety tips and to have a happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday.

Cooking Safety Tips:

Be alert! Stay in the kitchen when using the stovetop and use a timer. If you must leave the kitchen, even for a minute, turn off the stove.

Keep anything that can catch fire at least 3 feet from the stove, toaster oven or other heat source. This includes pot holders, food packaging, dish towels, paper/plastic bags, etc.

Do not pour water on a grease fire. Pouring water on a grease fire can cause the fire to spread. In the event of a range-top fire, turn off the burner, put on an oven mitt and smother the flames by carefully sliding a lid or cookie sheet onto the pan. Leave the lid in place until the pot or pan has cooled.

Clean cooking surfaces regularly to prevent grease buildup which can ignite.

Always wear short, tight-fitting sleeves when cooking to prevent clothing from coming in contact with a burner and catching fire.

Do not hold children while cooking or carrying hot foods or drinks. Keep children at a safe distance from hot surfaces, liquids and other kitchen hazards.

 Plug microwaves and other kitchen appliances directly into an outlet. Never use an extension cord for a cooking appliance as it can overload the circuit and cause a fire.

Double-check the kitchen before you go to bed or leave the house. Make sure all other appliances are turned off and that any candles or smoking materials are safely extinguished.

Smoke alarms save lives. Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home, test alarms monthly and change batteries annually or as recommended by the manufacturer if your alarm features long-life batteries.

Turkey fryers are becoming an increasingly popular choice to cook the Thanksgiving turkey and can be extremely dangerous if proper precautions are not taken. If your plans include using a turkey fryer, fire department officials urge residents to follow all manufacturer directions closely and to review the following safety tips: 

Turkey Fryer Safety Tips:

Never leave a fryer unattended.

By design, turkey fryers are prone to tipping over. Fryers should always be used on a non-combustible, flat surface to reduce accidental tipping.

Fryers should always be used outdoors at least 10 feet from buildings and any flammable materials. Never use a fryer on a wooden deck, under a patio cover, in a garage, porch or other enclosed space.

Do not overfill the fryer. The oil may spill out of the unit when the turkey is placed into the cooking pot. Oil may hit the burner/flames resulting in a potential fire hazard that could engulf the entire unit.

Oil and water do not mix! Make sure the turkey is completely thawed before it is placed in a fryer. Partially frozen turkeys can cause a spillover effect which may result in a fire. 

Some units do not have thermostat controls and, if not carefully watched, have the potential to overheat the oil to the point of combustion.

Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts when touching the pot or lid handle. The sides of the cooking pot, lid and pot handles get dangerously hot and can result in severe burns. If available, use safety goggles to protect your eyes from any oil splatter.

Keep children and pets away from fryers. The oil can remain dangerously hot even hours after use.

Following these simple fire safety tips can boost survival rates and reduce injuries dramatically.  For more information about our fire safety programs or to request a free home safety evaluation or smoke alarm check, please contact the County’s non-emergency call center at 311 during business hours.

Exit Drills In The Home - Have Two Ways Out!

Having working smoke alarms and residential fire sprinklers play a large role in you and your loved ones surviving a fire in your home. Another crucial part of surviving a fire in your home is developing a home fire escape plan and then PRACTICING the plan! As they say in sports: "If you fail to prepare than prepare to fail!"

While we hope you never experience a fire in your home, the women and men of MCFRS hope that you prepare the right way so as to increase the chances you and your loved ones will survive if fire does occur.

You can go here to learn how to develop a plan: Develop a Home Escape Plan

Once you develop that plan and familiarize all occupants of the home with the plan, make sure you hold a fire drill -- just like you did in school -- to practice the plan!

Below is a great video from our partners in safety at FEMA and the US Fire Administration that provides more information.

Time to "Retire" Your Old Smoke Alarms?

Courtesy of NFPA

I wanted to make sure all of you knew that smoke alarms need to have a retirement plan - as most of us do. Once your alarms reach the ripe old age of 10, they are eligible for "retirement" and need to be replaced by a new generation of smoke alarms.

Even if your 10 year old, or older, smoke alarm still sounds when you push the test button, it should be replaced.

To learn more about smoke alarms, please go here: Smoke Alarms

To learn how to properly dispose of a smoke alarm, please go here: How to recycle/dispose of smoke alarms

For those with battery powered alarms, please go here to learn about Maryland's Updated Smoke Alarm Law.

What's Invisible, Has No Smell, But Can Kill You?

Carbon monoxide is the most common cause of death by poison in the United States, killing more than 500 people every year. It is one of the most dangerous poisons because often people don't know it is present until it is too late. The best way to protect yourself and your family from carbon monoxide poisoning is to buy a carbon monoxide (sometimes referred to as CO) detector for your home. A properly working carbon monoxide detector can provide an early warning before deadly gases build up to dangerous levels. If you live in a home that is two stories or more, you might want to install two.

For more information, see the "Is it Flu or Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?" page.

If you notice these symptoms and suspect that carbon monoxide is the cause, leave the area immediately and get outside to fresh air. Call 9-1-1 and seek medical help.

Be reminded: Installing a carbon monoxide detector does not eliminate the need to have a smoke alarm in your home. Carbon monoxide detectors do not detect smoke and smoke alarms do not sense carbon monoxide.

CO poisoning is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in America. (Source: Centers for Disease Control)

Facts

• CO is a produced anytime a fuel is burned. Potential sources include gas or oil furnaces, water heaters, space heaters, clothes dryers, barbecue grills, fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, gas ovens, generators and car exhaust fumes.
• Every year more than 10,000 people die or seek medical attention due to CO poisoning from home-related products. (Source:  Consumer Product Safety Commission)
• More than two-thirds of Americans use gas, wood, kerosene or another fuel as their home's major heat source.
• 65% of CO poisoning deaths from consumer products are due to heating systems.
• Only 27% of homes in America have carbon monoxide alarms, according to recent industry research.
• An idling vehicle in an attached garage, even with the garage door opened, can produce concentrated amounts of CO that can enter your home through the garage door or nearby windows.
• CO poisoning deaths from portable generators have doubled for the past two years, and many of these deaths occurred in the winter months and during power outages.
• A poorly maintained gas stove can give off twice the amount of CO than one in good working order.

Prevention

• Install at least one battery-powered CO alarm or AC-powered unit with battery backup on each level of your home and near sleeping areas.
• Have a licensed professional inspect heating systems and other fuel-burning appliances annually.
• Install fuel-burning appliances properly and operate according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Keep chimneys clear of animal nests, leaves and residue to ensure proper venting. Have all fireplaces cleaned and inspected annually.
• Do not block or seal shut the exhaust flues or ducts used by water heaters, ranges and clothes dryers.
• Do not leave your car running in an attached garage or carport.
• Do not use ovens or stoves to heat your home.
• Do not use charcoal or gas grills inside or operate outdoors near a window where CO fumes could seep in through a window.
• Check all carbon monoxide alarms in your home. Do they use the most accurate sensing technology? Do they need new batteries?

Replace CO alarms every five to seven years in order to benefit from the latest technology upgrades.

Veteran's Day Reflection

Below is a Veteran's Day Reflection sent to all MCFRS Personnel earlier today from Fire Chief Scott Goldstein:

Please take a moment today to thank a friend, a co-worker, a family member, or a passing military member/veteran – for their service to our Nation.

This date specifically honors the anniversary of the end of World War I, Armistice Day, and Remembrance Day and is used by our nation as a day to honor our military veterans.

Today we honor the service of our military members and the sacrifices they and their families have made to provide the freedoms we enjoy daily. This includes many career and volunteer members of MCFRS that have served in the armed forces and those that continue today to serve both their community as a fire rescue provider and the military.

For those personnel assigned to work today or on their standby period today/tonight, as you have ensured your apparatus and facilities is ready for operations and response – please take a second to interface with the community and thank any military members encountered for their service. Also take a moment to reflect on the freedom we experience today and the sacrifices made to guarantee those freedoms.

Scott E. Goldstein

Fire Chief

Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service

Hear the Beep Where You Sleep!

Watch What You Heat!

Watch What You Heat!
Posted by Montgomery County (MD) Fire & Rescue on Monday, November 9, 2015

Two Juveniles Arrested

Yesterday, (11/5) MCFRS Fire Investigators Arrested two juveniles for Arson and other related charges for the fire a house fire on October 28 on Falconcrest Circle in Germantown. One family was displaced, three firefighters were injured and approximately $400k in damages to the structure.

Firehouse Cleaning

By: Lieutenant Rob Furst

Once a week every week we focus on one area of the firehouse and give it a deep clean. Tuesday's at Fire Station 12, it is the "weekly" on the kitchen. 

Personnel at the firehouse spent some of the afternoon ensuring that their kitchen is clean and sanitary. We spend a full third of our lives at the firehouse, so we take pride in what we have. 

Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety Tips

Unfortunately, over the last several days, we have seen an increase in the number of pedestrians struck - including a hit and run early this morning. Below are very timely safety tips from the Montgomery County Department of Transportation.  Please review and feel free to share with friends and family.

For Drivers…

• Stop for pedestrians at crosswalks and intersections- it's the law.
• Don't block crosswalks when stopping at intersections.
• Slow down and obey the posted speed limit.
• Take extra care around schools, playgrounds, and neighborhoods. Pedestrians are hit every 7 minutes each day.
• Always look out for pedestrians, especially before turning at a green light or making a "right turn on red."
• Obey speed limits, signs, signals and markings--and never run red lights.
• Be careful when passing stopped vehicles. They might be stopping for pedestrians.
• Allow 3 feet when passing bicyclists.
• Share the road. It's your responsibility to look out for others.

For Pedestrians…

• Cross the street at marked crosswalks whenever possible.
• Stop and look every time before crossing streets, even when you have the right-of-way, and especially at intersections with "right turn on red."
• Before crossing, look left, right, then left again, and over your shoulder for turning vehicles.
• Begin crossing the street on "Walk" signals-never on a solid or flashing "Don't Walk."
• Use pedestrian pushbuttons to activate/extend the walk signal.
• Use sidewalks. If none, walk facing traffic so you see vehicles, and drivers see you.
• Make eye contact with drivers so they see you. Never assume they do.
• Stay visible after dark and in bad weather with reflectors or retroreflective clothing.

For Cyclists…

• Wear a properly fitted helmet. It can save your life.
• As a vehicle, you have the same rights and responsibilities as a motorist. Obey all traffic signals, signs and lane markings.
• Ride on the right side of the road with the flow of traffic-never against it.
• Pass slower moving or stopped vehicles on the left.
• Ride predictably and defensively. Use hand signals before turning.
• Stay visible, and use lights, reflectors and retro-reflective clothing when riding at night.
• Make eye contact with motorists and pedestrians before crossing paths with them.
• Always yield to pedestrians, even when turning, and especially at a "right turn on red" intersection.
• When cycling on sidewalks, always yield to pedestrians and give verbal warning when passing. Pass on left.

Click here for a printable copy of the tips (pdf)

Click here for StreetSmart tip sheets (pdf)

Jed

Sad to report that one of our search and rescue dogs who retired earlier this year, Jed, passed away this past weekend. Jed served us, and his partner Firefighter Rich Grant, faithfully since 2005. As Rich relayed, "Jed would light up a room with his never ending wags of his tail and persistence to constantly bring you a toy to play with. Many of my MCFR family are very familiar with this as Jed was never one to let you pass through the fire stations without engaging in a game of fetch."

RIP Jed and thank you for your service!