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.

Portable Heater Safety

We are sticking with the heating safety related theme for obvious reasons.  Below, please find a great video on Portable Heater Safety from our friends at the US Fire Administration.


 

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.

Arson Awareness Week May 5-11; “Reducing Residential Arson”

This week is Arson Awareness Week and the theme this year is “Reducing Residential Arson.”  Below please find some information from our partners in fire safety, the United States Fire Administration, that will provide more background as well as safety tips on how you can help to safeguard your home against the crime of arson.

Protecting Homes Against Arson

Fire Prevention Week – Check Your Fire Safety Knowledge & Video

Hopefully all of you are having a happy and SAFE Fire Prevention Week.  A couple of items I believe you will find of interest.

Think you know all there is to know about fire prevention and safety?  Well, put yourself and family members to the test – or should I say quiz.  Please take just a few minutes to complete the Fire Prevention Week Quiz.

After you are done please take one minute out of your busy day to watch the below video from our partners in safety, the U.S. Fire Administration, and learn more about developing a home fire escape plan.

Happy First Day Of Fall And The Start Of Home Heating Fire Season!

Fall has been in the air this past week and today it is officially here!  With the cooler air also comes the start of home heating fire season!

Did you know that heating fires are the second leading cause of fires in the home?  Take a moment to learn more in the below report from the US Fire Administration.

US Fire Administration Releases Report on Heating Fires in Residential Buildings

The good news is that they are mostly preventable incidents!  Take steps now to get your home ready and to make it a bit safer!

Winter Safety (Fire Safety Tips for the Home)

Fireplace and Wood Burning Safety

National Preparedness Month – Pledge to Prepare!

How many of you know that September is National Preparedness Month?  This year’s theme is “Pledge to Prepare - Awareness to Action.”  Fire safety should be an important part of preparedness planning for you and your loved ones as well!

 

Have you tested your smoke alarms lately?  Do you know how often you should check your alarms?

Do you have a home escape plan in case of fire?  Does it include knowing two ways out in case of fire?  Have you held a fire drill to practice the plan?

Are you aware that once smoke alarms are anywhere from eight to ten years old they should be replaced?

If you did not know even ONE of the above facts or answered NO to one of the others, I would encourage you to take a moment and visit our partners in safety at the US Fire Administration web site to learn more.

What you learn could save your life or that of a loved one! 

Stay Safe,

Bill Delaney

National Arson Awareness Week - Prevent Youth Firesetting

Did you know that this week is National Arson Awareness Week?  The theme this year is: Prevent Youth Firesetting.


To learn more about this important topic, please go to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) web site.


Stay Safe,


Bill D

Dispose of Fireplace and Wood-stove Ashes Properly

Fireplace and wood-stove ashes retain enough heat to ignite other combustible materials for several days after a fire. It is important to learn the following ways to dispose of fireplace and wood-stove ashes properly:

·         DO NOT discard your ashes into any combustible container like a paper or plastic bag, a cardboard box, or a plastic trash can.

·         DO put ashes into a non-combustible metal container with a lid.

·         DO pour water into the container to make sure the ashes are cool.

·         DO keep your can OUTSIDE the home, away from combustibles.

·         DO teach all family members to be safe with ashes from your fireplace or wood stove.

As always, please make sure you test your smoke alarms monthly and replace batteries twice a year. Practice and plan a family home escape plan.

Smoke Alarms: A Sound You Can Live With

Install and Maintain Smoke Alarms. It’s the LAW!

Rockville - - - Montgomery County fire officials have confirmed that there were no working smoke alarms present in several significant residental fires in the County this fall. Fire Officials  are urging residents to test their smoke alarms to ensure they are working while reminding residents that the Montgomery County code requires home owners to install, test and maintain smoke alarms on every level of your home and outside all sleeping areas. Failure to comply with this local law could result in a fine and/or imprisonment.

Most fatal fires occur at night when people are sleeping and experts say that the early warning from a working smoke alarm actually doubles your chances of escaping a home fire. Since the primary job of a smoke alarm is to awaken sleeping people and warn them of urgent danger, it is essential that smoke alarms are working and are proximate to sleeping areas of the home.  

Fire Chief Richard Bowers reminds residents that as we approach the winter heating season, it’s critical that every home have working smoke alarms. “Most fires are preventable, said Chief Bowers. “Smoke alarms are one of the best and easiest safety features you can use to protect yourself, your family and your home. I strongly urge every resident to take a few minutes to test their smoke alarms, practice their home fire escape plan and replace any smoke alarms that are 10 years or older. Many people believe that smoke alarms last forever. They don’t.”

The Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service offers residents free assistance with smoke alarm installation and maintenance. Any homeowner who cannot install or test smoke alarms in their homes due to age, physical limitations or cannot afford to purchase a smoke alarm or batteries can call 311 for assistance. Visit us atwww.mcfrs.org/mcsafe for additional safety information!

Fire Safety Tips for the Holiday Season

Our friends at the US Fire Administration have some great fire safety tips for the holiday season.  No matter which holiday you celebrate during December, many of the below tips can be useful and help you to celebrate safely!

Please take a moment to review the below tips.

Stay Safe,
Bill

Decorating homes and businesses is a long-standing tradition around the holiday season. Unfortunately, these same decorations may increase your chances of fire. Based on data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), an estimated 250 home fires involving Christmas trees and another 170 home fires involving holiday lights and other decorative lighting occur each year. Together, these fires resulted in 21 deaths and 43 injuries.

Following a few simple fire safety tips can keep electric lights, candles, and the ever popular Christmas tree from creating a tragedy. Learn how to prevent a fire and what to do in case a fire starts in your home. Make sure all exits are accessible and not blocked by decorations or trees. Help ensure that you have a fire safe holiday season.

Christmas Tree Retailers

Order the free USFA Christmas Tree Fire Safety Hang Tag to remind your customers how to care for a live tree in their homes.Order »

Click images below to enlarge.

Christmas Trees

What’s a traditional Christmas morning scene without a beautifully decorated tree? If your household includes a natural tree in its festivities, take to heart the sales person’s suggestion – “Keep the tree watered.”

Christmas trees account for hundreds of fires annually. Typically, shorts in electrical lights or open flames from candles, lighters or matches start tree fires. Well-watered trees are not a problem. A dry and neglected tree can be.

Selecting a Tree for the Holidays

Needles on fresh trees should be green and hard to pull back from the branches, and the needles should not break if the tree has been freshly cut. The trunk should be sticky to the touch. Old trees can be identified by bouncing the tree trunk on the ground. If many needles fall off, the tree has been cut too long and, has probably dried out, and is a fire hazard.

Caring for Your Tree

Do not place your tree close to a heat source, including a fireplace or heat vent. The heat will dry out the tree, causing it to be more easily ignited by heat, flame or sparks. Be careful not to drop or flick cigarette ashes near a tree. Do not put your live tree up too early or leave it up for longer than two weeks. Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.

Disposing of Your Tree

Never put tree branches or needles in a fireplace or wood-burning stove. When the tree becomes dry, discard it promptly. The best way to dispose of your tree is by taking it to a recycling center or having it hauled away by a community pick-up service.

Holiday Lights

Maintain Your Holiday Lights

Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear before putting them up. Use only lighting listed by an approved testing laboratory.

Do Not Overload Electrical Outlets

Do not link more than three light strands, unless the directions indicate it is safe. Connect strings of lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord into the outlet. Make sure to periodically check the wires – they should not be warm to the touch.

Do not leave holiday lights on unattended!

Holiday Decorations

Use Only Nonflammable Decorations

All decorations should be nonflammable or flame-retardant and placed away from heat vents. If you are using a metallic or artificial tree, make sure it is flame retardant.

Don't Block Exits

Ensure that trees and other holiday decorations do not block an exit way. In the event of a fire, time is of the essence. A blocked entry/exit way puts you and your family at risk.

Never Put Wrapping Paper in the Fireplace

Wrapping paper in the fireplace can result in a very large fire, throwing off dangerous sparks and embers that may result in a chimney fire.

Candle Care

Avoid Using Lit Candles

If you do use lit candles, make sure they are in stable holders and place them where they cannot be easily knocked down. Never leave the house with candles burning.

Never Put Lit Candles on a Tree

Do not go near a Christmas tree with an open flame – candles, lighters or matches.

 

Smoking and Home Fires

In light of yesterday’s tragic house fire in Potomac that has seriously injured an 85 year old man, I thought it prudent to pass along some pertinent safety tips.

If you smoke or know someone who does, it is well worth your time to review some of the links I have provided below. Smoking related fires can be prevented.

Smoking and Fire Safety
 
Smoking & Home Fires Campaign
 
Fight Fire with Facts: Careless Smoking


Stay Safe,

Bill

What I Have Learned About The Smoke Alarm

By: Daniel the Intern

Here at the MCFRS, I hear about smoke alarms almost everyday and how crucial they are to surviving a fire.  Although they seem like simple, plastic devices that are stuck to the ceiling, they require a little more thought and maintenance than people give them.  Here are a few things to consider regarding smoke alarms in the home.

"Smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a reported fire in half."

Before any alarms are installed, consider hiring an electrician to install wires to connect all of the alarms together and to the home's electrical system (hardwired).  Remember that hardwired alarms, even though they receive power from the home's electricity, need a battery backup in case the power goes out.  There are also smoke alarms that can communicate wirelessly and are just as good.  Once they are communicating, all of them will go off together even if only one of them detects smoke.  This will dramatically decrease the time it takes for the occupants to realize a fire is in the home, especially if it is two floors away.

Another point to consider is installing both types of smoke alarms: ionization and photoelectric.  Ionization are better at detecting flaming fires while photoelectric are better at detecting smoldering fires.  Since no one can predict the type of fire that will start, it is suggested that both kinds are installed throughout the home.  However, there are dual sensor smoke alarms, which contain both sensors and are the ideal choice.

The placement of the devices can be very influential to their response times.  First of all, there must be alarms on every floor of the home.  It will take too long for an alarm to go off when the fire is a floor away and that can be disastrous.  Second, they should not be installed near vents or anything that is creating air movement.  A vent blowing air can push smoke away and will also increase the response time of the smoke alarm.  Finally, they must be placed inside and outside of sleeping areas.  It is devastating when a fire starts and smoke fills the home while all the occupants are sound asleep so it is crucial these are working at all times.  In fact, over half of all the American deaths in home fires “occur between the hours of 10:00pm and 7:00am, when residents are typically sleeping."

Once they are installed and working, they must be maintained.  It is advised to test each smoke alarm once a month, even if they are connected to the home's electrical supply.  If they use a 9 volt battery, even if they are hardwired alarms, the battery should be replaced at least once per year.  To make sure all the necessary steps are taken, make sure to check the instructions supplied by the manufacturer. 

A popular time to check the alarms is during daylight savings time, which happens to be this weekend.

Just hold down the button for a few seconds and if the alarm chirps, it is working.  However, if they are at least 10 years old, it is strongly advised that they should be replaced.  The bottom line is a smoke alarm with a dead battery is not a smoke alarm at all but a piece of plastic, and is endangering everybody in the home.

TGIF Fire Safety Tip

I am going to copy and paste below an important message from the United States Fire Administration (USFA) as it relates to smoke alarms.  It is a message that everyone out there needs to hear!  So please take a moment and read below and click on the links for more information.  What you learn could save the lives of you and/or your loved ones.

Please us the power of social media and the internet and forward this on to all who you know and care for!

Have a safe weekend!

Bill

Every year, approximately 2,600 Americans die in home fires. Over half of these deaths (52%) occur between the hours of 10:00pm and 7:00am, when residents are typically sleeping.

Smoke and toxic gases from a home fire are as deadly as heat and flames. Just two or three breaths of toxic smoke can render you unconscious. In addition, smoke obscures vision, decreasing your ability to escape.

Smoke alarms save lives, prevent injuries, and minimize property damage by detecting fires early and alerting residents, allowing crucial time to escape. The risk of dying from a fire in a home without working smoke alarms is twice as high as in a home with working smoke alarms.

To find out what type of smoke alarms are available for your home, including where to install and how to maintain them, visit Focus on Fire Safety: Smoke Alarms on the U.S. Fire Administration's website.

Winter Storm Fire Safety: Risk of Fire Increases When Winter Storms Strike!

It appears some sort of winter storm is headed our way for tomorrow and Thursday. At this point in time, the weather people are saying there should not be too much snow accumulation though there may be some sleet/freezing rain.

Regardless this is a good time to remind everyone of some safety tips you should be thinking about! As a matter of fact, according to our partners at the U.S. Fire Administration and National Fire Prevention Association, the risk of fire in your home increases when winter storms strike!

There are many reasons that the risk of fire increases. So please take a brief moment out of your busy day and learn how you can protect you and your loved ones.

Learn more: Winter Storm Fire Safety

A Different Kind of 9-1-1 Call

By: Daniel the Intern

The Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service website is a great place for fire safety tips and prevention strategies but the information only goes so far. Last week during my internship Captain Oscar Garcia, Mr. Bill Delaney, and I went to a house for an issue that many folks do not think of as an emergency – a home without working smoke alarms. A woman was unsure about whether her smoke alarm was working or not and after her inquiry with the MCFRS, we were on our way as the department believes this to be a critical life safety issue.

She was away at work when we got there but her husband was home and welcomed us inside. He was in a wheelchair and needed assistance checking the condition of a smoke alarm that was on the ceiling. However, he had a good feeling it was dead because it had been installed when the house was built and that was many years ago. He was right; the smoke alarm was completely dead with cob webs and all and we gladly installed a new one with a fresh battery. All smoke alarms need to be replaced every 10 years!


From USFA Web Site

He then allowed us to go downstairs and check to see if a working smoke alarm was present, which we all felt was highly unlikely. Upon investigation there may have been one on the ceiling in the past, as there were two screws, but nothing was between them so we installed another.

In the adjacent room, we noticed a hot water heater with a few things that can burn (towels, rags, clothing) leaning on it. It was potentially an immediate fire hazard as you need to keep any thing that can burn off of, and away from, anything that produces heat. We returned upstairs to let the home owner know about the issue and asked permission to correct it and make him safer – which he agreed.

Another topic we discussed was cooking safety because he prepares his own meals and being in a wheelchair, there were additional risks involved. While cooking on a stove, loose sleeves are a common article of clothing that ignites and we explained it to him. Handles that are over the edge are also dangerous because they can easily be bumped into when moving around the kitchen. Finally, we asked if he had a home fire escape plan and whether or not he could get out safely if no one was around to assist him. He said he did have a plan and had practiced it before so we made sure everything was done before we left.

It was awesome to know that we potentially prevented a fire from happening while installing working smoke alarms to alert them just in case there is a fire! Hopefully the smoke alarms will never have to alert the family of a fire but if one does occur then we might have saved a life or two. Call MC311 if you want to have MCFRS look at your smoke alarms to make sure you are protected.

A Tale of Two Fires

This past Friday, MCFRS responded to an apartment fire on Quince Orchard Boulevard in Gaithersburg. A women occupant of the apartment called 911 to report the fire after being awakened by a working smoke alarm in the unit. The woman was treated for smoke inhalation at a local hospital and her injuries were not serious.

A week before, a 71 year old male was tragically killed in a fire in his town house. The home did not have a working smoke alarm. While there were other factors associated with this fire – his electric and gas service had been shut off – the presence of working smoke alarms provide early warning in the event of fire in the home and increase your chances of surviving a fire. Between 2003–06 more than 66 percent of home fire deaths occurred in homes without a working smoke alarm (from NFPA).

Please check your smoke alarms to ensure you they are working. If you find yourself in need of a new smoke alarm, and are hard pressed to buy a new one, please know that MCFRS has a program to provide and install FREE smoke alarms! Call 311 to learn more! We also provide a home fire safety evaluation that you can schedule by calling 311 as well.

Keeping the Community Safe One Home at a Time

As many of you are aware, each Saturday the women and men of Montgomery County Fire and Rescue go door to door in their various communities handing out fire safety tips as well as offering to check smoke alarms to ensure they are working. Having working smoke alarms in your home/apartment can help you and your loved ones escape a deadly home fire by providing a vital early warning.

If during the check we find a smoke alarm is not functioning, we take immediate steps to correct this life safety issue by installing a new battery and/or smoke alarm.

The door to door program was initiated by Fire Chief Richard Bowers two years ago after a tragic year in which we lost 13 of our fellow residents in home/apartment fires. That, sadly, was our largest one year loss of life in over 30 years! In many instances there were no working smoke alarms in the home/apartment.

Below, you will find the number of homes we visited during September and October as well as the totals for the last two years. Pretty impressive!

September
Homes Visited: 492
Smoke Alarms Installed: 18
Batteries Installed: 11

October
Homes Visited: 734
Smoke Alarms Installed: 34
Batteries Installed: 40

Grand Totals since program implementation:

Homes Visited: 37,653
Smoke Alarms Installed: 1,158
Batteries Installed: 1,307

IT’S A FACT: All Smoke Alarms Installed Before May 2000 Should be Replaced Now!

A properly maintained smoke alarm will work forever, right? Not so fast!

IT’S A FACT: All hardwired or battery-operated smoke alarms, installed before May 2000, should be replaced now!

A smoke alarm’s lifespan is 10 years, which means any smoke alarm installed before May 2000 is too old and needs to be replaced. The smoke alarm is no longer reliable. Part of smoke alarm maintenance includes knowing when to replace the unit. The few minutes it takes to replace a smoke alarm can save the lives of roommates, family members, neighbors and firefighters.

More than 3,000 people die in home fires each year, and the majority of them have no working smoke alarms. To prevent these deaths, the United States Fire Administration (USFA) is sponsoring the nationwide Install. Inspect. Protect. Campaign, which emphasizes that “Smoke Alarms Save Lives.”

The USFA offers a few helpful tips on smoke alarms: 

• Every residence, and place where people sleep, should be equipped with both ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms or dual sensor smoke alarms, which contain both ionization and photoelectric smoke sensors.
• Place properly installed and maintained smoke alarms both inside and outside of sleeping areas and on every level of your home.
• Interconnected smoke alarms are best, because if one sounds, they all sound.
• Test smoke alarms monthly and change alkaline batteries at least once every year, or as instructed by the manufacturer. You can use a date you already know, like your birthday or when you change your clocks as a reminder.
• Write the installation date on the inside cover of the smoke alarm for future reference.

Homeowners, landlords and renters should check to verify exactly when each smoke alarm in the home was installed. If any smoke alarm was installed before May 2000, now is the time to have it replaced.

For more smoke alarm information, including powerful radio and video public service announcements go to www.usfa.dhs.gov/campaigns/smokealarms.

NEWS ADVISORY: Arson Awareness Week and News Briefing

Date: Thursday, May 6, 2010

Time: 1:00 p.m.

Location: Public Safety Training Academy
9710 Great Seneca Highway
Rockville, Maryland


ROCKVILLE, Maryland - - Arson Awareness Week is sponsored annually by the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) to focus public attention on a preventable crime with real victims in every segment of society. The theme for this year’s event, May 2 – 8, is “Community Arson Prevention” in an effort to provide communities with tools and strategies to combat arson in their neighborhoods, businesses, schools and places of worship and get more people involved in arson prevention.

Read on: Arson Awareness Week and News Briefing