FIRE PREVENTION
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USEFUL LINKS:
US Consumer Product Safety Commission:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/fire_sfy.html |
Interesting Article: Cause of Hastings Nebraska Fire
Fire & Accident Prevention Tips
January 12th Meeting: Hello everyone, First I would like to thank Alda, Doniphan, Shelton and Wood River for attending. We had a meeting at the Wood River Fire Hall on Jan 12th to go over some of the things that we wanted to accomplish with our Co-op program. Also to set some goals for the coming year. Some of the things discussed were maintaining a good Prevention Program throughout the year and not to just focus on the October month, educating the community, including the senior citizens, farmers and the high school kids and not just focusing on the elementary schools. We decided one thing we can start with is putting an article in the newspaper once a month about fire prevention. So those that were not there and aren’t in the area that receives the Wood River Sunbeam or The Clipper in Shelton, need to see about making contact with their local paper. If you want me to share my article every month with you I will be glad to do that. Ours will start going in the first of every month starting next month, I will attach a copy of what I sent. If you have your own ideas and/or articles you may send them to me and I will post them on our Wood River Fire Dept. Website (woodriverfire.com). The main focus for our group will be to share our ideas and resources. Many were suggesting needing new ideas for their school prevention programs. They need ways to revive it and make it more interesting and fun for everyone. There were many great ideas and suggestions brought up that can be shared amongst the towns. Especially anything that involved building or special props. The idea of the Co-op is to utilize any special events that our towns have to get the word of prevention out. One great suggestion was made that while the area departments providing coverage for Husker Harvest Days in our little corner we could be handing out brochures or flyers with ways to properly manage farm fires, and storage of combustible items, etc. It was talked about to see if the State Fire Marshall Office, Forestry Service or area NRD’s would provide the material We are going to put another meeting together in March. I will send an email out to everyone with a date as it get closer. We are asking everyone this time to bring to the meeting a list of resources they can share with the group (books, videos, puppets, mascots, etc) and approx. amount of what your prevention budget is so that we know what each town is working with for funds. It was also talked about to use some of these funds to purchase as a group a Smokey the Bear or Sparky costume for the Mutual Aide Group, this would provide a better chance of having access to the costumes than trying to get from the State. |
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NEWSLETTERS: If you want to submit one to me and have it available for others to use for their papers that would be GREAT!! Just email it to me: mmaloney@kdsi.net |
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2009 Decembers Newsletter: |
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FIRE PREVENTION DURING THE WINTER AND HOLIDAY MONTHS
Winter & Holiday fires are typically more severe than the rest of the year for several reasons. Fire places and wood stoves are used for decorations or heat. The build up of creosote is a common cause of chimney fires. This is a good time to ensure your chimney is clean. Another good reason to test your smoke alarms. Over the holidays the risk of fires increases, partly due to extra power cords and decorations which provide more fuel to the fire. In the event of a fire, a smoke alarm can save your life and those of your loved ones. They are the single most important means of preventing house and apartment fire fatalities by providing an early warning signal - so you and your family can escape. Smoke alarms are one of the best safety features you can buy and install to protect yourself, your family and your home. Candle Fires increase fourfold during the month of December, making it a good time to practice extra caution and candle care. During the Holiday Season, the fire load inside the home increase. As a result of this increased fuel, losses from residential fire increases. Especially tragic are those fires caused by candles, as well as decorations and Christmas trees. Efforts must be made to make a fire safe home, especially during the winter Holiday Season. A Christmas tree provides sufficient fuel to ignite a serious fire..... Keep yours watered!! Special fire safety precautions need to be taken when keeping a live tree in the house. A burning tree can rapidly fill a room with fire and deadly gases. Make a good tree selection to begin with, care for it and dispose of it timely and properly. Preventing winter fires & Life saving tips: Make sure your space heaters have an emergency shut off in case they tip over. Never use flammable liquids, such as gasoline, to start or accelerate fire. Use a glass or metal screen in front of your fireplace to prevent sparks from igniting nearby carpets or furniture. Dispose of hot ashes in metal containers placed away from the house. Don't use the oven to heat your home. In addition to a fire hazard, it can be a source of toxic fumes. Always have an escape plan. Wishing you a happy, safe, holiday season and a fire proof New Year. The Community Fire Prevention Committee |
| October Newsletter; |
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How many times have you left the house in the morning and
wondered, “Did I turn off the stove?” or “I’m going to fix that
exhaust later.” With our busy lives, the safety of our farms, homes
and families are sometimes relegated to the back of our minds – an
afterthought as we hop in our vehicles to start the day.
Our Fire Department wants you to make sure that the stove burner is turned off or the worn exhaust on the truck you’ve been meaning to fix is your top priority during Fire Prevention Week, October 4-10 and always. The theme of this year’s campaign, “Stay Fire Smart! Don’t Get Burned,” focuses on preventing the leading causes of home fires – cooking, heating and electrical equipment, and smoking materials in addition to burn prevention. Most home fires are easily preventable when we narrow our focus and take personal steps to increase our safety. One way to do this is by proactively combing through each room in your home to find signs of danger and fix them. We are encouraging you and your families to put your safety first by performing a home hazards inspection during Fire Prevention Week. You can download a checklist at www.firepreventionweek.org. Have your chimneys cleaned and inspected before each heating season. Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home. For the best protection, interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound. Replace smoke alarms every 10 years and replace your battery twice a year when the time changes. Remember Farm Fire Preventions to. Checking for fire hazards before starting work each day will reduce the chance of costly fire to expensive equipment. Every farm and ranch in Nebraska operates with multiple pieces of expensive agricultural equipment. Unfortunately many of these machines are damaged or destroyed by fire each year. Most, if not all, of these equipment fires are preventable. Preventive maintenance is the key to preventing many of the fires which occur on farm and ranch equipment. Good preventive maintenance not only prolongs equipment life but also reduces fire hazards. Fires on farm and ranch equipment are not uncommon, so all machinery should contain an approved fire extinguisher of adequate size. The cost of a fire extinguisher is minimal when compared to the replacement cost of a tractor or combine. As firefighters and fire safety educators, fire prevention is always on our minds. We hope that you use the checklist and home & farm fire prevention tips to put your safety first during Fire Prevention Week, and year-round. The Community Fire Prevention Committee |
| September Newsletter: |
| 'Prevention is Better than Cure' If you think back a few months we all can remember having a very wet spring. So what does this mean in regards to what to expect for this coming fire season? Expect a high abundance of grass... what we call “fine fuels”. The wet spring provided grasses and weeds with the right conditions to grow tall, giving way to dry grass that came mid summer. This provides fire with a perfect place to get established and run. This season more than ever, be sure to have your grasses cut down before they cure in addition to other hazard reduction around the home. When grass dries out in the summer, wildfires start easily. A simple spark caused by a lawnmower blade or weedeater metal disc striking a rock or high temperatures from mufflers or faulty spark arresters on yard equipment are enough to ignite the dry grasses expected this fire season. People and their activities cause more than 90 percent of all wildfires in the state. Careless debris burning (of household trash, brush and leaf piles, garden spots, etc.) results in the largest number of human-caused wildfires. Wildfires arise from many causes. While some occur from natural causes such as lightning or trees and/or tree branches falling on power lines, most result from people and their actions. A little known fact of which far too few people are aware is that a burning ban doesn’t have to be in effect for outdoor burning to be illegal. The state of Nebraska has a year long burn ban. Negligently allowing your fire to escape onto someone else’s property is a Class C misdemeanor offense (the same as violation of a burn ban) that is punishable by a fine. Deliberately setting fire to someone else’s property is arson. Activities to prevent life-threatening fires from getting started generally can be categorized under three areas: education, engineering and enforcement – the three “E’s” of fire prevention. EDUCATION: Wildfire prevention efforts target a wide variety of audiences using a broad mix of messages, publications, activities and programs. Smokey Bear, the national symbol for wildfire prevention, has reached millions of children, youth and adults with his wildfire safety message: “Only you can prevent wildfires.” The Smokey Bear wildfire prevention campaign remains one of the most successful public service programs ever undertaken by the National Advertising Council. ENGINEERING: Proper equipment maintenance can help prevent many wildfires, e.g. keeping mufflers and spark arresters on outdoor power equipment in proper working order. Modifications on equipment and/or the environment in which equipment is being used also can prevent wildfires. Examples include removing vegetation from the area in which welding operations will be conducted and physically shielding potential ignition sources from dry vegetation. Always keep a fire extinguisher or water source near by. ENFORCEMENT: The enforcement side of wildfire prevention involves activities that encourage compliance with restrictions on outdoor fire use, usually based on penalties for noncompliance with state or county regulations. Enforcement efforts most commonly involve citations for negligence with outdoor burning, violations of county burning bans and restrictions on the sale of certain aerial fireworks. Violations involving these areas are usually Class C misdemeanors carrying possible fines. Incendiary, or arson, fires carry a much higher penalty, though, as these are felony offenses. Individuals convicted of wildland arson offenses face fines and/or prison terms. When used with each other, the three “E’s” of wildfire prevention can prevent significant numbers of wildfires from occurring. None of these, however, lessen the need for individuals to take personal responsibility for keeping wildfires from occurring. To repeat Smokey’s advice: “Only you can prevent wildfires.” The Community Fire Prevention Committee |
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August Newsletter
Fire Safety & Prevention for ALL School Students Each year in the United States there are an estimated 1,300 fires in high school, private and prep school, and university dormitories. There are several causes for these fires; however most are due to a general lack of knowledge about fire safety and prevention. The primary causes of fraternity house and college dormitory fires appear to be the occupant behavior activities of fire setting (arson), cooking and smoking. The potential threat of school fires is often not taken seriously enough by students until it is too late. Students sometimes let their guard down because of the high frequency of pranks and false alarms especially in colleges. Vandalism of fire safety systems and pranks involving the setting of fires simply cannot be tolerated by schools. Students need to be made to understand the dangers from fire, and the school and criminal penalties they may face for mischief. On the part of the college students, a certain sense of immortality seems to come with the territory as they embark on this exciting period of independence. Many students do not yet have the maturity or experience to recognize real threats to their personal safety; consequently, they sometimes indulge in foolish, even dangerous, behavior without realizing the risks or potential consequences. When it comes to fire safety, most students are uneducated; that is, unless they have been properly trained in fire prevention and response should a fire occur. To protect your school and students provide a program for fire safety and prevention. Students need to know how to properly notify the fire department using the 911 system. Install smoke alarms in every class and dorm room and every level of housing facilities. Maintain and regularly test smoke alarms and fire alarm systems. Replace smoke alarm batteries every semester. Keep a working fire extinguisher in your room. Regularly inspect rooms and buildings for fire hazards. Avoid the over use of electrical outlets, extension cords and power strips. Don’t use candles or incenses. Instead use scented air sprays. Ask your local fire department for assistance. Inspect exit doors and windows and make sure they are working properly. Create and update detailed floor plans of buildings, and make them available to emergency personnel, resident advisors and students. Conduct fire drills and practice escape routes and evacuation plans. Urge students to take each alarm seriously. Do not overload electrical outlets and make sure extension cords are used properly. Learn to properly use and maintain heating and cooking appliances. It is important that fire safe student housing does not just happen; it requires careful planning, coordination and education of fire prevention. The Community Fire Prevention Committee
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July Fire Prevention Newsletter
For more than 200 years, we have celebrated the birth of America. Today’s celebrations often include fireworks displays. Exploding brilliant colored fireworks, backyard barbecues, and roasting marshmallows are the highlights of every July 4th holiday celebration. Burns are a common cause of injury during the summer months and especially in July. Fire and burns are the third leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths among children ages fourteen and under. Approximately 10,000 people suffer fireworks injuries every year, including over 4,000 children ages fourteen and under. Burns resulting from improper use of sparklers and illegal fireworks usually involve the hands, face, arms, and chest areas. How and Why Do These Injuries Occur? Availability: In spite of federal regulations and varying state prohibitions, many types of fireworks are still accessible to the public. Distributors often sell fireworks near state borders, where laws prohibiting sales on either side of the border may differ. Fireworks type: Among the various types of fireworks, some of which are sold legally in some states, bottle rockets can fly into peoples' faces and cause eye injuries; sparklers can ignite clothing; and firecrackers can injure the hands or face if they explode at close range. Being too close: Injuries may result from being too close to fireworks when they explode; for example, when someone leans over to look more closely at a firework that has been ignited, or when a misguided bottle rocket hits a nearby person. Lack of physical coordination: Younger children often lack the physical coordination to handle fireworks safely. Curiosity: Children are often excited and curious around fireworks, which can increase their chances of being injured (for example, when they re-examine a firecracker dud that initially fails to ignite). Experimentation: Homemade fireworks (for example, ones made of the powder from several firecrackers) can lead to dangerous and unpredictable explosions. The best way to protect your family is not to use any fireworks at home — period. Attend public fireworks displays and leave the lighting to the professionals. Kids should never play with fireworks. Sparklers can reach 1,800° Fahrenheit (982° Celsius) — hot enough to melt gold. Steer clear of others — fireworks have been known to backfire or shoot off in the wrong direction. Never throw or point fireworks at someone, even in jest. Don't allow kids to pick up pieces of fireworks after an event. Some may still be ignited and can explode at any time. Think about your pet. Animals have sensitive ears and can be extremely frightened or stressed on the Fourth of July. Keep pets indoors to reduce the risk that they'll run loose or get injured. Fifty-nine percent of fires caused by fireworks occur around the Independence Day holiday on July 4th, often in open fields or vacant lots. As such, the materials most commonly ignited by fireworks are organic materials such as grass and trees. Grass alone was the first material ignited in 47% of all fireworks fires Fireworks account for a substantial number of preventable injuries and fires. Because fireworks can be dangerous and deadly, the safest way to enjoy them is through public displays conducted by professional pyrotechnicians hired by communities over July 4th or at other times during the year. Parents need to be especially cautious during this time in assuring that children do not possess dangerous fireworks or mishandle legal ones. Keep your July holiday activities enjoyable, fun and safe The Community Fire Prevention Committee
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June Fire Prevention Newsletter
Campers Need Fire Prevention Too! Every year thousands of Nebraskans escape the hustle of daily life by heading to the great outdoors. Some simple fire prevention rules that, when followed, will preserve our valuable natural resources. Campfires add ambience to a campsite but should be used with caution. Always build your campfire downwind from your tent or RV in an area that is clear of vegetation. Never leave your campfire unattended and remember to fully extinguish the fire before going to bed or leaving your campsite. Campers carrying fuel for propane/gasoline type stoves in their car trunk should take the precaution of opening the trunk periodically to ventilate the compartment. Always carry a first aid kit with you. There are always a few tips to remember when camping with a RV & tent. Before leaving on a trip thoroughly check vehicle exhaust systems, generator engines and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. If you don’t have smoke or carbon monoxide detectors in your RV, install them. Park your RV in a clear area so the exhaust doesn’t ignite dry vegetation. Properly ventilate your RV when cooking. Open a window or overhead vent and turn on an exhaust fan. Do not use cooking appliances for heat. Place a 5-pound, ABC-rated fire extinguisher near each exit and know how to use them. When camping out away from home or in the back yard, exercise special care with flammable liquids and open flames near tents. Use a tent made of flame-retardant fabric and use a flashlight. Heat producing appliances (i.e. lights, heaters, cooking appliances) should never be used in a tent. There are always a few tips to remember when camping with a campfire. Make sure campfires are permitted. Use only designated campfire areas (if provided). Clear an area at least 15 feet surrounding your tent and/or any buildings. Clear ground cover to bare dirt at least 5 feet in all directions from the campfire. Place campfire downwind from your tent or RV. Keep your campfire small. Never leave campfires unattended. Always have an adult start and supervise the fire. Never leave children unattended around a fire. Fully extinguish your campfire, using water, before leaving the area or going to bed at night. Stack extra firewood 15 feet away from the campfire. When using a camp stove remember these tips: Place your grill or stove on a solid level surface to prevent tipping. Place your grill or stove at least 5 feet away from any combustible materials. Place your grill or stove downwind from people, tents and/or buildings. Use only charcoal lighter fluid to start your grill charcoal. Use only enough charcoal for the amount of cooking you will be doing. Don’t allow cooking oil to get too hot and ignite. If a grease fire does start make sure you have something to smother the fire, such as the proper size lid. Always use long-handled barbeque tools. Always fully extinguish coals when leaving the camp site or at the end of the day. Have a safe and enjoyable summer. The Community Fire Prevention Committee
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May Fire Prevention Newsletter
It’s that time of year again when we are anxious to get outdoors. Hunters. Campers and Anglers still need to remember fire prevention! Use caution when using your vehicles. The high temperatures of exhaust systems and catalytic converters can ignite vegetation. Remember to avoid driving through tall grass, unharvested crops or CRP fields and to park your vehicle in an area that is clear of vegetation. Four-wheel drive and all-terrain vehicles are sometimes needed to access remote hunting or fishing spots. However, these vehicles can cause wildfires if not used properly. Before leaving on a trip, thoroughly check exhaust systems on your vehicle. Drive only on established roads. Park your vehicle in a clear area to avoid igniting dry vegetation with the exhaust system. Install approved spark arrestors on ATV engines. Keep all moving parts lubricated and fluids at the proper levels. Shut off the engine and allow it to cool before refueling. Don’t overfill fuel tanks. Carry a 5-pound, ABC-rated fire extinguisher, a shovel, 5 gallons of water and a blanket to use in case of a wildfire. Use general fire prevention tips while hunting or fishing. DO NOT throw smoking material out of vehicle windows. DO NOT smoke while walking through dry grass. DO NOT use stoves, grills, gas lanterns or candles inside tents. Keep flammable liquids away from any open flames. Keep all litter picked up and disposed of properly. Thoroughly extinguish your campfire if the weather becomes windy. It’s a good idea to carry a cellular phone with you at all times. Carry a GPS unit if you have one. Always have with you a complete First-Aid kit. May is also the time for Graduations. Also remember your graduate by giving a gift that will protect him/her in their dorm or apartment. Some ideas are a fire extinguisher, CO detectors, smoke detectors, first aid kit, and flashlight w/batteries. Some kitchen items to give are potholders, cooking timer, pots & pans with lids. The Community Fire Prevention Committee
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| April Newsletter CAN WE FIND YOU IN AN EMERGENCY? |
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March Fire Prevention Newsletter
There are two basic styles of management which can be applied to a fi re department’s operation: reactive and proactive. Our department has chosen to be proactive by providing you with these monthly fire prevention tips. March is a usually a time for spring cleaning. Remember to look for hazards every day. When you find a fire hazard, repair it or get rid of it. Good housekeeping is good fire prevention. A clean, orderly work place and well kept equipment and tools are less likely to cause fire. A fire in a rural area is far more serious than a fire in a town or city where the fire department and fire-fighting resources are readily available. The most effective fire prevention device yet invented is YOUR attitude. Fire on the farm or ranch can be extremely costly and potentially dangerous. Remember if you are planning on doing any open burning to use your fire safety rules. History shows that as long as man has been farming, he has used fire as a tool to clear fields. Unfortunately, each year thousands of acres and millions of dollars are lost to careless burning practices. • Check local, county or state laws on open burning. Always obtain a permit to burn from the local fire department. Be sure to notify the fire department when you start burning. • Nebraska has a statewide burning ban and always requires a burn permit for an open burn. To obtain a burn permit in Wood River contact any fire officer. A list of officers may be found on the fire dept. website: www.woodriverfire.com. • Be aware of the weather conditions and be flexible. If weather conditions are unfavorable or forecast to be unfavorable, postpone the burning to a later date. • Be aware of your surroundings and other combustibles. Protect buildings and fences. • Look up. Watch out for power lines and tree branches. • Build a fire break to contain a fire in the area to be burned. • Keep firefighting tools, such as rakes, shovels and garden hoses, close at hand, for small fires. Discs, plows and large sprayers are needed for large fires. Have plenty of help. • Remember, fires can grow extremely fast. A small fire can rapidly become a raging wildfire with a gust of wind. If a fire appears to be getting away, call your fire department immediately. Never leave a fire unattended. Rural residents must give fire prevention first priority in protecting their homes, families and businesses. Fire prevention on the farm or ranch starts with YOU. The Community Fire Prevention Committee |
| February: Wood River Sunbeam, (covers Alda) & The Shelton
Clipper (February) |
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