Selected Fire Prevention related articles appearing in the past week from scores of e-sources in the news media.

Links to Fire Prevention-related news articles – Updated 10/24/2011

Campaigns/ Other Fire Prevention Activities

Detroit Red Wings provide free smoke detectors – Herald Port Huron Fire Department Lt. Jeff Tucker shows some of the smoke detectors Monday donated to them from the Detroit Red Wings.
Firefighters to service area smoke detectors – The Little Lake Firefighters Association will be servicing smoke detectors for seniors and disabled persons for free throughout the Little Lake Fire District from 10 am to 2 pm on November 5. …
Children Learn Fire Safety at Rust Library – Firefighter Brad Quin, of the Purcellville Volunteer Fire Department, gave a fire safety presentation to children …
DPH issues fire hazards guidance – October is National Fire Safety Month and the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) is encouraging Connecticut’s employers and workers to keep their workplaces safe from accidental fires …
GH Fire Department Smoke Alarm Campaign Focused on High Risk Population Gig Harbor Fire and Medic One staff and volunteers are canvassing neighborhoods to deliver and install free smoke detectors. More than 300 alarms are available, thanks to a grant from the Washington State …
Great Escape: Northville families fight fire with fireInstalling and maintaining smoke alarms is the first line of preparation, added Ott. If a fire starts at night or in another room, these detectors can alert everyone inside the home. “Families should know what their primary and secondary egress (way …
GH Fire Department Smoke Alarm Campaign Focused on High Risk Population Gig Harbor Fire and Medic One staff and volunteers are canvassing neighborhoods to deliver and install free smoke detectors. More than 300 alarms are available, thanks to a grant from the Washington State …
Grand Traverse County smoke alarm project – The fire departments of Grand Traverse County are kicking off a smoke alarm project this week. The five year goal is to put at least two working smoke alarms in every home in the county. Teams of firefighters will come to your home and …
Operation Save a Life Provides Free Smoke Alarms –Prior to that the borough had its own code which dated back to 1985 which required a smoke detector in every household,” explained firefighter Bill Killian. Officials think Operation Save a Life is a great idea. “I think it’s fantastic and essential. ..
Longview Fire Department hosts block party The event is part of National Fire Prevention Month and was created to educate the public about fire prevention and fire safety. The fire department will provide free hot dogs and drinks, live demonstrations, give-a-ways, and activities for children.
Attendance at fire dept. open house sets record Nemyer said firefighters taught 1200 students about fire safety, and even got a chance to share lunch time.
Farmington Hills Fire Department Joins Smoke Alarm Campaign A working smoke alarm can provide the critical extra seconds needed to get people out safely. “The Farmington Hills Fire Department has a free smoke detector installation program,” Hughes said. “We’ve installed hundreds of smoke alarms over the past 20
Passaic students get lessons in fire prevention – City firefighters on Thursday delivered a valuable lesson in fire safety to thousands of schoolchildren, hoping that the kids might do a little “homework” and prevent a fire. Passaic School 6 fifth-grade teacher Margaret …
FDNY teaches disabled adults about fire safety – The group joined forces with the FDNY’s Bureau of Training and Fire Safety Education and over the course of two years made a DVD titled “ Fire Safety for Staff Working with Individuals with Developmental Disabilities,” which was filmed at the Fire …
Sororities Hit the Streets to Promote Smoke Alarm Awareness – Information about fire safety for off-campus housing will also be given out. The batteries are being provided by Security Alarm Corporation and the smoke alarms are provided by the Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal . The smoke alarm campaign has …
US MILITARY TOUTS FIRE PREVENTION TO NEARLY 100 HONDURAN CHILDREN – Airmen of the 612th Air Base Squadron’s fire department provided fire safety training to more than 95 local kindergarten children at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, Oct. 9. The activities, as part fire prevention week, …

Campus Fire Safety

Mock dorm goes up in flames at UAB Only one of the rooms was equipped with a sprinkler system. The idea was to show just how fast fire can spread and how much a sprinkler system helps. Each actual UAB dorm is equipped with sprinklers. The demonstration was part of Fire Prevention Week.
Renovated residence halls to see sprinklers – Junior Kortney Blevins said she feels sprinklers are important to have in campus residence halls for student safety. “ Sprinklers are important because they can help save peoples’ lives because they can potentially stop or limit the fire ,” Blevins said. …
Fire Marshal Discovers Smoldering Towels While on Inspections – Fire Marshal Brian Charlesworth was conducting fire inspections at Carroll University at 1:14 pm Tuesday when he heard a smoke detector going off in a nearby residence. Charlesworth followed the noise to 204 N. Charles St. where he found smoke and heat …
Ohio University dorm fire ruled arson The fire originated on the first floor and was contained to the room where it began, according to a release from the State Fire Marshal’s Office. While the fire damage was contained to the room of origin, some other rooms sustained heat and smoke
Sororities Hit the Streets to Promote Smoke Alarm Awareness – Information about fire safety for off-campus housing will also be given out. The batteries are being provided by Security Alarm Corporation and the smoke alarms are provided by the Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal . The smoke alarm campaign has …
CFD, OSU Greeks check for fire safety today – The Corvallis Fire Department and members of Oregon State University’s Greek community are teaming up for residential fire safety. Sorority and fraternity members, accompanied by volunteer firefighters, will go door-to-door from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm …

Inspections / Code enforcement

Town Expected to Approve New Fees, Endorse Leaf Mulching – In order to meet state fire code , residents will have to pay a $50 fee for inspections on all new propane tanks purchased and attached to homes, said Steven Fraietta, Bedford’s building inspector. The fee wouldn’t apply to portable …
Applying NFPA 13 in high-rise buildings Furthermore, they would appear to be in direct conflict with the provisions in the International Building Code (IBC) and International Fire Code with regard to exempt locations, as some building and fire officials have determined that sprinklers within…
FDNY Honors Fire Prevention Staffers – Nineteen members of the Bureau of Fire Prevention were recognized as inspectors of the year during an Oct. 13 ceremony. The FDNY recognized members from the Bureau of Fire Prevention on Oct. 13 for working to keep New Yorkers safe. …
Millersburg ‘Halloween barn’ organizers haunted by state fire codes – As we get closer to Halloween, many haunted houses are open and some are raising money for local charities. That has been the case in Millersburg where volunteers have run a haunted barn for the last nine years without …
Phoenix departments ensure safety at haunted housesHaunted houses contained indoors are required to have smoke detectors, fire alarms and sprinklers, as well as additional “smart technology” that would halt any special effects in the case of an emergency. “Basically, if there were an emergency
Council opts for Knox box resolution over law – While the council opted for a voluntary program that would encourage people to utilize the access boxes, the city’s fire chief still has the authority to order the use where access could be difficult. That authority is granted in the state fire code .
Iowa withdraws safety citation in fatal fire against Casey’s General Stores – State Labor Commissioner Michael Mauro said today that state fire code does not require a fire alarm system in buildings that size. Colleen Paradine died in the July 6 fire. Authorities say the 53-year-old worker went to the store early to make …
South Pasadena Farmers’ Market changes layout to meet fire safety standards – Randy St. Clair of Capay Organic sells his wares at the South Pasadena Farmers’ Market. The market will get a new layout Thursday that better meets fire safety standards.
Haunted houses must follow safety regulations in IllinoisThe fire marshal advises that haunted houses should have adequate room for visitors to exit. There also must be panic hardware on exit doors. Haunted houses are considered “special amusement buildings” and must obey state rules for fire sprinklers and …
State is taking right approach with proposed change to fireworks law – The state fire marshal and the Michigan Township Association supports the bill. They’re right. Michigan could be on its way to legalizing so-called “consumer fireworks.” The Michigan House last week voted 98-10 for a bill that would repeal Michigan’s …

Smoke Alarms

GH Fire Department Smoke Alarm Campaign Focused on High Risk Population Gig Harbor Fire and Medic One staff and volunteers are canvassing neighborhoods to deliver and install free smoke detectors. More than 300 alarms are available, thanks to a grant from the Washington State …
Grand Traverse County smoke alarm project – The fire departments of Grand Traverse County are kicking off a smoke alarm project this week. The five year goal is to put at least two working smoke alarms in every home in the county. Teams of firefighters will come to your home and …

Sprinklers

Lancaster, South Carolina puts on third in series of state sprinkler demonstrations
Sprinkler demonstration comes on anniversary of major blaze in Chelsea, Massachusetts When I was about 12, growing up in Everett, MA, I was playing with some friends and saw smoke in the sky. We walked about a mile and half trying to see what was burning. We turned back when we thought we had gone too far, only to learn later it was one of the worst fires in the states history — the Great Chelsea Fire of 1973.
Renovated residence halls to see sprinklers – Junior Kortney Blevins said she feels sprinklers are important to have in campus residence halls for student safety. “ Sprinklers are important because they can help save peoples’ lives because they can potentially stop or limit the fire ,” Blevins said. …
Home builder promotes residential sprinkler systems in new Faces of Fire video
Demonstration in Anderson shows how sprinklers make a difference Anderson city and county fire fighters put out a fire in the parking lot of the Civic Center during a South Carolina Fire and Life Safety demonstration to show the importance of fire sprinklers Friday afternoon. A

Wildland Fire Safety

Program Aimed at Teaching Fire Safety Presented to Students Dept. of Forestry will present program concerning “wild fire safety.” Due to the increased amount of wildfires throughout the country, both agencies say it’s important to start informing children of the dangers of wild burning.
How a Neighborhood Changed to Prevent Another Oakland Hills Fire – The California Fire Code was modified after the Oakland-Berkeley Hills Fire and now includes regulations for defensible space, such as maintaining a 30-foot fuel reduction zone around buildings, keeping grass just 6 inches long, and removing all tree …
How Berkeley Has Changed Since the Fire – In 2008 the City of Berkeley adopted those Codes, which include materials and construction methods that are set by the Office of the State Fire Marshal . Berkeley has taken those codes a step further. Berkeley’s Fire Safety Zones are larger than defined …

Other Fire Safety News

Fire Safety Education: Who’s In? – Tom Kiurski in Fire Engineering Magazine
Halloween Costumes Mislead With “Fireproof” Claims – To make the holiday safer, there are federal fire standards in place for costume construction and materials. It’s important to remember that there is no such thing as “fireproof,” so don’t buy a costume labeled with such claims. ..
Fire tragedies you should share
Matches and lighters not to be ‘toyed’ with Some fire safety experts recommend that you never let young children see you use matches or lighters, as doing so tends to arouse their curiosity. To young children, this fire may seem to be a mysterious and fascinating thing, and being able to make
Helpful fire-safety tips for seniors – With winter ap-proaching, it’s important seniors know home fires are far more common and deadly among the elderly, but there are things they can do to guard against it. …
Talking smoke alarms better at waking, saving sleeping kids – Because a house fire doubles in size every 30 seconds, time is of the essence for those inside. Once a fire starts, you have less than five minutes to get everybody out safely. Having a working smoke alarm can give you that time. Having a smoke alarm …
Fire safety is important as weather turns cooler – Draper said now is a good time to review the family’s fire safety plan or create one if you don’t already have one. “The fire safety plan teaches the family what the plan will be if the house is on fire,” he said. “It includes a designated safe meeting …
Fire chief reviews safety for heater season – The downward trend for fire deaths began in the 1980s in Maine, according to public safety records. In the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s, Maine averaged nearly 50 fatalities a year. According to the State Fire Marshal’s Office, in the first six months of 2011, …
Oklahoma Red Cross reaches out to help tragedy struck community – Each year seventy people in Oklahoma die in a house fire . The Red Cross said having a working smoke detector in your home can cut your risk of dying in a house fire in half and today they gave them out to residents of a town that’s already …
Tried and True Holiday Fire Prevention Tips From the Hearst Burn Center at – The activity and excitement of the holidays tend to make people less careful when they should be more cautious. There are an estimated 47000 fires every holiday season that claim more than 500 lives a year. Dr. Roger Yurt, director, …
Staunton Fire & Rescue Receives Life Saving Award The award was given by the Residential Fire Safety Institute (RFSI) in partnership with the Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company. Jerry Rosendahl, President of the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM), RFSI’s parent organization,
CO Detector Saves Family – A family is lucky to be alive after being exposed to toxic levels of carbon monoxide. It happened at around 11:00 Thursday morning at a home in North Fargo. Firefighters say it may have been caused by a broken furnace. Al and Shirley Shafer and their .
Bend FD Offers Woodstove Safety Tips – For more information on heating safely with wood, contact your local Fire Department, Woodstove Dealer or certified Chimney Sweep. Working Smoke Alarms, Home Fire Escape Plans, and Home Fire Sprinklers save lives.

Smoke Alarm Saves

Smoke detector helps limit fire damage The Guttenberg Fire Department was dispatched to 1015 North St. at 3:06 pm for an apartment fire at the home of James Johnson and Pam Sexton. Upon arrival, the department found that something cooking on the stove had ignited and started a fire on and…
Waynesboro firefighters quickly extinguish blaze A smoke detector alerted family members, who made it outside safely, Martin said. There were no injuries. The fire started on back porch of the two-story, single family home, Martin said.
Firefighters respond to early morning fire in Colonie A man living on the second floor says he woke up to the sound of a smoke alarm. “I was in bed sleeping and the smoke alarm went off at about 5 am, I jumped up, the room was full of smoke.
Couple Escapes Their Burning Berryhill Home UnharmedThe residents told firefighters that smoke alarms woke them up.
Weekend Structure Fire Proves Smoking And Oxygen Dont Mix The homes smoke detector went off alerting the occupants allowing a safe exit.
Blaze guts home “The resident stated she had a cigarette and when she woke up, the smoke detector was going off.”
Smoke detector alerts Syracuse family that their house is on fire Three people escaped a morning fire at 223 W. Newell St. after being alerted by a smoke detector.
Fire destroys home near Wolf Lake Smoke detectors are credited with saving the lives of five people whose rural Wolf Lake home was destroyed by fire early Tuesday.
Woman Escapes Burning Home in Williamsburg, Home is a Total Loss When the first smoke alarm went off, the woman living inside thought it was her stove. Then, when all of the other alarms in the home went off, she got out quickly.
2 escape blaze at south-end home They were met by flames and smoke coming from the front of the one-story home. A fire in the attic was brought under control after about 10 minutes. Two adults had evacuated the home on their own after hearing a smoke detector’s alarm.
Fire Leaves 30 Homeless In New Bedford It’s destroyed by flames and smoke, and she can’t believe it. “The alarm went off and the house was full of smoke and we got out just in time,” said Rowell, “Everybody got out, everybody was safe, but now there’s no more house, no more nothing. …
Three escape townhome fire early Friday A mother, her grown son and his friend at the townhome in the 5100 block of Hickory Hollow Parkway, were awakened just before 2 am by a smoke alarm, said Ricky Taylor of the Nashville Fire Department. Because the smoke was too thick on the bottom floor …
Woman injured in blaze at Tucson apartment complex A man who lives in the complex called 911 just before 4 am after he heard a smoke alarm going off and saw smoke coming from a window in another apartment, said Capt. Trish Tracy, a Tucson fire spokeswoman in a news release.

Sprinkler Saves

Sprinklers extinguish kitchen fire – Holland officials credit an automatic sprinkler system for extinguishing a fire in an apartment’s kitchen and preventing it from spreading to other units in the building. A woman in the apartment suffered a minor burn. …
Fire breaks out at three-story building in rural Downers Grove Sunday The fire department says the garage’s sprinkler system kept the fire under control until firefighters were able to arrive and extinguish the fire.
Fire displaces family from Bluffton-area apartmentFirefighters found heavy smoke inside, however, however the fire was extinguished by a sprinkler system. Units remained on scene until representatives from
Cooking fire displaces Bluffton-area family The fire occurred Wednesday night at Hallmark Apartments on Malphrus Road outside Bluffton. The Bluffton Township Fire District responded at about 10:20 pm, Capt. Randy Hunter said today. An activated sprinkler system extinguished the fire. …

Fire Prevention News: International

Hearing society lobbies for visual alarms at Ottawa fire station – Oct. 15 when they met with Ottawa fire officials at the Riverside South fire station to advocate the inclusion of visual fire alarms in the provincial fire code . The society has been pressuring the provincial government to amend the fire code , …
Special report: UK freezer fires light up regulation concerns – Hertfordshire Trading Standards, which regulates Arcelik’s British distribution unit, subsequently forced the company to amend the warning to include mention of “a potential fire hazard .
Spare the lightning rod, spoil your barn – While the Ontario Fire Code and the Ontario Building Code do not require lightning rods to be installed on the top of buildings, he says, there are recognized standards for their installation. For instance, the equipment may be disguised as an …