Fire Prevention News: Weekly Roundup – December 28, 2011

Links to Fire Prevention-related news articles – Updated 12/27/2011

Campaigns/ Other Fire Prevention Activities

‘No Child Sleeps Unprotected’ Lowe’s donates smoke detectors to … The program’s goal is that every child in Boardman will have a working smoke detector in his or her home, Fire Chief George Brown said. …
Lawrence County emphasizes fire safety – Lawrence County is on its way from being the worst in per capita fire deaths to the best — thanks primarily to an emphasis on fire safety and installing free smoke detectors.
Grant allows city to provide 200 smoke detectors to deaf Four fire safety education sessions, including at least one designed for children, that address the deaf and hard of hearing community, the release said. …
A pledge for fire safety earns Bridgewater Fire Department $10000 grant – Tight fire department budgets across the nation have resulted in cutbacks in services, training and equipment, and even the closure of some firehouses. But good news was announced today for Bridgewater as local residents and Liberty Mutual …
Christmas gift: Smoke detectors for neighbors near town-house fire – Orange County firefighters Sunday gave 22 families a Christmas gift that could save their lives: a smoke detector. Firefighters handed out the detectors in the Windsor Walk neighborhood after a fire that Saturday …
Fire marshal remembers time in fire-prevention program – Joseph Anderson told his boss there was no way he could ever be a clown. But 21 years later, he’s looking back on the success of the Boots ‘N Bunker fire-prevention program he pioneered in the Ogden schools. …

Campus Fire Safety

Chapel Hill credits sprinkler for dousing fire – Chapel Hill firefighters say an automatic sprinkler system prevented what could have been a major fire this holiday weekend. They say the fire started in a dryer Saturday evening at 1900 Baity Hill Drive, part of UNC’s Family Student Housing complex. …

Inspections / Code enforcement

Sen. Schumer speaks out on Transit Hub fireproofing A fire safety expert with John Jay College says the testing is seriously flawed. “As a former code enforcement official I wouldn’t have accepted it. …
Negligent cooking’ could cost you up to $5000 … I was too when I saw the proposal on the agenda for the Tuesday meeting of (take a deep breath) the Building Code, Fire Code, Conveyance Code and Licensing …
Gas tubing fires linked to lightning raise concern
Smoke alarms not required in your child’s school Even more shocking than the fire itself, might be that there were no fire … “Pull stations are definitely effective, but having a smoke detector in there …
Proposed rules aim to improve safety of gel fuels and firepots In an effort to prevent injuries and deaths from the use of gel fuels in firepots, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has voted to publish an advance notice of proposed rulemaking meant to improve the safety of these products. The…
Hamilton Beach toasters—Fire hazard Hamilton Beach Brands, of Glen Allen, Va., has recalled about 14,000 classic chrome two-slice toasters because of a fire hazard, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced today. When the toasters are first plugged into an outlet, the heating element can…
Fire safety standards: What you should know Roughly 4,000 people die every year and over 18,000 people are injured in fires. Add to those statistics the fact that firefighters in the U.S. respond to over 360,000 fire emergencies that cause billions of dollars in property damage annually and you see why fire safety standards are something you should investigate as a preventative measure.Fire safety standards are created to prevent or lower the …
CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps) eyed for fire danger – “In 2008, the state fire marshal’s office office first alerted the fire chiefs that CFLs could smoke” at the end of their life, she said. “I’m not aware of any fires that fire departments in the state have responded to that were started by CFLs, but, …
New state laws to go into effect Fire Safety — Allows the fire chief or other officer of a fire protection district to prohibit open burning on an emergency basis when wind, weather, …

Smoke Alarms

East Peoria FD offers smoke alarm program The East Peoria Fire Department has a free smoke alarm and installation program for East Peoria residents who cannot afford a new smoke alarm.
Last Minute Gift Ideas? MFD Has Suggestions – A working smoke alarm is one of the simplest and least expensive ways to protect yourself and your family from fire . The City of Madison requires smoke alarms with a 10-year battery in a tamper-resistant alarm unit. …
Visual fire alarms needed For more than seven years, we have pushed for improved and equitable fire safety for culturally deaf, oral deaf, deafened and hard of hearing residents: for …

Sprinklers

Board right to keep sprinklers
Sprinklers save lives Sprinklers are about life and property protection, not about lining … A sprinkler controls or extinguishes a fire. A sprinkler installation in a new large …
Springfield Uses FIRE Grant to Retrofit Fire Stations with Sprinklers – The Springfield (Mo.) Fire Department has been awarded Assistance to Firefighters Grant for nearly $565000. While the majority of the grant will be used to replace outdated extrication equipment, a portion will be allocated to placing fire sprinklers .
Sprinklers add crucial layer of fire protection – “Firefighters push home sprinklers: But developers say added costs too high” (Metro, Dec. 14) reports opponents as saying that sprinklers have not been proven to be more effective in saving lives than smoke detectors.
Fire sprinkler safety – Fire sprinklers are a cost-efficient way to save lives and reduce property damage. To date, there has never been a multiple loss of life because of fire in a structure with a fully-installed and well-maintained sprinkler system.
CDOT Wants Fire Sprinklers In Eisenhower Tunnel Transportation officials in Colorado want to install a $20 million sprinkler system in the Eisenhower Tunnel to mitigate risk of a fire. …

Wildland Fire Safety

Rural residents protest new fire protection fee We think it’s unfair, especially for those areas where they’ve already approved a fire prevention type of fee,” said Karen Keene, a lobbyist for the …

Other Fire Safety News

Be extra careful with holiday fire As your state fire marshal, I ask readers to review the information below, … Your Minnesota Department of Public Safety State Fire Marshal Division wishes …
Fire at Home Ends Texas Campaign of Gen. Ricardo Sanchez Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez withdrew from the race to succeed Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison after a fire that left his San Antonio home heavily damaged.
Pot growing causes 1 in 10 Santa Rosa building fires … in fires due to grow houses,” said Petaluma Fire Marshal Cary Fergus, who also is president of the Sonoma County Fire Prevention Officers Association. …
Fire Safety: 7 Life-Saving Preventive Measures – ABC News
Madonna Badger Tragedy: 10 Leading Causes of House Fires and Safety Tips – International Business Times
Fireman from infamous ’46 hotel blaze dies There were no fire escapes or a sprinkler system, as neither were required when the Winecoff was originally built. Roberts climbed the ladder to save hotel …
Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office urges fire safety for Christmas trees – Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office urges fire safety for Christmas trees Clarksville Online “The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that there is an estimated annual average of 240 home structure fires that begin with Christmas trees,” State Fire Marshal and Commerce and Insurance Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak says. …
Dry Christmas trees are a fire hazard – Public safety officials are encouraging Hoosiers to promptly and safely dispose of live Christmas trees after the holidays. According to the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office, even trees that have been well watered and cared for will …
Holidays Most Dangerous Time for House Fires
Holiday Fire Safety Statistics show holiday fires kill more than four-hundred people across the country each year and injure sixteen hundred more.
Firefighters offer holiday decoration safety warning Today, Valley firefighters got together to raise awareness about fire safety during the holidays. One of the problems they’re seeing is over-loaded circuits …
Madison Fire Started By Child Playing With Lighter – The building alarms sounded and everyone evacuated safely. The child and family have been referred to the MFD Children and Fire Program for fire safety education . Parents should know where all lighters and matches are in the house .
State officials remind Hoosiers to travel safely over the holidays –The Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office, a division of IDHS, also reminds travelers to be aware of their surroundings when sleeping at hotels, inns, or motels. Choose a hotel/motel that is protected by both smoke alarms and a fire sprinkler system. ..
A Holiday Tragedy: Christmas Tree Fire Destroys Home – According to the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA), Christmas tree fires are not common, but when they occur, they are likely to be serious. When choosing a tree, they recommend one with fresh, green needles that do not fall off when touched. ..
Give your family a fire escape plan this Christmas – Having and practicing a home fire escape plan can save your life in the event of a fire, especially when it takes only a few minutes for a flame to grow large enough to engulf the contents of the average home . A fire safety study was conducted by …
Ask the Expert: Fire Safety During the Holidays Some holiday traditions can pose fire safety risks in the home. Patch sat down with Robert O’Hanlon, first assistant chief with the Briarcliff Manor Fire …
Read these nine facts about fire to stay informed about fire safety Most of these fires could have been prevented by practicing proper fire safety and having fire alarms. 3. One of the more interesting facts about fire is …
Kanawha County family says having a fire escape plan could save … He learned about fire safety at school. He came home and asked his parents about the family escape plan. They didn’t have one so at that point they adopted …
A young hero – Auburn Citizen After the ceremony, Timothy humbly explained that he had learned about fire prevention in school and had used the skills he had learned to save his grandfather’s life and to try to save his house. “I just had to use the skills that I know,” he said. …
Inspect your fireplace once a year, fire specialists say – Fire safety officials recommend you have your fireplace inspected once a year. “People don’t realize it but you are burning a fire in your house and people just think that it’s self contained and it’s going to be fine,” said Geypens.
Recall: Brookfield Entry Way Tree Sets for fire danger The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a recall alert for 1,000 holiday decoration sets distributed by General Foam Plastic Corp., of Norfolk, Va. The sets, which where sold at True Value Hardware stores nationwide last month, have battery boxes…

Smoke Alarm Saves

Clearlake Oaks family escapes harm, saves home in early morning fire – A properly operating smoke detector is credited with helping a Clearlake Oaks family save themselves and their home from an early Tuesday morning fire .
Pitman family escapes fire to Lakeside Drive home — A smoke alarm is at least partly to thank for allowing a family to escape a fire to their Lakeside Drive home …
Smoke detector saves Medford woman from fire A smoke detector helped save a Medford woman when her house caught fire early Thursday morning, according to Medford firefighters. The fire started around …
Mount Prospect firefighters rescue family in Xmas fire, replace gifts The 911 fire call came into the village of Mount Prospect early … He also noted that a smoke alarm awoke the family. …

Sprinkler Saves

Nashua, New Hampshire: Fire sprinkler save A kitchen fire in a single story dwelling in Nashua, NH, was quickly extinguished by the home’s fire sprinkler system. The grease fire, caused by unattended cooking, was kept in check thanks to the fire suppression system. There were no injuries as the result of this fire. According to Nashua Fire Rescue, the “dwelling was turned back to owner with minimal smoke and water damage.” As a result, the occupants were able to remain in the home and did not have to be displaced; as is usually the case with…
One injured in Lake Zurich apartment fire The fire was contained by two sprinkler heads that drowned out the blaze, … Officials credit the sprinklers in the building for saving the victim, …
Apartment fire displaces 17, but no one is injured The blaze triggered the fire alarm and the sprinkler system at the complex. … Firefighters put out the fire and shut off the sprinklers, which took longer …
Sprinkler Douses NW Bend Office Building Fire An automatic fire sprinkler system saved a northwest Bend office building from major damage Thursday morning, fire officials said. A sprinkler water flow …
Fire breaks out in Downtown Fresno warehouse The fire broke out around 10 pm at the building near Tuolumne and Broadway in downtown. Firefighters quickly arrived on scene but say sprinklers inside the …

Fire Prevention News: International

Fire service issue winter home heating advice – The Lincolnite Deputy Community Fire Safety manager, Debbie Robinson, explains how accidents aren’t just from using unsafe methods, like leaving oven doors open and gas hobs to keep warm. She said: “Safe heating can turn disastrous too, if precautions are’t taken. …
Fire service launches sprinkler e-petition – WEST Sussex Fire & Rescue Service is encouraging residents to sign an e-petition to make sprinklers compulsory in all new dwellings. The petition comes following the recent introduction of a law in Wales, which will make sprinklers compulsory in all …
Fire service launches ‘Celebrate Safer’ festive campaign WEST Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service is encouraging people to check their smoke … A smoke alarm provides vital seconds of warning which could make the …