LET’S PARTNER UP FOR FIRE SAFETY!

The Orange Village Fire Department takes great pride when it comes to protecting your family and the house you live in. In addition to our ongoing commitment to providing you with professional coverage 24 hours a day 365 days a year, our department subscribes to the notion that increasing your safety is a team effort. That effort includes you.

Last year 3,430 civilians lost their lives in the United States as a result of fire. This statistic surpasses deaths by all other natural disasters combined. In the case of house fires, one half of all fire deaths occurred in the 6% of homes that do not have at least one smoke detector! The preceding statistics really underscore the need to have at least one working smoke detector in your home.

Please remember that when you change your clock in the Spring and Fall, also change your smoke detector battery. Residents of Orange Village would be surprised at the amount of homes that do not have working smoke detectors. Our firefighters encounter this deadly practice when they respond to small cooking fires, burnt popcorn in the microwave, smoke from malfunctioning utilities and other minor incidents. Most often the detector didn’t activate because there was a dead battery in the unit. Discovering such a deficiency during a minor incident is pure luck. Imagine the consequences if this situation would have occurred during one of our major incidents that took place over the past several years.

Our residents enjoy the beautiful and quiet community they live in. However, as the saying goes, fire does not understand geographical boundaries. Please partner with us to ensure the safety of your family. The following guidelines will provide you with the information needed to avoid becoming a number in next year’s fire related statistics:

Keeping Your Family Safe
A Home Escape Plan can prove to be a real life saver.

    • Know two ways out of every room in your home, especially the bedrooms. Purchase a collapsible ladder and teach your child how to open the window and climb down if they are old enough.
    • Sleep with all bedroom doors closed. They are a temporary barrier to flame and smoke. Make sure your children can hear the smoke detector in the hallway or place smoke detectors in every bedroom.
    • If the bedroom door cannot be used the secondary route should be accessed. In some cases (upper floor with no ladder) this secondary route may not be an actual exit. In that case teach the children to stand near a window and be prepared to yell or wave a flashlight at arriving emergency personnel.
    • Teach your children that if they touch their door and it is hot DO NOT OPEN it. If it is not hot open it slowly, and proceed only if smoke conditions are light.
    • Designate an outdoor meeting place so all family

Assistant Chief Larry Genova can help you with questions at 440.287.5076.

As the warm weather fades away it would be nice if we experienced a “fading away” of residential fires as well. Unfortunately the statistics tell a much different story. Every winter in the United States we see an increase in fire related deaths and damage to our homes. Winter residential building fires result in an estimated average of 945 deaths, 3,825 injuries, and $1,708,000,000 in property loss each year. Although at its highest in December, residential building fire incidence is collectively highest in the 3 winter months of January, February, and March.

Below you will find some helpful tips that we hope you will consider.

The Orange Village Fire Department is always ready to serve the residents we protect. Remember to “Help us to Help You” by practicing good fire safety practices throughout the year.


WOOD BURNING STOVES AND FIREPLACES

    • Have your chimney inspected annually. It is crucial that you have your chimney inspected if it has not been used in some time.
    • Never use flammable liquids to assist in starting your fire.
    • Ensure that your fire screen or glass doors are sealing the room from errant sparks.
    • Avoid using excessive paper to start your fires. Using large amounts of paper, especially wrapping paper, can lead to creosote fires in the chimney.
    • Never close the damper at night while ashes are still present. Even cooler smoldering ashes can give off deadly levels of Carbon Monoxide.
    • Never discard ashes (even if you think they are cold) inside of home or in area adjacent to outside of home.

FURNACE

    • Have your furnace inspected on a regular basis.
    • All repairs should be made by an experienced technician.
    • Check walls and ceiling for discoloration near furnace. If present consider adding additional pipe insulation which can be purchased at any home improvement store.
    • Flue pipes should be sealed with metal tape at all joints. Inspect annually for cracks and rusted out holes. This pipe can prove deadly if not maintained as large amounts of Carbon Monoxide can be released.

MISCELLANEOUS

    • If you use space heaters remember to avoid areas like the bathroom and kitchen where water may pose an electrical hazard.
    • When using extension cords for space heaters a general rule of thumb is that the diameter of extension cord should be larger than cord on unit.
    • Make sure your address is clearly visible on mailbox. Additional labeling on front of home is also encouraged. While we have GPS and detailed mapping systems, the old standby is welcomed during inclement weather such as a snowstorm.
    • If you have a fire hydrant in your yard, please take a moment to shovel around it when the snow gets deep. Consider gathering some local children to assist in this endeavor and provide the information to the fire department so we can honor their volunteerism!

fd.smIf you have any questions pertaining to home fire safety, please contact Assistant Chief Larry Genova at 440.287.5076. We are proud to serve the great residents of Orange Village and hope you will take a moment to “Help us to Help You”.

SMOKE DETECTORS

One or more operational smoke detectors should be placed on every level of your home. Batteries should be re-placed twice a year. A good way to remember to do this is to put in new batteries each spring and fall when the time changes.

Smoke and CO detectors

1373.04 ALTERNATE SYSTEMS.

(a) As an alternate to self-contained smoke detectors, an approved fire detection system may be installed. Each fire detection system shall be individually approved by the Fire Chief. Where a carbon monoxide (CO) detector is required, a combination smoke detector/carbon monoxide (CO) detector may be used provided the unit meets all current codes and standards for each application and that the detector be tamper-proof in which a long-life battery pack, if so powered, is sealed within the detector. Such combination detectors shall be individually approved by the Fire Chief.

(b) All devices, combinations of devices and equipment required herein are to be installed in conformance with the Building Codes adopted by the Village and this section and shall be of a type approved by the Fire Chief. A suitable type detector, specifically designed and marketed for the hearing impaired, which is equipped with an additional strobe-light alarm feature, shall be provided for residents so impaired, as required herein. For the purpose of installation and maintenance only, the applicable sections of the most current edition, NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm Code, shall be considered accepted engineering practice.

(c) In new residential buildings or where major renovations are performed (major renovations is defined as renovations exceeding more than fifty percent (50%) of the value of the structure at the time of renovation), smoke detectors and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors shall be wired directly (hard-wired) to the building’s power supply. In existing dwellings and dwelling units, it is preferred that smoke detectors and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors be wired directly to the power supply. However, in existing dwellings and dwelling units, smoke detectors and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors may be powered by a self-monitoring battery or operated in a plug-in outlet provided in the outlet is not controlled by any switch other than the main power supply. Any battery-powered smoke detectors required and installed after the effective date of this subsection shall be of the tamper-proof type in which the long-life battery packs are sealed within the detector. Carbon monoxide (CO) detectors with a digital read out are preferred. (Ord. 2008-23. Passed 12-10-08.)

house.fireHome Fire Safety Guidelines

    • Test your smoke alarms at least once a month, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
    • Replace the batteries in your smoke alarm once a year, or as soon as the alarm “chirps,” warning that the battery is low. HINT: schedule battery replacements for the same day you change your clock from daylight to standard time in the fall.
    • Never “borrow” a battery from a smoke alarm. Smoke alarms can’t warn you of fire if their batteries are missing or have been disconnected.
    • Smoke alarms don’t last forever. Replace your smoke alarms once every 10 years.
    • Make sure that everyone in your home can identify and awaken to the sound of the alarm.
    • Plan regular fire drills (twice a year is best) to ensure that everyone knows exactly what to do when the smoke alarm sounds. Hold a drill at night to make sure that sleeping family members awaken at the sound of the alarm.
    • If you are building a new home or remodeling your existing home, consider installing an automatic home fire sprinkler system. Sprinklers and smoke alarms together cut your risk of dying in a house fire by 82% (relative to having neither), a savings of thousands of lives a year.

The Orange Village Fire Department would be happy to come to your home and offer some fire safety tips. If you are interested, please contact Assistant Chief Larry Genova at 440.287.5076.

Home Heating Fire Safety

The high cost of home heating fuels and utilities has caused many Americans to search for alternative home heating sources such as wood burning stoves, space heaters, and fireplaces. Heating is one of the leading causes of residential fires. Over one-quarter of these fires result from improper maintenance of equipment, specifically the failure to clean the equipment.

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is another danger when using heating equipment fueled by fossil fuel. It occurs most often when equipment is not vented properly. CO deaths have been on the rise since 1999. On average there were 181 unintentional non-fire deaths from CO poisoning associated with consumer products per year from 2004-2006 compared to 123 from 1999-2001 (Source: Consumer Product Safety Commission).

Learn More about Heating Fire Safety »

Cooking Fires

Fires resulting from cooking continue to be the most common type of fire experienced in U.S.households. Cooking fires are also the leading cause of civilian fire injuries in residences. These fires are preventable by simply being more attentive to the use of cooking materials and equipment.

Simple tips to ensure fire safe cooking:

    • Never leave boiling, frying, or broiling food unattended;
    • Wear short, tight-fitting sleeves when cooking;
    • Keep anything that can catch fire away from the stovetop.

Don’t become a cooking fire casualty. Learn the facts about cooking fire safety today!

On-line Resources
Fire Extinguisher Information

Teach Children Fire Safety

Propane Safety
    • Check grill hoses for cracks, holes, and leaks. Make sure they are not brittle and the fit-tings are secure and there are no sharp bends in the hose or tubing.
    • Move gas hoses as far away as possible from hot surfaces and dripping hot grease.
    • Always keep propane gas containers upright.
    • Never keep a filled container in a hot car or car trunk. Heat will cause the gas pressure to increase, which may open the relief valve and allow gas to escape.
    • Make sure your spark igniter is consistently generating a spark to create a flame and burn the propane gas. If the flame is not visible, the heavier than air propane gas may be escaping and could explode. Never take the propane tank inside the house.
FOR CHARCOAL GRILL USERS

Charcoal produces carbon monoxide gas (CO) when it is burned. It is a colorless, odorless gas that can accumulate to toxic levels in closed environments.

To reduce the risks of CO poisoning:

    • Never burn charcoal inside homes, vehicles, tents or campers.
    • Charcoal should never be used indoors, even if ventilation is provided.
    • Since charcoal produces CO fumes wait until the charcoal is completely extinguished, do not store the grill indoors with freshly used coals.