At Lyndon Fire and Rescue, we strive to constantly stay involved with our community. We provide a wide range of services, from firehouse tours to voluntary home safety inspections. Below you will find information regarding some of these services. If you have a question regarding Fire Prevention and can not find the answer here, or simply need more information, please Contact Us for assistance.

Inspections

If you would like information regarding items in your home that present potentially dangerous situations, contact us regarding a Voluntary Home Safety Inspection. This inspection is provided free of charge.

We will come to your home, at your request, to identify things such as:

• Improper use of extension cords
• Unsafe storage of chemicals
• Proper location, or lack thereof, of Smoke Detectors
• Proper location, or lack thereof, of Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Upon identification of potentially dangerous items, we will make recommendations to you as to how to correct these matters in order to provide a safer living environment for you and your family.

Remember, this inspection is completely voluntary, as are the recommended corrections we provide. If you would like to schedule an inspection, please Contact Us.

Detectors

About Smoke Detectors

In the 1960's, the average U.S. citizen had never heard of a smoke alarm. By 1995, an estimated 93% of all American homes - single and multi-family, apartments, nursing homes, dormitories, etc. - were equipped with alarms. By the mid 1980's, smoke alarm laws, requiring that alarms be placed in all new and existing residences - existed in 38 states and thousands of municipalities nationwide. Smoke alarm provisions have been adopted by all of the model building code organizations.

Fire services across the country have played a major and influential public education role in alerting the public to the benefits of smoke alarms. Another key factor in this huge and rapid penetration of both the marketplace and the builder community has been the development and marketing of low cost alarms by commercial companies. In the early 1970's, the cost of protecting a three bedroom home with professionally installed smoke detectors was approximately $1000; today the cost of owner-installed alarms in the same house has come down to as little as $10 per alarm, or less than $50 for the entire home. This cost structure, combined with effective public education (including key private-public partnerships), has caused a huge percentage of America's consumers, whether they are renting or buying, to demand smoke alarm protection. The impact of smoke alarms on fire safety and protection is dramatic and can be simply stated. When fire breaks out, the smoke alarm, functioning as an early warning system, reduced the risk of dying by nearly 50%. Alarms are most people's first line of defense against fire.

In the event of a fire, properly installed and maintained smoke alarms will provide an early warning signal to your household. This alarm could save your own life and those of your loved ones by providing the chance to escape.

Why should my home have smoke alarms? 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.

Okay, where do I put them? Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including the basement. Many fatal fires begin late at night or in the early morning. For extra safety, install smoke alarms both outside and inside the sleeping area. Also, smoke alarms should be installed on the ceiling or 6 to 8 inches below the ceiling on side walls. Since smoke and many deadly gases rise, installing your smoke alarms at the proper level will provide you with the earliest warning possible. Always follow the manufacturer's installation instructions.

Where would I get smoke alarms? Many hardware, home supply or general merchandise stores carry smoke alarms. Make sure the alarm you buy is UL listed. If you are unsure where to buy one in your community, call your local fire department (on a non-emergency number) and they will provide you with some suggestions. Some fire departments offer smoke alarms for little or no cost.

Are smoke alarms hard to install? Not a bit. In most cases, all you will need is a screwdriver. Many brands are self-adhesive and will automatically stick to the wall or ceiling where they are placed. However, be sure to follow the directions from the manufacturer because each brand is different. If you are uncomfortable standing on a ladder, as a relative or friend to help. Some fire departments will actually install a smoke alarm in your home for you. Call your local fire department (again, on a non-emergency number) if you have problems installing a smoke alarm.

How do I keep my smoke alarms working? Smoke alarms are easy to take care of. There are two easy steps to remember:

1. Simply replace the batteries as needed. We recommend changing the batteries twice a year - with the changing of your clocks for daylight savings time (for detectors with 9-volt batteries). Some smoke alarms now on the market come with a 10 year lithium battery. These alarms are designed to be replaced as a whole unit, thus eliminating the need to change the batteries. If your smoke alarm starts making a 'chirping' noise, replace the battery and reset it.
2. Keep them clean. Dust and debris can interfere with their operation, so vacuum over and around your smoke alarms regularly.

What if the alarm goes off while I'm cooking? Then it's doing its job. Do not disable your smoke alarm if it alarms due to cooking or other non-fire causes. You may not remember to put the batteries back in the alarm after cooking. Instead, clear the air by waving a towel near the alarm, leaving the batteries in place. If the alarm continually activates during cooking, the smoke detector may need to be moved to a new location.

How long will my smoke alarm last? About 8 - 10 years, after which it should be replaced. Like most electrical devices, smoke alarms wear out. You may want to write the purchase date with a marker on the inside of each unit. That way, you'll know when to replace it. Always follow the manufacturers instructions for replacement.

Anything else I should know? Some smoke alarms are considered to be "hard-wired" This means that they are connected to the household electrical system and may or may not have a battery back-up. It's important to test every smoke detector monthly. Also - always make sure to use new batteries when replacing old ones.

About Carbon Monoxide Detectors

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends that consumers purchase and install carbon monoxide detectors with labels showing they meet the requirements of the new Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL) voluntary standard (UL 2034). The UL standard, published in April 1992, requires detectors to sound an alarm when exposure to carbon monoxide reaches potentially hazardous levels over a period of time. Detectors that meet the requirements of UL 2034 provide a greater safety margin than previously-manufactured detectors.

About 200 people die each year from carbon monoxide poisoning associated with home fuel-burning heating equipment. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that is produced when any fuel is incompletely burned. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are similar to flu-like illnesses and include dizziness, fatigue, headaches, nausea, and irregular breathing. Carbon monoxide can leak from faulty furnaces or fuel-fired heaters or can be trapped inside by a blocked chimney or flue. Burning charcoal inside the house or running an automobile engine in an attached garage also will produce carbon monoxide in the home.

The first line of defense against carbon monoxide is to make sure that all fuel-burning appliances operate properly. Consumers should have their home heating systems (including chimneys and flues) inspected each year for proper operations and leakage. Inspectors should check all heating appliances and their electrical and mechanical components, thermostat controls and automatic safety devices.

Properly working carbon monoxide detectors can provide an early warning to consumers before the deadly gas builds up to a dangerous level. Exposure to a low concentration over several hours can be as dangerous as exposure to high carbon monoxide levels for a few minutes - the new detectors will detect both conditions. Most of the devices cost under $100. Each home should have at least one carbon monoxide detector in the area outside individual bedrooms. CPSC believes that carbon monoxide detectors are as important to home safety as smoke detectors are.

Tours

Have you ever wondered what it's like on the inside of the firehouse? Well, our doors are always open, and we invite you to stop by and see us.

We happily provide tours of the firehouse to individuals and groups (group tours should be scheduled in advance). Come on in and get a feel for what we do 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Bring your kids in and we'll show them the apparatus, tools and the protective clothing we wear during a fire. We also have fire safety information for children that we will provide to you when you stop in.

If you would like to stop in with your kids, feel free to do so anytime. If you would like to schedule a group tour, Contact Us. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Visits

Our staff and apparatus are available to visit your church or other special function. We often participate in holiday parades and picnics.

To inquire about scheduling a Fire Truck Visit at your event, Contact Us. We would be more than happy to come and visit with you and your group, provided we have enough advance notice to schedule such a visit. This gives us a great opportunity to interact with the community we protect - which is something we like to do as often as possible.

Mentoring

If you have elementary age children, you are probably aware of the fact that we've been to their school at one time or another. But did you know that we target all of the elementary schools in our district with a "mentoring program"? That's right! During the school year, we make frequent visits to the elementary schools to do things ranging from fire safety education, to simply reading a book to a group of kids. We believe very strongly that if we can reach out to the children, and educate them about fire safety while they're young, then we can reduce the number of accidental fires started by children. While it is our job to fight fires as they occur, it is also our job to prevent them. Kids are instructed not to play with matches, as well as how to escape fires if necessary, and how to dial 911 in emergencies. We are also encouraging the kids to do their schoolwork, in order to make good grades. We also believe that by inserting firefighters into the classrooms, we are providing positive role models for the children to look up to. We have found that the children begin to learn when to expect these visits, and that they look forward to them.

We look forward to these visits as well, and hope to have an opportunity to meet with your child soon.