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Fire Prevention
FROM THE CHIEF
Welcome to our website.
We have made a few changes to our site. We added
Announcements and an Entry Point to our front page in hopes that
it will make the navigation of our site easier.
We hope you will find these changes beneficial.
Thanks for stopping by, and remember; Be Fire Smart and
you'll be Fire Safe.
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.
InspectionsIf 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:
- 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.
- 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.
ToursHave 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!
VisitsOur 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.
MentoringIf 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.
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