This site is intended to provide information on events, activities, training and safety to the Fire and EMS community in Franklin County. Please forward any site content ideas or information including any department events you would like to place on the calendar to Car 2 at the Office of Emergency Services.

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National Fire Prevention Week (October 9-15, 2016)

This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Don’t Wait – Check the Date! Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years,” represents the final year of our three-year effort to educate the public about basic but essential elements of smoke alarm safety.

Why focus on smoke alarms three years in a row? Because NFPA’s survey data shows that the public has many misconceptions about smoke alarms, which may put them at increased risk in the event of a home fire. For example, only a small percentage of people know how old their smoke alarms are, or how often they need to be replaced.

As a result of those and related findings, we’re addressing smoke alarm replacement this year with a focus on these key messages:

Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years.
Make sure you know how old all the smoke alarms are in your home.
To find out how old a smoke alarm is, look at the date of manufacture on the back of the alarm; the alarm should be replaced 10 years from that date.

Fire Safety Tips

Do

Plan for a safe refuge in case you cannot escape from the house. This is a room where all of the family can gather to wait to be rescued. Take the following precautions:
Make sure there is a phone in the room to call for help
Try to have a room with a window so you can either escape or call out for help (stay by the window)
Close the door and seal the bottom with towels or blankets to stop harmful smoke entering
Call the emergency services
Dial 911
Tell the operator what service you require.
Speak calmly and clearly giving the address of the fire and your phone number. (If using a mobile phone the operator may ask what county you are in)
Only hang up when the operator tells you to

Don't

Re-enter a burning house for personal items
Borrow batteries from the Smoke Alarm
Have mirrors over fireplaces with real fires

Prevention

Together We Can STOP Fire

STOP stands for:

S - is for Smoke alarms. Make sure you have at least one on every level/floor.
T - is for Test your smoke alarms weekly or ask someone to check it for you.
O - is for Obvious dangers. Look out for fire risks like overloaded sockets, candles and unattended appliances.
P - is for Plan your escape route. Keep access routes clear and have your keys at the ready.

Avoid:

Smoking when tired
Leaving burning candles unattended
Leaving young children unattended
Leaving matches and lighters where children can get them
Leaving chip pans, frying pans, etc unattended
Standing too close to fires, heaters, etc
Using faulty electrical appliances
Overloading sockets

Make sure to:

Have your chimney cleaned at least once a year
Use a sparkguard with open fires
Use proper holders when burning candles
Keep ashtrays empty when not in use
Have a suitable fire extinguisher and fire blanket in your kitchen
Have faulty electrical appliances repaired or replaced immediately
Close all doors at night time

Carry out a routine fire safety check before going to bed

Detection

Smoke Alarms are designed to give you an early warning of a fire. 82% of fires resulting in fatalities had no working Smoke Alarm.

Make sure to:

Have at least one Smoke Alarm (on the ceiling) on every level in your home
Test your smoke alarms at least once a week
Change the batteries every year
When the warning beep sounds change the battery immediately

Planning Your Escape Route

Have an “Evacuation Plan” for you and your family in the event of a fire.

If a fire occurs in your home you may have to get out in dark and difficult conditions. This can be especially challenging if members of your family are very young, older or infirm. Escaping from a fire will be a lot easier if you have already planned your escape route and know where to go:

Involve everyone in the house, including visitors to your home
The normal way out is the preferred choice
Keep your escape route clear of obstructions
Keep keys to doors and windows immediately available
Protect your escape route by closing all doors into it, especially at night
Practise using the agreed plan
Select a safe meeting place outside
Make everyone aware of how to call the fire service

If you are unable to use the normal way out, consider alternative routes:

Rear doors
Patio doors
Windows

Make sure everyone is aware of these alternatives. If you discover a fire, or the smoke alarm sounds, you will only have a short time to get out. If possible:

Close the door of the room where the fire is
Get everyone out as quickly as possible and stay out
Telephone the fire service on 911 from a neighbour's house or mobile phone
Never go back into a house until the fire service says it is safe to do so

If you are cut off by fire, try to remain calm:

Close the door and use towels or sheets to block any gaps
Try to make your way to the window
If the room becomes smoky, crawl along the floor

Open the window and try to attract the attention of others

Obvious Dangers – Do a Routine Fire Safety Check

Look for obvious dangers. A "Routine Fire Safety Check" should only take a couple of minutes but it could mean the difference between Life and Death. 

Walk around your house with a view to keeping your home safe and secure.

Unplug all unnecessary electrical appliances.
Turn off all unnecessary gas appliances.
Make sure all candles and naked flames are extinguished.
Place a sparkguard in front of any open fire.
Empty all ashtrays.
Are all escape routes completely clear of obstructions?

Close all doors to reduce the spread of fire and smoke.