Summit Fire Department

Fire departments don't succeed...people do.

Public Education

ARE YOUR ASHES BEING DISPOSED OF PROPERLY?

By: Brian Parker

Each year many homes burn because of improperly disposed of ashes, will your home be next? If you follow some simple steps you can help keep you and your family safe. Clean the ashes from your stove on a regular basis and place them in a metal container with a metal lid. Ashes can stay hot for days even if they feel cool to touch on the outside. Never place ashes in bags or any other combustible container. Never place ashes near your home, deck or combustible vegetation. If you dispose of ashes in your yard always saturate them with water to make sure they are thoroughly cooled and keep them away from combustibles. Never place ashes in your trash.

ARE YOUR KIDS PLAYING WITH FIRE?

By: Brian Parker

Each year many children are injured or killed by playing with fire. If your kids are playing with fire they are at high risk of being injured, killed or damaging property. Early intervention is the key to prevent an accident before it happens. It is normal for a child to have curiosity about fire but when that curiosity is allowed to progress to playing with fire the outcome can be devastating. Here are some ways to help keep your children safe. Always keep matches and lighters out of reach of children, educate your kids on fire and what the effects of fire can be, consider having a camp fire to demonstrate how fire burns and the damage it can do. If you would like more information or have questions about keeping your kids safe please contact the Summit Fire Department at: 526-9537

PRACTICE EXIT DRILL IN THE HOME (E. D. I. T. H.)

Each year too many children die in house fires. You can help save your family in the event of a fire by planning and practicing exit drills in the home with them. First, you should plan two ways out in case one way is blocked by fire. You can draw the layout of your home on paper to assist you. Next you should decide on one meeting place outside of your home so that both you and the fire department know when your entire family is out of the house. Finally and most important you must practice these drills regularly. If your children are very familiar with the exit plan they will be much more likely to make it out safely during a fire.

Practice Your Escape Plan!

Everyone should have an escape plan in case
of a fire and you should practice that escape plan
so you are ready should a fire occur. Here are
some tips to remember when you are practicing
your fire escape plan.
Always have at least two ways out of each
room, such as doors and windows.
Make sure that all exits are clear and working.
If doors or windows are blocked by items such
as boxes or furniture, someone, especially
young children, may not be able to move them
quickly enough to escape. Test your windows
to make certain that they are not stuck shut and
screens are removable from the inside. If your
windows have bars on the outside, find out if
they can be opened during an emergency and if
not, have them retrofitted to be opened from
inside.
Teach children how to unlock and open the
window in case they ever need to get out. If a
screen is on the outside, demonstrate how they
can remove it.
Choose a meeting place where members of
your family can assemble once you get out.
This location should be safely accessible for
all members. For example, if small children
are in the family, choose a location where they
would not have to cross the street, such as the
mailbox, a tree in the yard, or the neighbor’s
fence.
Practice your plan at least twice a year. Make
sure that you have also practiced at night
because some family members may not wake
up to the smoke alarm and the exits are more
difficult to find by feeling your way through
the dark.
Call your local fire department and notify them
about any special circumstances within your
home, such as two babies in one room,
someone with a physical disability, or any
person with special needs. This ensures the
information is available to them before an
emergency happens. Also share this
information with your neighbors so they may
inform the police and fire department in the
event of an emergency.
Once everyone gets out, make sure that they
stay out!

SMOKE DETECTORS, THEY COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE!

How many smoke detectors do you have in your home? Did you know that over the years smoke detectors have greatly reduced the number of fire related deaths. Do your smoke detectors have fresh batteries in them? You should check the batteries in your smoke detector at least once a month and replace them every six months. During this time of year we see an increased number of fires in the home due to the use of heating equipment and other appliances so now is the time to make sure that you have enough smoke detectors in your home, it could save your life. The Summit Fire Department will provide at no charge up to two smoke detectors per family for our residents. For more information please call Fire Station 32 at 928-526-9537.

BEACON LIGHTS

If you have an emergency how easy will it be for us to find your home? If you have a Beacon light bulb in your porch light it could save valueable time. The Beacon light works like a regular light until you have an emergency and turn it on and off twice then it will flash which makes your home very visible and easy to find. The Summit Fire Department has these light bulbs available to purchase for just $10.00 each which covers our cost for the bulbs. For more information please call Fire Station 32 at 928-526-9537.

FIREPLACE SAFETY

There's nothing quite as cozy as a warm, crackling fire in the fireplace. But if you don't take some simple safety precautions, that fire could turn deadly. More than 6,000 people end up in emergency rooms for injuries associated with fireplaces and fireplace equipment... and most of the injuries occurred with children under five years old.

Approximately 14,000 house fires each year are started by fireplaces. Most of these fires escalated beyond the fireplace because of an overloaded fire, damage to the fireplace such as missing bricks, obstructed flues, ignition of nearby combustibles, and flying sparks.

Keep your family safe and warm by following these fireplace safety tips:

Inspect the fireplace. Make sure it has adequate protective linings and smoke ducts.
Check to see that the chimney is clear and in good repair.

If you are installing a factory-made fireplace, it should not be located near any
combustible materials. It should also have adequate flame and heat barriers.

Have chimneys inspected annually, and cleaned as necessary, by a CSIA (Chimney
Safety Institute of America) Certified Chimney Sweep. This reduces the risk of fires and
carbon monoxide poisonings due to creosote buildup or obstructions in the chimneys.
To locate a certified sweep, visit the CSIA Web site at www.csia.org or call
1-800-536-0118. A certified sweep can also perform maintenance on your wood stove or
help remove gas logs from a fireplace.

Keep the top of chimneys clear of tree limbs or debris.

Install a chimney cap to keep debris and animals out of the chimney.

Always open the damper before lighting the fire and keep it open until the ashes are
cool. This will avert the build-up of poisonous gases, such as carbon monoxide.

Fuel the fire safely. For burning firewood in wood stoves or fireplaces, choose
well-seasoned wood that has been dried for a minimum of six months to a year and stored properly.

Build it right. Place firewood or fire logs at the rear of the fireplace on a supporting grate.
To start the fire, use a firelighter.

Never use gasoline, charcoal lighter or other fuel to light or relight a fire because the
vapors can explode. Never keep flammable fuels near a fire. Vapors can travel the
length of a room and explode.

Do not use coal or charcoal in a fireplace because because of the danger of carbon
monoxide build-up. Do not burn trash or gift wrap in the fireplace because polystyrene
foam and other coated materials can generate deadly fumes. Flying paper embers could also ignite the roof.

Do not treat artificial logs like real logs. Artificial logs are usually made of sawdust and
wax and have special burning properties. Be sure to read the instructions on the logs
and follow them carefully. Use just one log at a time and do not add another log until the fire is completely out. Never add an artificial log to a natural wood fire that is already burning.
Wait at least two hours before adding an artificial log to a natural log fire because it
could cause a flare-up.

Do not poke artificial logs because the flaming wax could stick to the poker and drop
onto the floor or carpet. Poking a log could also cause a flare-up.

Home rolled newspaper logs should never be soaked in flammable fuels of any kind
because of the severe danger of explosion. Soaking the newspaper in water either
before rolling or during rolling removes the clay content and will provide a better burning
log. Then, stack the logs on end and let them dry for two weeks in the basement. When lighting the newspaper logs, use kindling just as you would for a regular fire.

Do not overload the fireplace. Large fires can lead to overheating of wall or roof materials, particularly if the fireplace is constructed of metal.

Always use a screen around the fireplace to keep sparks from flying out and to protect
children and adults from accidental clothing ignition.

Warn children about the danger of fire. Do not let them play with fire.

Keep flammable materials such as carpets, pillows, furniture or papers away from the
fireplace area.

At holiday time, make sure the Christmas tree is not close enough to be ignited by a
spark. Be especially careful of accidentally igniting holiday wrapping papers.

Always make sure that the fire is completely extinguished before going to bed for the
night or when leaving the house.

Deep Fry Your Turkey Safely

The latest trend in preparing a Turkey is Deep Frying. However, if you don't take precautions, you may end up with an injury or fire. Deep Fryers can be dangerous because:

	Many units easily tip over, spilling the five gallons of hot oil within the cooking pot.
	If the cooking pot is overfilled with oil, the oil may spill out of the unit when the turkey is placed into the cooking pot. Oil may hit the burner/flames causing a fire to engulf the entire unit.
	Partially frozen turkeys placed into the fryer can cause a spillover effect. This too, may result in an extensive fire.
	With no thermostat controls, the units also have the potential to overheat the oil to the point of combustion.
	The sides of the cooking pot, lid and pot handles get dangerously hot, posing severe burn hazards.

The Summit Fire Department wants you and your family to have a safe and happy Thanksgiving. Just follow these simple cooking and safety rules:

Deep Fried Turkey Cooking Tips:

	Follow your fryer’s instructions.
	Only deep fry smaller turkeys—up to 12 pounds.
	Use oils with high smoke points such as peanut, canola and safflower. Peanut oil adds flavor, but it can be a concern if guests have peanut allergies.
	To determine how much oil you’ll need, put the turkey in the basket and place in the pot. Add water until it reaches one to two inches above the turkey. Lift the turkey out, and use a ruler to measure the distance from the water to the top of the fryer. Pour out the water and dry the fryer completely.
	Remember that it can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour to heat the oil, depending on the outside temp. wind and weather.
	Before frying, pat the turkey dry with paper towels to keep the hot oil from spattering and popping.
	Slowly lower the turkey into the oil, and maintain an oil temp of 350ºF. Fry turkey for three to four minutes per pound or about 35 to 42 minutes for a 10- to 12-pound turkey.

Safety Tips:

	Turkey fryers should always be used outdoors a safe distance from buildings and any other material that can burn.
	Never use turkey fryers on wooden decks or in garages.
	Make sure the fryers are used on a flat surface to reduce accidental tipping.
	Never leave the fryer unattended. Most units do not have thermostat controls. If you don't watch the fryer carefully, the oil will continue to heat until it catches fire.
	Never let children or pets near the fryer when in use. Even after use, never allow children or pets near the turkey fryer. The oil inside the cooking pot can remain dangerously hot, hours after use.
	To avoid oil spillover, do not overfill the fryer.
	Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts when touching pot or lid handles. If possible, wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from oil splatter.
	Make sure the turkey is completely thawed and be careful with marinades. Oil and water don't mix, and water causes oil to spill over, causing a fire or even an explosion hazard.
	The National Turkey Federation recommends refrigerator thawing and to allow approximately 24 hours for every five pounds of bird thawed in the refrigerator.
	Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher nearby. Never use water to extinguish a grease fire. Remember to use your best judgment when attempting to fight a fire. If the fire is manageable, use an all-purpose fire extinguisher. If the fire increases, immediately call 9-1-1 for help.
	Even after use, never allow children or pets near the turkey fryer. The oil inside the cooking pots remains dangerously hot, hours after use.

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CPR Classes
The Summit Fire Department conducts regularly scheduled CPR classes on the 2nd Monday of every other month from 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM at Station 32. We offer CPR cards for "Friends and Family" from the American Heart Association.

Upcoming Classes:
September 12, 2005
November 14, 2005

Safety Tips
Make sure your address is visible from the street.

Keep areas around fire hydrants clear of parked cars, fences, bushes, tall weeds and debris.

Keep bushes, trees, grass and weeds cut or trimmed to avoid the chance of brush fires.

If you have security bars on your windows, make sure they are fitted with inside quick releases

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