In order to comply with the newer Rhode Island codes,  owners of public venues have also taken steps like installing sprinkler systems, using fire proof materials in their buildings, installing new doorways and lighting and developing emergency plans and training for management personnel. All of these steps are admirable – Rhode Island has seemingly learned from the tragedy.

Sadly, others have not learned from the Rhode Island tragedy. Following the Station Nightclub fire, similar accidents with similar consequences occurred in Argentina, China, Thailand and Russia. Just last month in Santa Maria, Brazil, over 230 people died in a nightclub fire that is tragically similar to that of the Station Nightclub. We won’t know the full details of the investigation for quite some time, but some parallels can already be seen: the Kiss Nightclub in Brazil had insufficient exits, a flare or some sort of incendiary device ignited flammable sound proofing foam and most of the victims of the fire died due to inhalation of toxic gases from the fire.

This brings me to my real point. People seem to forget, fairly quickly, incidents like the Station Nightclub fire, particularly when they weren’t personally affected by them.

Here in the United States, we have one of the lowest rates of death per capita due to fires in the entire world. One reason for that is a strict set of codes and rules that are designed to make the places in which we live, work and congregate as safe as they can be. These rules address the flammability of construction materials, the installation and maintenance of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, escape exits, fire suppression and a host of technologies designed to either prevent fires or provide sufficient time to escape buildings to help prevent loss of life.

Now it appears as though some have grown complacent due to this lower (but not non-existent) death rate in the United States. I just read an article published today in the San Francisco Chronicle where a San Francisco Bay Area lawmaker said she plans to introduce a bill in the California Legislature that would reduce flame retardants in foam insulation installed anywhere in California.   According to the article, this action was prompted by a recent paper that makes the outrageous claim that flame retardants used in insulation foam don’t make the foam any safer. The San Francisco Chronicle states that flame retardants that have “the potential to harm our health and environment,” are leaching through our walls. The article fails to cite the source of that claim. The article also fails to mention several other points: (1) these flame retardants have been used effectively for many years to make insulating foam more fire safe, (2) governments throughout the world have approved the use of these flame retardants in this application and (3) the San Francisco Chronicle published exactly one week earlier an article entitled, “Decade after deadly RI fire, lessons for Brazil.”

This says two things to me: (1) Reporters for the San Francisco Chronicle aren’t reading their own newspaper, and, (2) People tend not to learn from tragedy when they are not personally affected. For my part, I’d rather not repeat the mistakes of the past by rolling back or undermining fire safety codes that help keep us safe from a risk we know is real. Because next time, it may be me or it may be my family who is affected.  I’m not willing to take that chance.

Regarding a National Institute of Standards & Technology study on the efficacy of flame retardants:

‘This work determined that escape time for building occupants can rise significantly with the use of fire retardants,’ says NIST Senior Research Scientist Richard G. Gann, who organized the project. ‘Fire retardants can decrease the amount of a flammable product—such as foam used to cushion furniture—that burns and can slow the rate of that burning.’

Regarding the layer of protection flame retardants provide:

‘Flame-retardant chemicals are effective. There’s no doubt about it,’ says Matthew S. Blais, director of the Fire Technology Research Laboratory at Southwest Research Institute(SWRI), a nonprofit, independent testing laboratory in San Antonio. Recent fire-testing results at SWRI facilities for the National Institute of Justice, part of the Department of Justice, back up his assertions.

We encourage you to visit the Chemical & Engineering News website and read the article in its entirety.

• Fire extinguishers shall not be obstructed or obscured from view. Place in full view.

• All fire extinguishers shall be properly mounted and hung with proper manufacturer’s wall hook.

• Install fire extinguishers having a gross weight not exceeding 40 lbs., so that the top of the fire extinguisher is not more than five (5′) feet above the floor.

• Fire extinguishers having a gross weight greater than 40 lbs., shall be installed so the top of the fire extinguisher is not more than three and a half feet(3.5′) above the floor.

• In no case shall the clearance between the bottom of the fire extinguisher and the floor be less than four (4″) inches.

Tips on fire extinguisher services:

• Remove the fire extinguisher from the wall hook.

• Dust and/or clean the fire extinguisher.

• Replace the safety seal and check the pull pin for corrosion and ease of removal.

• Check the nomenclature label for gross weight, then scale the fire extinguisher, and invert to fluff the chemical (dry chemical extinguishers only).

• Examine the fire extinguisher for obvious physical damage, corrosion, leakage, remove nozzle, and check for any blockage.

• Verify the pressure gauge and reading or indicator in operable range or position.

• Check all fire extinguishers for six year maintenance and/or last hydrostatic testing date, whichever is applicable.

• Return the fire extinguisher to its wall hook and re-tag with new annual inspection tag facing forward with technician’s initials.

For more information on fire extinguishers, click here.

• Remember before you leave, check local weather conditions and whether there are any park land use restrictions by contacting your local parks departments.
• Build your campfires away from overhanging branches, rotten stumps, shrubs, dry grass and leaves. Keep it at least 25 feet from all structures. Watch for flying embers.
• Clear the immediate area surrounding your campfire site approximately 8-10 ft in radius.
  
• Keep the fire in a contained unit such as a burn barrel, BBQ unit or hibachi. Do not build a fire directly on the ground. Fires can spread underground through root systems or decaying material.
  
• Keep campfires small and do not let them get out of hand. (2’x2’x2’ in size)
  
• Keep plenty of water handy and have a shovel for throwing sand on the fire if it gets out of control.
  
• Stack extra firewood upwind and away from the fire.
  
• After lighting the fire do not discard the match until it is cold. Douse it with water to be sure.
  
• Never leave a campfire unattended. Even a small breeze could quickly cause the fire to spread.
• When extinguishing the fire, drown it with water. Make sure all embers, coals, and sticks are wet. Move rocks, as there may be burning embers underneath. Stir the remains, add more water, and stir again.
• Do not bury your coals, they can smolder and start to burn again.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, in the United States alone, fires caused one civilian death every 2 hours 48 minutes, an injury every 30 minutes and one building fire every 65 seconds during 2010.

Albemarle can help

Our family of flame retardant products provide safe and effective solutions to this very serious threat to human safety.

Know the facts

You may have recently seen a select group of media outlets questioning both the effectiveness and safety of flame retardants.  In response to these claims, Albemarle has developed this online resource to educate the public on the proven effectiveness of our flame retardants in mitigating the inherent dangers of fires.  This resource also provides evidence that flame retardants, when used for their intended purposes, do not pose a threat to human health.

About Albemarle

Before the parents leave

• Write down the complete address and phone number of the place where you are babysitting and phone numbers for:
  • Fire, Police, Ambulance & Emergency Services – often one number – 9-1-1.
  • Where the parents can be reached.
  • Neighbor(s).
  • Keep this information in your pocket so that it’s with you at all times and handy in case of an emergency.

Plan Your Escape

If there is a fire while you are in charge, you must know what to do:

• Is there a fire escape plan? If not, develop one.
• Identify all escape routes.
• Find at least two ways out of each room.
• Plan how you and the children will escape safely.
• Decide on an outside meeting place.
• Ask for a demonstration of the smoke alarm.

If the Children are Trapped

Once outside, keep the children you are watching with you at all times. During a fire they may try to run back into the house for a pet. If the children that you are babysitting cannot get out of the house call the fire department from a neighbor’s house or use a portable phone. Be specific when telling them where the children are located in the house.

We recommend reviewing  fire safety rules with your scouts before the fire is built. That way they all know the expectations.

Fire Safety Rules

1. Follow the rules of your campsite. Some places do not allow ground fires. Ask if you don’t know the rules.
2. Before building the fire, clear an area 10 feet in diameter. Remove leaves, sticks, and other burnable materials. Remove any rocks bigger than a fist.
3. Don’t build a fire under a shrub or low hanging branches. Don’t build it on tree roots.
4. Don’t light the fire until you have permission from an adult.
5. Never leave the fire unattended.
6. Don’t make the fire too big. A small fire is perfect for toasting marshmallows and sitting around talking.
7. Stay at least three feet away from the fire unless you have to get closer to cook something.
8. What goes in the fire, stays in the fire. Don’t put something in the fire and then take it back out. The end will be very hot and somebody could get burnt.
9. Don’t poke the fire needlessly or throw things in the fire. This could cause sparks to fly out. Nobody wants sparks in their face.
10. Have a means to extinguish a fire nearby. If some sparks fly off your fire and start another fire, you might have to act quickly. A shovel and a bucket of sand or a bucket of water is ideal.
11. Make sure the fire is dead out before you leave it. This means that you can put your hand where the fire was and not feel any heat. Use a shovel to disperse the ashes and coals and then sprinkle them with water until they are cool.

Electrical fires in our homes claim the lives of 280 Americans each year and injure 1,000 more. Some of these fires are caused by electrical system failures, but many more are caused by incorrectly installed wiring and overloaded circuits and extension cords.

The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) would like consumers to know that there are simple steps you can take to prevent the loss of life and property resulting from electrical fires.

The Problem

During a typical year, home electrical problems account for 26,100 fires and $1 billion in property losses. About half of all residential electrical fires involve electrical wiring.

December and January are the most dangerous months for electrical fires. Fire deaths are highest in winter months which call for more indoor activities and increases in lighting, heating, and appliance use. The bedroom is the leading area of fire origin for residential building electrical fires. However, electrical fires that begin in the living room/family room/den areas result in the most deaths.

The Cause

• Most electrical distribution fires result from problems with “fixed wiring” such as faulty electrical outlets and old wiring. Problems with cords (such as extension and appliance cords), plugs, receptacles, and switches also cause many home electrical fires.
• Light fixtures and lamps/light bulbs are also leading causes of electrical fires.
• Many avoidable electrical fires can be traced to misuse of electric cords, such as overloading circuits, poor maintenance, and running the cords under rugs or in high traffic areas.

Safety Precautions

• Routinely check your electrical appliances and wiring.
• Frayed wires can cause fires. Replace all worn, old or damaged appliance cords immediately.
• Replace any electrical tool if it causes even small electrical shocks, overheats, shorts out, or gives off smoke or sparks.
• Keep electrical appliances away from wet floors and counters; pay special care to electrical appliances in the bathroom and kitchen.
• Buy electrical products evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory.
• Keep clothes, curtains, and other potentially combustible items at least three feet from all heaters.
• If an appliance has a three-prong plug, use it only in a three-slot outlet. Never force it to fit into a two-slot outlet or extension cord.
• Don’t allow children to play with or around electrical appliances like space heaters, irons, and hair dryers.
• Use safety closures to “child-proof” electrical outlets.
• Use electrical extension cords wisely; never overload extension cords or wall sockets.
• Immediately shut off, then professionally replace, light switches that are hot to the touch and lights that flicker.

Finally, having a working smoke alarm dramatically increases your chances of surviving a fire. And remember to practice a home escape plan frequently with your family.

• Avoid cooking if you’ve been drinking alcohol or are taking medication or other substances that can cause drowsiness. The kitchen is no place to be if your judgment and ability to focus are impaired.
• Keep potholders, dish towels and oven mitts away from the stovetop, heating elements or open flames. And remember, they must be dry to protect your hands, so replace wet or soiled items immediately.
• Always keep the handles of pots or pans on your stovetop pointed away from the front edge of the stovetop. You will be less likely to bump into them and children less likely to reach them. Use the back burners instead of front ones whenever possible.
• Talking on the phone, watching your favorite television program and other distractions can lead to trouble in the kitchen. Stay focused on the task at hand.As eager as young cooks may be to help prepare or serve food, they are safer away from the kitchen.
• Consider making your kitchen a child-free zone during busy holiday times or allow children to help only when you can focus on them completely and all heat sources are off/cool to the touch. Keep pets out of the kitchen, too.
• Setting a timer is a good idea when your dish is baking inside the oven. Not only will you avoid overdone meals, but that friendly “ding!” reminds you to stay alert and engaged in the food preparation process.

Fire! Now what?
Most important, remain calm if a fire occurs in your kitchen. With your emotions under control, you are more likely to manage the situation effectively. Here’s the best plan of action:

• For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the oven door closed.
• For a microwave fire, turn off the power and keep the unit’s door closed.
• For a stovetop fire, cover the burning pan with a tight-fitting lid or cookie sheet larger than the pan to smother the fire.
• Never use water in an attempt to douse the flames, as it might actually spread the fire.
• Never use a fire extinguisher to extinguish a grease fire – you actually may spread the fire if you get too close.  Instead, smother the flames by carefully sliding a lid or cookie sheet over the pan (make sure you are wearing an oven mitt). Turn off the stove if you can safely do so, or turn off the circuit breaker or gas valve.”
• If you can’t immediately put out the fire with these steps, then take decisive action and leave your home immediately, and close all doors behind you to slow the spread of the fire.

“When utilizing this fire safety training program, you are taking a significant step to ensure that people with disabilities and all stakeholders are aware of the important features found in buildings designed and built in conformance with widely adopted codes and standards developed to protect people with disabilities in the event of an emergency,” said Kleo King, senior vice president of Accessibility Services at United Spinal Association.

The training program created with funding assistance from the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation is available for download in both English and Spanish here.

It focuses on the unique aspects of fire safety for people with disabilities, what to do in case a fire occurs and reviews life safety requirements (i.e., areas of refuge, wide exit stairs, means of egress elevators and exterior areas of assisted rescue) found in the International Building Code.

The training program is a valuable resource to people with disabilities, fire safety and building code officials, emergency plan coordinators, building owners and supervisors, employers and fire marshals.

Also included are tips on fire prevention and contact information for several organizations that may be of assistance on this topic.

For more information, please visit www.unitedspinal.org or call 1.800.404.2898 #7504 to request hard copies of the training materials for your organization.

Injuries from grilling can be much more severe simply because there’s direct contact with fire. Be sure to use safe grilling practices as the peak months for grilling fires approach – June and July. Gas grills constitute a higher risk, having been involved in an annual average of 6,900 home fires in 2005-2009, while charcoal or other solid-fueled grills were involved in an annual average of 1,100 home fires.

Facts & Figures

• In 2007-20011, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 8,200 home fires involving grills, hibachis or barbecues per year, including an average of 3,400 structure fires and 4,800 outside fires. These 8,200 fires caused an annual average of 15 civilian deaths, 120 civilian injuries and $75 million in direct property damage.
• More than one-quarter (29%) of the home structure fires involving grills started on a courtyard, terrace or patio, 28% started on an exterior balcony or open porch, and 6% started in the kitchen.
• Flammable or combustible gas or liquid was the item first ignited in half of home outdoor grill fires. In 50% of the home outdoor fires in which grills were involved, 55% of the outside gas grills, and 36% of gas grill structure fires, the fire started when a flammable or combustible gas or liquid caught fire.

For more grilling tips, click here.

According to the USFA, home electrical problems account for 28,600 fires and $1.1 billion in property losses. About 53% of residential electrical fires involve electrical wiring. Make sure your home is electrically safe by following some simple rules.

• Frayed electrical cords are the primary cause of electrical fires during celebrations. By maintaining your lights you can minimize the risk.
• You should inspect them for fraying, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets and excessive kinking or wear before putting them up.
• You should use only lighting listed by an approved testing laboratory.
• Do not overload electrical outlets. Do not link more than three lights, unless the directions indicate it is safe.
• Make sure to periodically check the wires – they should not be warm to the touch.

For more on electrical fire tips, click here.

Unfortunately, stable fires aren’t an uncommon occurrence. If you look in most stables, you can find wet hay stored near horses, oily rags, cigarette smoking, and overloaded or damaged electrical wiring and heaters. All these are leading causes of fires.But these expensive and tragic disasters can be simply prevented by understanding the problem.

Hay is often stored in the same barn or stable with horses to save time and cost.

This usually causes no problems, but many owners don’t realize that improperly cured and baled hay can cause a fire. Even good hay stored under a leaking roof can start fires. The best ways to prevent hay fires are to keep hay in a separate location, and make sure it is dry when stored and stays dry in storage.

There are many other causes of fires. Some common ones and ways of preventing them:

• Overloaded or damaged extension cords. The simple solution to this one is just to not use extension cords. If it is unavoidable, use heavy-duty cords and only use one appliance per cord.
• Damaged electrical wires—often caused by rodents, damaged wires can spark fires. Replace the damaged wires instead of wrapping them with electrical tape, which does not fix the problem. To prevent rodents from chewing wiring, run it through metal conduits rather than plastic or PVC ones. Also, stringing wires over nails can result in the insulation being damaged over the nail, causing a risk of fires. All wires should be properly strung through metal conduits.
• Dust from hay or bedding. When this collects on electrical appliances, heaters, and fans, it can combust and start fires. Clean the interior of electric appliances regularly to prevent the dust from building up.
• Smoking, if allowed at all on the ranch, should never be allowed in or near the barn. Smokers should light up no less than twenty feet from the barns.
• Improper use of heaters—Heaters that blow directly on bedding, rags, or hay can cause severe fires because the heaters are often left unattended. Read the heater’s directions carefully, and make sure they blow into an open area free of flammable materials.
• Rags and paper towels used to clean tack and hooves can spontaneously combust if soaked with oil or petroleum products and left in a pile. Don’t leave these rags in a heap. If they are stored so that the heat can safely dissipate into the air, rather than remaining trapped in a pile, there is little risk of fire.

Taking the time now to perform these fire prevention steps can save a costly and dangerous fire later.

Plan Ahead

• When making your reservations, ask if the hotel or motel has smoke detectors and fire sprinklers.
• When traveling, take a flashlight with you.
• Read the fire evacuation plan carefully. If one is not posted in your room, request one from the front desk.
• Locate the two exits from your room.
• Count the number of doors between your room and the exits. This will assist you in the need of an emergency evacuation.
• Locate the fire alarms on your floor.
• Never smoke in bed.

Life Safety Steps

• If the fire is in your room, get out quickly. Close the door, sound the alarm and notify the front desk.
• Always use a stairwell, never an elevator. The elevator could stop at the floor of the fire.
• If the fire is not in your room, leave if it is safe to do so. Be sure to take your room key with you in case fire blocks your escape and you need to re-enter your room.
• To check the hallway for fire, touch the door with the back of your hand to test the temperature. If the door is cool, get low to the floor, brace your shoulder against the door and open it slowly. Be ready to close it quickly if there are flames on the other side. Crawl low in the smoke to the nearest exit; the freshest air is near the floor.
• If your room door is hot, do not open it. Instead, seal the door with wet towels or sheets. Turn off the fans and air conditioners. Call the fire department to give your location. Signal from your window.

Hotel and Motel Fire Safety List

The Hotel and Motel Fire Safety Act of 1990 was passed into law by Congress to save lives and protect property by promoting fire and life safety in hotels, motels and other places of public accommodation. The law mandates that Federal employees on travel must stay in public accommodations that adhere to the life safety requirements in the legislation guidelines, those being:

• hard-wired, single-station smoke detectors in each guestroom in accordance with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standard 72; and
• an automatic sprinkler system, with a sprinkler head in each guest room in compliance with NFPA standards 13 or 13R. Properties three stories or lower in height are exempt from the sprinkler requirement.

NASA’s FLEX – Flame Extinguishing Experiment – aims to address these challenges. “We hope to gain a better knowledge of droplet burning, improved spacecraft fire safety and ideas for more efficient utilization of liquid fuels on earth,” Principal Investigator Forman Williams, University of California, San Diego, said according to NASA. “The experiments will be used to verify numerical models that calculate droplet burning under different conditions.”

In Space there are no convective forces which cause hot gases to rise on Earth, meaning flame behaviour in Space is driven by molecular diffusion. Flames in Space burn with a lower temperature, at a lower rate, and with less oxygen than in normal gravity according to NASA. This means that materials used to extinguish the fire must be present in higher concentrations.

“Thus far the most surprising thing we’ve observed is continued apparent burning of heptane droplets after flame extinction under certain conditions; currently, this is entirely unexplained,” said Williams according to NASA.

The FLEX program, which began in 2009, studies these behaviors by igniting fuel droplets inside a combustion chamber and recording the progression of the burn from ignition through extinction.

Fire Extinguisher Kit
Have the children bring any size metal can with a plastic lid to school and a box of baking soda or salt. Cover the cans with red construction paper, write FIRE! all over the red paper with a white crayon, and fill them with salt or baking soda.

Slip a note inside the can telling mom that because we have learned NOT to ever throw water on a grease fire (because that would make it bigger), we have made a safe fire extinguisher for the kitchen. Also add instructions that this can is for sitting close to the stove where kitchen fires are apt to begin.

Firefighter Tips
Dress each student in a fire hat and coat (borrowed or from the dress-up clothes) and take pictures of the children wearing them. Then each child tells a fire safety tip. Mount the tip on a paper with their picture and the title “Firefighter Josh says…”

Art Projects
Fire Spatters - Draw a simple house frame with windows onto paper and then duplicate for each child. Let child color, if he/she desires. Then give each student a tiny dot of red in each window. Encourage him/her to blow thru a straw to blow the paint, to create a fire spray effect. Repeat with a tiny dot of yellow in each window.

Fire Painting- Give student a black piece of paper. Squirt thick lines of yellow, red, and orange paint randomly onto the paper. Give the child a piece of saran wrap and lay over the paint. Encourage the child to pull the saran wrap off, using vertical pulling action. Remove saran wrap and let dry. If desired glue on a small fire engine.

Big Red- Run a black line master of a fire engine onto thick tag-board. Then give each child a chance to paint the fire engine red, using finger paint, easel paint, marble painting, etc; (To marble paint, dip marbles in red paint. Place picture in a shallow tray and let the children shake the tray back and forth, creating marble marks; continue until child is satisfied.)

For more information on school fire safety, view:
Schools are for Learning, Not Burning

With so many fire extinguishers to choose from, selecting the proper one for your home can be a daunting task. Everyone should have at least one fire extinguisher at home, but it’s just as important to ensure you have the proper type of fire extinguisher. Fire protection experts recommend one for the kitchen, the garage and workshop.

Fire extinguishers are divided into four categories, based on different types of fires. Each fire extinguisher also has a numerical rating that serves as a guide for the amount of fire the extinguisher can handle. The higher the number, the more fire-fighting power. The following is a quick guide to help choose the right type of extinguisher.

• Class A extinguishers are for ordinary combustible materials such as paper, wood, cardboard, and most plastics. The numerical rating on these types of extinguishers indicates the amount of water it holds and the amount of fire it can extinguish. Geometric symbol (green triangle)
• Class B fires involve flammable or combustible liquids such as gasoline, kerosene, grease and oil. The numerical rating for class B extinguishers indicates the approximate number of square feet of fire it can extinguish. Geometric symbol (red square)
• Class C fires involve electrical equipment, such as appliances, wiring, circuit breakers and outlets. Never use water to extinguish class C fires – the risk of electrical shock is far too great! Class C extinguishers do not have a numerical rating. The C classification means the extinguishing agent is non-conductive. Geometric symbol (blue circle)
• Class D fire extinguishers are commonly found in a chemical laboratory. They are for fires that involve combustible metals, such as magnesium, titanium, potassium and sodium. These types of extinguishers also have no numerical rating, nor are they given a multi-purpose rating – they are designed for class D fires only. Geometric symbol (Yellow Decagon)
• Class K fire extinguishers are for fires that involve cooking oils, trans-fats, or fats in cooking appliances and are typically found in restaurant and cafeteria kitchens. Geometric symbol (black hexagon)

Some fires may involve a combination of these classifications. Your fire extinguishers should have ABC ratings on them.

For more information about the use of fire extinguishers, view:
Fire Safety Tips for Your Workplace

A Factsheet on Home Electrical Fire Prevention

Electrical fires in our homes claim the lives of 310 Americans each year and injure 1,100 more. Some of these fires are caused by electrical system failures, but many more are caused by incorrectly installed wiring and overloaded circuits and extension cords.

The Problem

During a typical year, home electrical problems account for 28,600 fires and $1.1 billion in property losses. 53% of residential electrical fires involve electrical wiring.

December and January are the most dangerous months for electrical fires. Fire deaths are highest in winter months which call for more indoor activities and increases in lighting, heating, and appliance use. The bedroom is the leading area of fire origin for residential building electrical fires. However, electrical fires that begin in the living room/family room/den areas result in the most deaths.

The Cause

• Most electrical distribution fires result from problems with “fixed wiring” such as faulty electrical outlets and old wiring. Problems with cords (such as extension and appliance cords), plugs, receptacles, and switches also cause many home electrical fires.
• Light fixtures and lamps/light bulbs are also leading causes of electrical fires.
• Many avoidable electrical fires can be traced to misuse of electric cords, such as overloading circuits, poor maintenance, and running the cords under rugs or in high traffic areas.

Safety Precautions

• Routinely check your electrical appliances and wiring.
• Frayed wires can cause fires. Replace all worn, old or damaged appliance cords immediately.
• Replace any electrical tool if it causes even small electrical shocks, overheats, shorts out, or gives off smoke or sparks.
• Keep electrical appliances away from wet floors and counters; pay special care to electrical appliances in the bathroom and kitchen.
• Buy electrical products evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
• Keep clothes, curtains, and other potentially combustible items at least three feet from all heaters.
• If an appliance has a three-prong plug, use it only in a three-slot outlet. Never force it to fit into a two-slot outlet or extension cord.
• Don’t allow children to play with or around electrical appliances like space heaters, irons, and hair dryers.
• Use safety closures to “child-proof” electrical outlets.
• Use electrical extension cords wisely; never overload extension cords or wall sockets.
• Immediately shut off, then professionally replace, light switches that are hot to the touch and lights that flicker.

Finally, having a working smoke alarm dramatically increases your chances of surviving a fire. And remember to practice a home escape plan frequently with your family.

Slow-burning chimney fires don’t get enough air or have fuel to be dramatic or visible. But, the temperatures they reach are very high and can cause as much damage to the chimney structure – and nearby combustible parts of the house – as their more spectacular cousins. With proper chimney system care, chimney fires are entirely preventable.

Masonry Chimneys.
When chimney fires occur in masonry chimneys, the high temperatures at which they burn (around 2000°F) can melt mortar, crack tiles, cause liners to collapse and damage the outer masonry material. Most often, tiles crack and mortar is displaced, which provides a pathway for flames to reach the combustible wood frame of the house. One chimney fire may not harm a home. A second can burn it down. Pre-fabricated, factory-built, metal chimneys. To be installed in most jurisdictions in the United States, factory built, metal chimneys that are designed to vent wood burning stoves or pre-fabricated metal fireplaces must pass special tests determined by Underwriter’s Laboratories (UL). Most tests require the chimney to withstand flue temperatures up to 2100°F – without sustaining damage. Under chimney fire conditions, damage to these systems still may occur. When pre-fabricated, factory-built metal chimneys are damaged by a chimney fire, they should no longer be used and must be replaced.

For more information on chimney fires, view:
Creosote Chimney Fires – What You Must Know.

Fireplaces and wood stoves are designed to safely contain wood-fuel fires, while providing heat for a home. The chimneys that serve them have the job of expelling the byproducts of combustion – the substances produced when wood burns. These include smoke, water vapor, gases, unburned wood particles, hydrocarbon volatile, tar fog and assorted minerals. As these substances exit the fireplace or wood stove, and flow up into the relatively cooler chimney, condensation occurs.

The resulting residue that sticks to the inner walls of the chimney is called creosote. Creosote is black or brown in appearance. It can be crusty and flaky…tar-like, drippy and sticky…or shiny and hardened. Often, all forms will occur in one chimney system. Whatever form it takes, creosote is highly combustible. If it builds up in sufficient quantities – and catches fire inside the chimney flue instead of the firebox of the fireplace or wood stove – the result will be a chimney fire. Although any amount of creosote can burn, sweeps are concerned when creosote builds up in sufficient quantities to sustain a long, hot, destructive chimney fire. Certain conditions encourage the buildup of creosote. Simply put, restricted air supply, unseasoned wood and cooler-than normal chimney temperatures are all factors that can accelerate the buildup of creosote on chimney flue walls.

Air supplies on fireplaces may be restricted by closed glass doors or by failure to open the damper wide enough to move heated smoke up the chimney rapidly (the longer the smoke’s “residence time” in the flue, the more likely is it that creosote will form). A wood stove’s air supply can be limited by closing down the stove damper or air inlets too soon and too much, and by improperly using the stovepipe damper to restrict air movement. Burning unseasoned wood – because so much energy is used initially just to drive off the water trapped in the cells of the logs– keeps the resulting smoke cooler, as it moves through the system, than if dried seasoned wood is used. In the case of wood stoves, fully packed loads of wood (that give large cool fires and 8 or 10 hour burn times) also contribute to creosote buildup. Cool flue temperatures speed creosote production, too. Condensation of the unburned byproducts of combustion occurs more rapidly in an exterior chimney, for example, than in a chimney that runs through the center of a house and exposes only the upper reaches of the flue to the elements.

For more safety tips on fire places, click here.