As teachers, it is important to teach your students the fundamentals of fire safety. Below are lessons you can use to help make the fire safety activities more enjoyable.

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

This information is brought to you by the United States Fire Admin.

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.

A chimney fire in action can be impressive. It has been described variously as creating loud cracking and popping noises, a lot of dense smoke and an intense, hot smell. Chimney fires can burn explosively – noisy and dramatic enough to be detected by neighbors or people passing by. Flames or dense smoke may shoot from the top of the chimney. Homeowners report being startled by a low rumbling sound that reminds them of a freight train or a low flying airplane. However, those are only the chimney fires you know about.

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.

When most of us think of the holidays, we picture roaring fires in our fireplaces, stockings hung on the chimney, and Christmas trees covered in tiny lights and ornaments galore. But along with all the holiday decor comes a slew of safety concerns, particularly around your fireplace.

Here are some things you can do to ensure a fun holiday fireplace experience and keep your family and your home safe at the same time:

• Keep decor, gifts, and other holiday items away from your chimney while you have a fire going. Take consideration of all the decor, not just the stockings hanging off the chimney. Relocate gifts, garland, electric lights, Christmas trees, and anything else that could ignite.
  
• Your fireplace should have a mesh (or glass) screen you can close to prevent embers from jumping out into the room, so make sure to use it. If you don’t have a screen, have one installed before starting a fire in your fireplace.
• Stovepipe thermostats can be installed to monitor the temperature in your chimney and can be helpful in reminding you when to put out the fire.
• Never use flammable liquids to get your fire started. They can be a mess and can cause the fire to get out of hand.
• Firewood should be placed at the back of your fireplace for safety.
• Only use hard wood to burn your fire, never old magazines, boxes, books, or other items you want to get rid of.
• Every year, have a professional chimney specialist inspect and clean your chimney to ensure it’s working properly. This will help make sure your chimney and flue are free of leaves, twigs, and other debris.
• If you don’t have a smoke alarm in rooms that house fireplaces, install them right away. Make sure to test the batteries and replace them annually to ensure they work properly.
• Most of all, never leave your fire unattended, and never leave children alone when there’s a fire going. Make sure to also extinguish the fire fully before leaving the house or going to bed.

For more information on chimney fire safety, click here.

The winter holidays are a time for celebration, and that means more cooking, home decorating, entertaining, and an increased risk of fire due to heating equipment. Remember the following safety tips to keep you and your family safe this holiday season.

• Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home fires in the U.S. When cooking for holiday visitors, remember to keep an eye on the range.
• Provide plenty of large, deep ashtrays for guests who smoke and check them frequently. Cigarette butts can smolder in the trash and cause a fire, so completely douse cigarette butts with water before discarding.
• After a party, always check on, between and under upholstery and cushions and inside trashcans for cigarette butts that may be smoldering.
• Keep matches and lighters up high, out of sight and reach of children (preferably in a locked cabinet). When smokers visit your home, ask that they keep smoking materials with them.
• Any string of lights with worn, frayed or broken cords or loose bulb connections should not be used.
• Always unplug Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to sleep.
• Never use lit candles to decorate a tree, and place them well away from tree branches.
• Try to keep live trees as moist as possible by giving them plenty of water daily. Do not purchase a tree that is dry or dropping needles.
• Choose a sturdy tree stand designed not to tip over.
• When purchasing an artificial tree, be sure it is labeled as fire-retardant.
• Make sure the tree is at least three feet (one meter) away from any heat source and try to position it near an outlet so that cords are not running long distances.
• Do not place the tree where it may block exits.
• Safely dispose of the tree when it begins dropping needles. Dried-out trees are highly flammable and should not be left in a house or garage, or placed against the house.

For more holiday safety tips, click here.

The fire death rate among people over the age of 65 is twice as high as the national average, according to the United States Fire Administration (USFA).  In addition, the fire death rate among people between ages 75 and 85 is three times the national average and after age 85, it increases to four times the national average.  These statistics are especially alarming when researchers estimate that by 2030, the 65 and older population will exceed 70 million people.

Adults 65 years and older can reduce their fire death rate by changing five major fire safety habits:

Change Smoke Alarm Batteries

Having a working smoke alarm can more than double your chances of surviving a fire. Make sure alarms are installed on each level of your home and outside all sleeping areas. If sleeping with bedroom doors closed, the smoke alarms should be installed within each room. Test each alarm monthly and replace the battery at least once a year. Adults who are deaf or hard of hearing should invest in visual aids such as alarms with strobe lights.  Flashing or vibrating smoke alarms should also be tested every month.

Change or Update Escape Routes

Many older adults are still using escape routes that were planned when the kids were in the house. Plan and practice your home fire escape. Consider your capabilities when preparing escape routes. Have two ways to get out of each room and if needed, make sure all exits are accessible for walkers or wheelchairs.

Change Unsafe Smoking Habits

Careless smoking is the leading cause of fire deaths among Americans 65 years and older. Make sure that you are alert when you smoke and never smoke in bed. When you are finished smoking, soak the ashes in water before discarding them.  Never leave smoking materials unattended, and collect them in large deep ashtrays.

Change Unsafe Cooking Habits

Cooking fires are the leading cause of fire injuries among older adults.  When using the stove, never leave cooking food unattended.  If you need to step away, turn it off. Also, wear tight-fitting clothing when cooking over an open flame; a dangling sleeve can catch fire easily. Keep towels and potholders away from the flame.

Change Unsafe Heating Practices

Install and maintain heating equipment correctly. Do not store newspapers, rags, or other combustible materials near a furnace, hot water heater, or space heater. Keep flammable materials, such as curtains or furniture, at least three feet from space heaters. Never use a stove as a substitute for a furnace or space heater.

We all love to keep warm through winter and aim to do so as cheaply and efficiently as possible. However we should not forget that each type of heat source carries it own type of risk.

Here are some helpful tips on how to keep you and your family safe this winter:

Matches and Lighters

Electric Blankets

Gas Cabinet Heaters

Building a bonfire
Fire can spread easily, so where and how you build your bonfire is important. If you have a bonfire, follow these simple guidelines:

• only burn dry material not damp, which causes more smoke
• build the bonfire away from sheds, fences and trees
• check there are no cables – like telephone wires – above the bonfire
• don’t use petrol or paraffin to get the fire going – it may get out of control quickly

Did you change back your clocks for daylight saving time earlier this month? This time of year also marks an important safety milestone.

As our nation moved back to standard time, the U.S. Fire Administration encourages you to mark the occasion as a time to test your home smoke alarms and replace the batteries if more than one year old.

Every day in the United States home fire deaths occur and working smoke alarms significantly increase the chances of surviving a deadly fire. Properly installed and maintained smoke alarm is the only thing in a home that can alert people to a fire 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Whether you’re awake or asleep, a working smoke alarm is constantly on alert scanning the air for fire and smoke.

In addition to changing smoke alarm batteries, Albemarle recommends the following steps to protect lives:

• Dust or vacuum smoke alarms when changing the batteries.
• Check alarms once a month using the test button.
• Replace the entire alarm if it is more than 10 years old or does not work properly when tested.
• Install smoke alarms on every level of a home, including the basement, and both inside and outside sleeping areas.
• For the best protection, equip a home with a combination of ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms or dual sensor alarms.
• Interconnect all smoke alarms so when one sounds, they all sound.
• Make sure everyone in a home understands the warning of the smoke alarm and knows how to respond to an emergency.
• Finally, prepare and practice an escape plan so everyone can get out of a home safely should there be a fire. Plan to meet in a place a safe distance from the fire in a spot easily spotted by first responders.

For more clock changing, fire safety tips, click here.

Believe it or not, according to the National Fire Protection Association, each year more than 1,000 house fires are accidentally started by pets. Pet proofing your home against potential fire hazards could save your life and the lives of your favorite four-legged friends.

We suggest practicing the following tips to keep you, your family and your pets safe.

1. Be sure to secure wires and cords. Cats are especially interested in playing with anything that looks like string. Keep electrical wires and power cords secured and out of your pet’s reach.
2. Don’t leave lit candles unattended, remember to blow them out when you are not in the same room. Pets may burn themselves or cause a fire if they knock the candles over.
3. Pets are naturally curious and will investigate almost anything that has a scent, including your oven. Did you know, exploring stove tops is the number one way your pet can accidentally start a fire?
4. There is no such thing as too many smoke detectors. Your home should have at least one on each floor of your home and especially outside of each bedroom.
5. In the event of an emergency, placing a pet rescue sticker alerts rescue workers that animals are inside your home. Write down the number of pets inside and attach the sticker to a front window or door

For more information on pet protection within your home, view:
Prepare Your Fiddo and Kitty When You Escape from a Fire.

As long as there has been wood to burn, man has used it to stay warm. Our predecessors who discovered fire had the edge on a renewable heating source that is not only cost-effective, but also an environmentally friendly way to heat the home.Still, many of today’s homeowners rely primarily on gas, propane and oil to heat their homes rather than looking to wood.

Here is some information about using wood to heat your home that may surprise you.

1. Wood is environmentally friendly. It may seem that cutting down trees for fuel would be counterproductive to the “green” movement. However, trees are a renewable resource that, like other biomass, is carbon neutral. While growing, trees absorb carbon dioxide; when they die they release caron dioxide regardless of whether they burn or decompose. Fossil fuels by comparison are a one-way street, releasing greenhouse gasses in a matter of minutes that have been captured deep in the earth over millions of years.
2. Wood can save money. When burning logs in the new generation of high efficiency hydronic furnaces (or wood boilers). The heat generated is more intense and little is lost up the chimney. Wood furnaces can be used in lieu of standard heating systems featuring gas or oil during the heating months, or as an add-on when homeowners prefer to use other heating sources as their primary method of heating. This reduced need for oil, propane and natural gas means a reduction in monthly heating bills.
3. Wood can be a clean way to provide heat. There are plenty of people who have wrestled with cords of wood to stock wood-burning stoves or fireplaces, only to find that the mess left behind in the way of trailed bark and ashes leaves much to be desired. However, homeowners who use the next generation wood boilers will find that there is little to no mess involved.
4. Wood is a safe heating method. Using a wood-fired furnace can be just as safe as any other traditional heating source. Just as with other furnaces, proper operating procedures should be followed.

For more information on furnaces and heating your home, view:
Winter Heating Safety Tips

This year from October 9th – 15th, the nation recognizes fire safety for families with Fire Prevention Week, dedicated by the National Fire Prevention Association. Since 1922, Fire Prevention Week has been observed on the Sunday through Saturday period in which October 9 falls. Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. The fire began on October 8 and continued into October 9, where it did most of its damage.

In honor of this week, we offer these ideas on fire prevention to keep you and your family safe:

• Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
• Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heater.
• Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters.
• Replace or repair damaged or loose electrical cords.
• If you smoke, smoke outside.
• Use deep, wide ashtrays on a sturdy table.
• Blow out all candles when you leave the room or go to bed. Avoid the use of candles in the bedroom and other areas where people may fall asleep.

For more information about fire safety week, visit the National Fire Protection Association website.

Maryland and Nevada recently updated their school bus fire safety standards, so why is the rest of the nation still relying on regulations from the 1960’s to protect their children? Well, CFFSI is hoping to change that, state by state, in the fall session.

With more than 1.5 Million children riding school buses in the US each day, it is shocking that national fire safety standards have not kept pace with the evolution of modern technology. Maryland and Nevada recognized the need to protect big yellows from the dangers of fast spreading flames and codified standards to set a maximum burn rate for the seats and engine components.

For more information view:
Citizens for Fire Safety
Nevada and Maryland Drive School Bus Fire Safety for our Kids with New Law

As summer turns to fall, it’s a good idea to refresh your memory on fall fire safety tips. Some safety tips are the same regardless of the time of year, but many safety concerns are seasonal, particularly those that involve keeping your home warm.

Clearing water from sprinkler systems, getting the furnace fixed, and  repairing damaged windows help to keep a home running through the winter months. Many people don’t realize that homes are at a greater risk of fire in the cooler months. The following fall fire safety tips can help home owners prepare their home and protect their families.

• Change the battery in smoke detectors when they changing your clocks during Daylight Savings. Changing the batteries every six months prevents detectors from going dead.
• If you have a chimney, clean it! Creosote is a deposit from smoke that can build up in a chimney and can start a fire.
• Space heaters can also be a fire hazard, it is recommended to create a safe area around the heater. Any furniture should be at least three feet away.
• Trees should be a minimum of 30 feet away from the house and branches and leaves should be cleaned up to limit fuel for a fire.

For more info on fire safety, check out:
Home Fire Sources at Its Worst

Fire emergencies can happen anywhere and at any time of the day. It can happen at home, at the mall or even in a construction site. A construction area is more susceptible to fire and when this happens, the risks that it poses are greater compared to a burning house or building. That is why the fire department is stricter when it comes to implementing fire safety regulations in construction sites. Making sure that the safety of the workers is prioritized through observing and practicing construction fire safety is the number one goal.

The following tips are to help you stay safe at a construction site:

1. Inform the fire department about the construction project that will be completed. This is important due to the fact the fire department can assist you produce a fire safety program that is in line with the basic fire safety rules.

2. As much as achievable, prevent employing open up flames in a construction. Discover other choices to make sure that the fire will not expand or will be as well difficult to control.

3. If you genuinely require to use hazardous supplies or units like welding machines or propane torches, make sure that there are at least two fire extinguishers that are within fifteen feet of the location in which these materials or devices will be employed. This will help extinguish the fire.

4. Eliminate all combustible components from the region soon after construction hours are done or make sure to place a fire resistant covering on them to prevent fire from igniting.

5. When employing chemical solvents,  have proper ventilation in the area to prevent the fumes from exploding.

6. Prohibit the construction staff from smoking cigarettes on the construction site. Often, reckless disposal of these small cigarette butts are the results of fire in a building.

7. Make sure to keep all flammable liquids stored in a fire proof cabinet on the outside of the building. These flammable liquids can easily trigger fire breaking out in a construction site.

For more fire safety tips, view: Would Your Child Sleep Through a Fire Alarm?

Fire Related Accident Facts
How Many People Die in US Home Fires? One life Lost is too Many.

In 2009, U.S. fire departments responded to 362,500 home structure fires. These fires caused 12,650 civilian injuries, 2,565 civilian deaths, $7.6 billion in direct damage.

• 92% of all civilian structure fire deaths resulted from home structure fires.
• Cooking is the leading cause of home structure fires and home fire injuries.
• Kitchens are the leading area of origin for home structure fires (37%) and civilian home fire injuries (36%).
• Only 4% of home fires started in the living room, family room, or den; these fires caused 24% of home fire deaths.
• 8% of reported home fires started in the bedroom. These fires caused 25% of home fire deaths, 21% of home fire injuries, and 14% of the direct property damage.
• Smoking is a leading cause of civilian home fire deaths.
• Home structure fires peak around dinner hours between 5:00 and 8:00 pm.
• Almost two-thirds (62%) of reported home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
• Most fatal fires kill one or two people. In 2009, 9 home fires killed five or more people. These 9 fires resulted in 59 deaths.

Fires between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. caused half of home fire deaths. Sundays were the peak day for reported home fires and home fire injuries while fatal home fire injuries were more likely to occur on Saturday.

What are you doing to prevent home fire fatalities?

For more information on home fire safety, view:
8 Questions to Ensure Fire Safety for You and Your Family
Home Fire Sources at its Worst

Essential oils, which are easily combustible, are increasingly used in aromatherapy and other complementary treatments. The issue of these combustible oils came to light when a beauty therapy room at Swindon College was badly damaged in April after a blaze broke out in a pile of towels.

Fires in tumble dryers, linen baskets and airing cupboards where towels had oil on them have caught fire and fire officers are concerned that incidents in launderettes, salons and homes could have the same cause.

The problem seems to arise when the wash cycle has been set to a cool temperature. When the wash has been at 100 degrees or above, the oil residue is more likely to be safely broken down by the washing detergents.

For more on fire safety at colleges and workplaces, view:
U.S Senate Makes September Campus Fire Safety Month
Fire Safety Tips for Your Workplace

The United States Senate passed Senate Resolution 104, which marks September as Campus Fire Safety Month. This has helped dramatically in raising the awareness of the importance of campus fire safety on campuses, encourages administrators of institutions of higher education and municipalities across the country to provide educational programs to all students, evaluate the level of fire safety being provided in both on- and off-campus student housing and to ensure fire-safe living environments through fire safety education, installation of fire suppression and detection systems, and the development and enforcement of applicable codes relating to fire safety.

Since January 2000, at least 143 people, including students, parents, and children have died in campus-related fires; 85 percent of those deaths occurred in off-campus residences, whereas a majority of college students in the United States live in off-campus residences.

“During National Campus Fire Safety Month, schools across the country will hold events to raise awareness in campus communities about how to prevent and respond to fires,” said Senator Lautenberg (NJ) in a statement.  “We need to take every step possible to keep our students safe so they can focus on their education.”

Are you going to participate, or know anyone who will raise awareness for fire safety on campuses? Let us know!

For more information on campus fire safety view:
Schools are for Learning, not Burning
Fire Safety Tips for Your Workplace