IN THE CITY
by Adam Rider
Fire Prevention week is recognized nationally as October 4th through the 10th. In 2008, U.S. fire departments responded to 386,500 home fires. These fires killed 2,755 civilians. Eighty-three percent of all fire deaths resulted from home fires. Someone was injured in a home fire every 40 minutes and roughly eight people died in home fires every day during 2008.
A fire department responded to a home fire every 81 seconds. Almost two-thirds of reported home fire deaths in 2003-2006 resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. About 1/3 of home fires and deaths happened in the months of December, January and February. Cooking continues to be the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries. Smoking materials caused one of every four home fire deaths. The kitchen is the leading area of origin for home fire deaths.
As a community, I feel we can beat these statistics. If every family will take this month to plan and practice fire escape plans, ensure each household has working smoke detectors, and continue to test smoke detectors once a month together we can help reduce home fires and fire deaths. Most fires are preventable.
The Presque Isle Fire Department is actively involved with educating elementary age kids in Presque Isle. We try and get into every classroom during the month of October to try and reinforce fire safety messages. The kids will go home and educate their whole family about fire safety in most cases. We are having an Open House at the Presque Isle Fire Department on Saturday, October 10th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. We will be having a lot of demonstrations and displays with tours of the public safety building going on throughout the day and a hot dog barbecue.
This is also a good time of year to talk about Home Heating Safety and Holiday Safety.
If you burn wood, make sure to have your chimney inspected by a company with a camera to check the liner on your chimney. The Fire Department no longer inspects chimneys, because without a camera, we can’t be certain of the integrity of the liner. There are local merchants who have cameras to check chimneys. Also, you should have your stove installation inspected for the first time before burning wood. If you live in Presque Isle, the Presque Isle Fire Department will inspect new stove installations. To set up an appointment, please call our non-emergency number which is 769-0881. It is also a good idea to clean and check your chimney at least once a month for creosote build up.
If you are using a space heater to supplement your heat in your home please remember to maintain 3 feet of space around the heater. Ensure that your space heater has the UL rating and has the tip over safety shut off switch built into it. If it is an electric heater remember to not use extension cords and never run the electric cords under throw rugs, etc. Keep the heater on the floor and keep them out of the high traffic areas as not to create any tripping hazards. Do not leave the heaters unattended and if you have small children please have adult supervision when running the heaters.
The Holiday season is also upon us and with that brings Christmas Decorations. Make sure to inspect your Christmas Lights and the wires before using them to decorate. Also, replace any bulbs that aren’t working. If you’re using a real tree make sure to keep it watered every day and be sure to pick a fresh cut tree.
If you need any information on these topics, please feel free to contact the Presque Isle Fire Department at 769-0881. As always please remember to check your smoke detectors at least once a month.
Adam Rider is Deputy Fire Chief with the Presque Isle Fire Department. He can be reached at 769-0881 or via e-mail at pifire@maine.rr.com.
Photo courtesy of PIFD
TAKING CHARGE — Deputy Chief Gerald Cousins, Presque Isle Fire Department, is pictured at a fire scene, prepared to give his crew orders.
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
ACAP AND THE PRESQUE ISLE Fire Department teamed up again this summer, holding a picnic inside the fire station for youth in the after-school program. Each year, firefighters provide ACAP children with a guided tour of the facility, answering questions and providing fire safety tips and information, then ending with a summertime lunch, complete with watermelon.
Photo courtesy PIFD
STRUCTURE FIRES can be difficult to battle and fires can spread quickly, when trees and shrubbery are located close to buildings. Here, members of the Washburn Fire Department tackle a blaze, trying to keep flames from setting nearby trees on fire.
