Hoehm Town Happenings

National Fire Prevention Week

Just over a month ago, contractors working at the Highland Nanuet Apartments began to smell gas. Authorities were quickly alerted and firefighters were on the scene within minutes, but a massive fire had already erupted in one of the buildings by the time they arrived. Efforts to get the already advanced fire under control were further hindered by the lightweight construction of the building, preventing the firefighters from being able to operate inside the structure. Within minutes, seven families had lost their homes and nearly everything they owned. It was an extremely tragic and disturbing sight to see.

Unfortunately, it was far from the first time I have been on the scene of a devastating residential fire in my years as Town Supervisor.

With that tragedy only weeks behind us, I am reminded even more strongly than usual of the importance of promoting National Fire Prevention Week as a method to help educate our residents on the steps they can take to help protect their lives and their homes.

Running from October 6-12, this year’s main theme for the week is the importance of having smoke alarms in our homes. These simple devices, when placed and maintained properly, can be the most effective way to protect our lives and most important assets.

Yet many of us still don’t have the proper amount of these devices in the proper  placements, and in many cases fire victims are found to have had detectors which were outdated or not in working order.

There are three basic rules to know regarding smoke alarms. The first is simply to INSTALL them. One should be placed inside each bedroom with another outside any bedroom areas in the hallway. At a minimum, each floor (including the basement) without a sleeping area should have one smoke detector installed. Avoid placing the detectors next to windows or doors where drafts might reduce their effectiveness, and avoid placing them within ten feet of cooking appliances to reduce false alarms. There are many different types of alarms out on the market, so make sure you buy ones that are tested and labeled by an independent laboratory agency such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or Intertek.

Once installed in the proper locations, the next important step is to make sure that periodically TEST the alarm to confirm that it is working properly. This is both the easiest step in the process to complete and the easiest to forget to do. A common best practice is to pick one day each month that corresponds with another action such as making a mortgage or car payment and making that the day you test your smoke alarm as well. Testing the alarm should be done at least monthly and is as simple as pushing the test button to make sure the alarm sounds as it should.

And finally, it is important to REPLACE smoke alarms on a regular basis in accordance with their published operating lifespan, which is most commonly listed at 10 years for alarms being sold today. However, any alarm that fails to respond during testing. Once it is time to replace an alarm, do some basic due diligence to see what technology changes have taken place and which types of alarms are the best fit for your needs.

This simple 3 step process regarding smoke alarm use can reduce your chances of surviving a house fire by 55%. When you consider that there are approximately 350,000 reported fires in residential homes each year, representing one taking place every 87 seconds, it is easy to see just how important it is to have these devices properly installed and maintained in a home.

In addition to smoke alarms, the National Fire Prevention Association also suggests many  other tips including the following:

Key Fire Safety Tips

1. Create and Practice an Escape Plan:

○ Develop a floor plan that includes two exits from each room.

○ Identify a safe meeting place outside.

○ Practice the escape plan with your family at least twice a year.

2. Use Cooking Equipment Safely:

○ Stay in the kitchen while cooking and keep flammable items away from the stove.

○ Have a fire extinguisher handy and know how to use it.

3. Be Cautious with Heating Sources:

○ Keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn.

○ Never use an extension cord with a space heater.

4. Electrical Safety:

○ Inspect cords for frays or damage and replace them if necessary.

○ Avoid overloading outlets.

5. Educate Children:

○ Teach children about fire safety and the importance of staying calm during

emergencies.

○ Discuss the dangers of playing with fire.