Fire department promotes safety, prevention

SHELTON - The Shelton Fire Department, including Echo Hose, Huntington, Pine Rock Park, and White Hills Volunteer Fire companies will be involved in fire safety activities throughout October. These programs are part of an effort to reduce the chances of residents being injured or killed by fire in addition to preserving property.
     The Shelton Fire Department and the National Fire Protection Association are promoting “Protect Your Family From Fire” as the theme for this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign.
     Smoking materials remain the leading cause of home fire deaths, while cooking equipment is the leading cause of home structure fires and home fire injuries. Installing systems such as smoke alarms and residential fire sprinklers, as well as identifying potential hazards, can reduce the risk of home fires and property loss, injury, or death due to fire. Nearly two-thirds of home structure fire deaths occur in homes where there was no smoke alarm, or where smoke alarms were present but failed to operate.
     “Many homes in Shelton may not have any smoke alarms, not enough smoke alarms, alarms that are too old, or alarms that are not working,” said Ted Pisciotta, Assistant Chief, Fire Prevention
    “We want residents to understand that working smoke alarms are needed in every home, on every level (including the basement), outside each sleeping area and inside each bedroom. And, if a smoke alarm is 10 years old or older, it needs to be replaced,” he said.
     Pisciotta said smoke alarms can mean the difference between life and death in a fire. NFPA statistics show that working smoke alarms cut the chance of dying in a fire nearly in half. But they must be working properly to do so. The association’s data shows that many homes have smoke alarms that aren’t working or maintained properly, usually because of missing, disconnected, or dead batteries. Roughly two-thirds of all home fire deaths result from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
     The Shelton Fire Department offers tips for making sure smoke alarms are maintained and working properly:
·  Test smoke alarms at least once a month using the test button, and make sure everyone in your home knows their sound.
·  If an alarm “chirps,” warning the battery is low, replace the battery right away.
·  Replace all smoke alarms, including alarms that use 10-year batteries and hard-wired alarms, when they’re 10 years old (or sooner) if they do not respond properly when tested.
·  Never remove or disable a smoke alarm.
     Throughout October, members of the City’s volunteer fire department will be taking time to teach and promote fire safety at preschools and elementary schools. During these visits children will be taught the basics of how to prevent and stay safe from fire. They will have a chance to interact with a firefighter in full firefighting gear, and view fire trucks and equipment. The department also will will kick-off an annual fire prevention poster contest for Grades 4 and 5, as well as an annual Grade 6 essay contest.
     In addition to smoke alarms, a special emphasis is being placed on prevention of the leading causes of home fires – cooking, heating, electrical, smoking materials, and candles.
    Most fires are easy to prevent. Pisciotta, said many common fires may best be prevented by giving special consideration to use of candles, paying extra attention when cooking, using heating equipment and never smoking in bed or where one might fall asleep. Each of these activities carries with it a risk of fire, but that risk can be greatly lessened if you follow some common sense safety tips:
·         Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking. Many fires start from "unattended" cooking.
·         Maintain heating equipment and chimneys by having them inspected and cleaned annually by a qualified professional.
·         If you smoke, put it out, all the way, every time.
·         Keep things that can burn away from light fixtures and heaters. For any suspected electrical problems, call a qualified electrician.
·         Use battery powered lighting during emergencies and power outages, not candles. If using candles, blow them out when leaving the room, and keep them away from things that can burn.
     Pisciotta encourages businesses, organizations and individuals to visit the Fire Prevention Bureau web site, found by clicking on “Public Safety” at www.cityofshelton.org.