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Family Life Displaying items by tag: state fire marshal
Family Life Displaying items by tag: state fire marshal
Displaying items by tag: state fire marshal
State Fire Marshal Julie Mix McPeak wants to remind Tennesseans to keep safe and warm, as colder weather becomes more common across the state. But she urges residents to be cautious in the use of alternate heat sources.
"The colder weather means many people will begin to heat their homes with fireplaces, woodstoves and space heaters," said McPeak. "Cold weather months typically have a higher number of accidental fire injuries and deaths, due to the use of these alternative heat sources."
"Tennessee occupies an undesirably hight spot in recurring rankings of states with fire deaths," McPeak said. "One of the main causes remains falling asleep while smoking. If you smoke, please refrain from doing so in a bed or chair in which you tend to fall asleep."
Following a few safety tips can greatly reduce the risk of fires. For more, visit the State Fire Marshal's home safety checklist at http://ow.ly/7tpOU:
Make it a "house rule" to test your home's smoke alarms, before using a space heater or fireplace. All smoke alarms should additionally be tested once a month. Doing so could save your life. Space heaters need space. Never put a space heater within three feet of anything combustible, including furniture, bedding or aerosol cans. Make sure your space heater bears the mark of an independent testing lab such as UL or FM. Look for models with automatic shutoff features, when purchasing space heaters. Never use extension cords with space heaters. Where independent lab logos are concerned, try to purchase surge protectors from established retailers. Some bargain retailers have unwittingly sold lower-quality surge protectors bearing counterfeit markings of independent testing labs. Some labs have begun using holographic labeling to combat the counterfeiting of their seals. Before you use your fireplace, make sure the chimney has been professionally cleaned to remove the buildup of combustible materials that accumulate inside the flue. Be sure any kerosene-fueled heating device is installed with proper ventilation. A portable kerosene heater must be filled only in a well-ventilated area, free of flame and other heat sources, and only when the device has cooled completely. Use only the type of kerosene specified by the manufacturer, and never use gasoline in place of kerosene. Never leave a fire, space heater or flame unattended, this includes decorative candles. Additionally, make sure furniture, clothing or other combustible materials are not placed in front of permanently mounted heaters like those in walls or on baseboards. That way, if the vents blow warm air, there will be little worry of the items catching fire.
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Family Life
Tennessee State Fire Marshal Julie Mix McPeak is reminding Tennesseans to change their smoke alarms’ batteries this weekend when they set back their clocks late Saturday night for daylight saving time.
“Smoke alarms, even those that are hard-wired, should have their batteries replaced regularly and should be tested monthly to ensure they’re providing the proper protection,” McPeak says. “Use the extra hour we gain this weekend to make sure your home and family are fire-safe.”
Most home fires occur at night when people are sleeping. The smoke and toxic gases generated by a fire can cause people to sleep more deeply, narrowing the chances of surviving a fire. A working smoke alarm can double the chances of survival by increasing the amount of time a person has to escape a fire in their home.
Nationally, more than 90 percent of all homes have smoke alarms, but it is estimated that one-third of them don't work because of old or missing batteries. It is critical to replace batteries regularly – even if alarms appear to be working fine. Twice a year is recommended. This reduces the chance of alarms chirping to indicate low batteries. All too often, a battery is removed and not replaced, putting a home’s occupants at risk. There's no way to predict when a fire will occur, so even one night without an operational smoke alarm can be dangerous.
Here are some other helpful hints on the importance of smoke alarms:
• Smoke alarms should be installed in every room where an occupant sleeps, outside every sleeping area and on each level of the home. Make sure everyone can hear the alarm and knows what it sounds like.
• Smoke alarms need to be cleaned and maintained according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Devise a fire escape plan with two ways out of every room, and be sure to teach it to any children who live in the home.
• When a smoke alarm sounds, get out of the home immediately and go to your pre-planned meeting place.
The Department of Commerce and Insurance works to protect consumers while ensuring fair competition for industries and professionals who do business in Tennessee. www.tn.gov/commerce/
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Local News
Nice weather, cookouts and gatherings are the perfect recipe for summer good times. The State Fire Marshal’s Office wants to remind Tennesseans that cooking safety is important, whether indoors or outdoors.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), gas and charcoal grills cause an average of 900 home structure fires and 3,500 home outdoor fires each year. "By all means, enjoy the weather and the cookouts,” says State Fire Marshal Julie Mix McPeak, “but keep fire safety on your mind as you grill.”
Be sure to practice the following safety guidelines:
· Position the grill away from siding, deck railings, overhanging eaves and overhanging branches. Half of all gas and charcoal grill fires begin on an exterior balcony or unenclosed porch.
· Place the grill a safe distance from lawn games, play areas and foot traffic.
· Keep children and pets away from the grill area: declare a three-foot "safe zone" around the grill.
· Put out several long-handled grilling tools to give the chef plenty of clearance from heat and flames when handling food.
· Periodically remove grease buildup in trays, to prevent ignition by a hot grill.
· Gas grills have a higher fire risk than charcoal grills. Leaks and breaks in the gas cylinder or hose are the leading cause of gas grill fires. Placing combustibles too close to heat and leaving cooking unattended are two other leading causes.
· Check the gas cylinder hose for leaks before using it for the first time each year. Applying a light soap-and-water solution to the hose will quickly reveal escaping propane by bubbling.
· If you determine your grill has a gas leak, turn off the valve on the tank and have the grill serviced by a professional before using it again.
· If you smell gas while cooking, immediately get away from the grill and call the fire department. Do not attempt to move the grill.
· Use only gas cylinders with an overfill protection device (OPD). OPDs are easily identified by their triangular-shaped hand wheel. OPDs shut off the flow of gas before capacity is reached, limiting the potential for release of propane gas if the cylinder heats up.
· Follow the manufacturers’ instructions on how to set up the grill and maintain it.
· Never store propane gas cylinders in buildings or garages. If you store a gas grill inside during the winter, disconnect the cylinder and leave it outside.
· When using charcoal grills, avoid using starter fluid – use a chimney starter instead. This is a cylindrical metal tube that uses paper to start the coals. Never add charcoal starter fluid when coals or kindling have already been ignited, and never use any flammable or combustible liquid other than charcoal starter fluid.
And, regardless of the season, check your home for fire hazards. Overloaded outlets, tattered oven mitts or pot holders, and inoperable smoke alarms – all can make the home significantly vulnerable to the risk of fire.
Use only authentic equipment bearing the mark of an independent testing laboratory. “This also holds true for power strips,” says McPeak, “Counterfeit power strips have been known to be sold really cheap and have even higher rates of malfunction and flammability.”
The Department of Commerce and Insurance works to protect consumers while ensuring fair competition for industries and professionals who do business in Tennessee. www.tn.gov/commerce/
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Family Life
