New Canaan Fire Marshal Issues Safety Tips for College-Bound Residents 

Very soon many young people will be heading off to college – some for the first time. It is a time of big change for first time collegians beginning the next stage in their lives. Fire safety is probably the last thing that families are thinking about as they head off to college.  

However, fire safety is very important—even more so—in dorms or apartment buildings with hundreds of young students. Even more critical is “off-campus” housing that may not be covered by campus housing rules as we were so vividly reminded by the tragic fire at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. a few years ago. The New Canaan Fire Marshal’s Office would like to offer important fire safety tips to help keep these students safe for this new adventure:

Insure that each sleeping room is equipped with operable smoke detectors. 
Candles are a leading cause of campus fires – never burn candles or other open flame devices in dorm rooms or common areas. 
Never use extension cords in place of proper, permanent wiring. 
If given the choice, opt for a dorm/living quarters equipped with automatic fire sprinkler systems. 
Know ALL ways out of your room/dorm and, where each exit discharges.  Take a few minutes to walk the routes to familiarize yourself. 
In High-rise buildings, always have a means of re-entering your apartment if the hall becomes untenable (have room keys ready to go). 
Always follow all directions and guidelines of the school and participate if fire drills as directed. 
Learn your address so if you have to call 911 on your cell phone you can give the proper location. 
Learn the location of fire alarm pull stations and the sound of the alarm system. 
Never cook in your room – cooking related is another common cause of dorm fires. 

The New Canaan Fire Marshal’s Office wishes all young adults heading off to new frontiers a happy and Fire Safe future. If you have questions regarding fire safety please call us at 594-3030.

New Canaan Fire Marshal’s Fireworks Safety Tips

With warm weather and family events, the Fourth of July can be a fun time with great memories. Before your family celebrates this year, the New Canaan Fire Marshal’s Office wishes to make sure everyone knows about fireworks safety. Only sparklers and “shower” type fireworks are legal to sell and use in Connecticut. No aerial or exploding type fireworks are permitted to be sold or used in the state. (Go to the Family Fourth – you will see a tremendous professional show.)

Only persons 16 years and older may use the above fireworks.

New Canaan Fire Marshal Issues ‘Grill Safety’ Tips

At the first signs of warm weather many folks head directly to their barbecue grill to start that greatest of summertime traditions, grilling. (Or, if you are like me it never stops). To ensure everyone can enjoy their backyard bistros unencumbered by unfortunate mishaps, following is a list of steps you can take to avoid being “well done”:

Make sure that your grill is serviced and cleaned annually, following manufacturers instructions for care and use. Leak check all hoses and fittings on gas grill with a dish detergent and water solution. If any “bubbling” appears, have the grill serviced by a certified technician.

New Canaan Fire Marshal: Change Your Clocks, Change Your Batteries

As it seems that this interminable winter will never end, we look for signs that better (i.e., warmer) weather is approaching. One of those is the beginning of Daylight Savings Time which starts this weekend, officially at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 10. (Remember “Spring ahead – Fall back.”)

In concert with the nationwide campaign “Change Your Clocks—Change Your Batteries,” the New Canaan Fire Department wants to remind everyone to change the batteries in your smoke detectors and CO alarms. 

“There is no greater tragedy than one that could have been prevented.” I can’t take credit for this statement, however, I could not agree more and the tragedy of home fires with the devastation they create is a perfect example. And when the prevention is as easy as installing and maintaining smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors, it becomes more ironic. 

Thanks to generous donations by New Canaan Fire Fighters, Local 3224, free batteries will be offered to New Canaan residents (three per household, please) at Fire Headquarters on Main Street from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 9. Residents who are unable to change their own batteries may call fire headquarters at 203-594-3140 to arrange for fire fighters to come to your residence for assistance.

New Canaan Fire Marshal Issues Carbon Monoxide Safety Tips

As the temperature drops top some of the coldest temps this season it is a good time to ensure that carbon monoxide or ‘CO’ detectors are installed and properly working. The New Canaan Fire Department has responded within the past two weeks and dealt with homes that contained elevated levels of CO. One was from a fire place damper that was closed too early after a fire. Another was from a malfunctioning heating system. In both cases the homeowners were unaware and were alerted by their CO detectors.