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New Canaan Fire Marshal: Make Your Thanksgiving Dinner Safer

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[Paul Payne is the New Canaan fire marshal.]
From stuffing to brining to leftovers, everyone has a favorite Thanksgiving turkey menu. As you plan your holiday meal, follow these turkey tips from the New Canaan Fire Marshal’s office. They will help you keep your Thanksgiving dinner delicious and safe. Cooking is the biggest cause of home fires and fire injuries, and Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires. So there’s no better time to focus on safety.

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New Canaan Fire Marshal: Fireplace Safety

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New Canaan has experienced two brush fires in the past week due to improper disposal of fireplace ashes. With all of Connecticut being under “Extreme Fire Risk,” it is important that we properly dispose of fireplace embers/ashes. The following are some useful fireplace safety tips as we move into the fall and winter fireplace season:

Ashes may contain hot embers for several days.  If cleaning is required, always use a metal ash bucket with a tight sealing lid. These buckets are available at most hardware or home improvement stores. Place the bucket away from the house and other combustible material for several days before disposing.

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New Canaan Fire Marshal: Carbon Monoxide Safety

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More than 150 people in the U.S. die every year from accidental non-fire-related carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide or CO is a colorless and odorless gas. CO poisoning can occur when a fuel-burning appliance or machine, such as a furnace, heater or generator, is not working or vented properly. Breathing in CO at high levels can be fatal. Learn what you can do to protect your family from the dangers of CO:

Install and maintain CO alarms inside your home to provide early warning of CO.

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New Canaan Fire Marshal: Halloween Safety Tips

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Halloween is a fun and spooky time of year for kids. Make trick-or-treating safe for your children with a few easy safety tips:

When choosing a costume stay away from long, trailing fabric. If your child is wearing a mask, make sure the eye holes are large enough to see out. 
Provide children with flashlights to carry or use glow sticks as part of their costume. 
Dried flowers, corn stalks and crepe paper catch fire easily. Keep all decorations away from open flames and heat sources like light bulbs and heaters. 
Use a battery operated candle or glow stick in pumpkins. If you use a real candle, use extreme caution.

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Fire Marshal: ‘Fire Prevention Week’ Starts Oct. 6

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Since 1922, the NFPA has sponsored the public observance of Fire Prevention Week. In 1925, President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed Fire Prevention Week a national observance, making it the longest-running public health observance in our country. During Fire Prevention Week, children, adults, and teachers learn how to stay safe in case of a fire. Firefighters provide lifesaving public education in an effort to drastically decrease casualties caused by fires. Fire Prevention Week is observed each year during the week of October 9th in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire, which began on October 8, 1871, and caused devastating damage.