News

New Canaan Fire Marshal: Fire Pit Safety

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[Paul Payne is New Canaan’s fire marshal.]

Enjoying a fire outdoors can be a wonderful way to gather with family and friends, but even a small fire can become dangerous when conditions or safety practices are overlooked. Before lighting your fire pit, chiminea, or campfire, please review these important guidelines from our New Canaan Fire Marshal’s office. Following these precautions helps protect your home, your neighbors, and our community while allowing everyone to safely enjoy an outdoor fire. 

 No building permit is required unless a permanent structure and/or lap or natural gas is installed. A burning permit is not required however the same rules would apply; Burning will not be permitted if the Forest Fire Danger is rated high, very high or extreme and/or high wind days. When the air quality index is high according to the DEEP no burning will be allowed.

News

New Canaan Fire Marshal: Stand-by Generator Hazards

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[Paul Payne is the New Canaan fire marshal.]

As we continue to deal with the aftermath of the July 4th storm, it is a good time to review generator safety. Past experiences show that many residents have generators at their homes that if not installed and used properly can pose a serious threat. The primary hazard is carbon monoxide or ‘CO’ poisoning from the toxic engine exhaust.  

Following is a list of do’s and don’ts for portable and stationary generator use and installation:

Make sure that a building permit has been obtained from the Building Department for the installation of a standby generator. When choosing generator location, make sure it is located a minimum of 10 feet from any building opening (windows, doors etc.). Close all windows adjacent to the generator to prevent toxic fumes from entering the home.

News

Fire Marshal: CO Incidents in New Canaan

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[Paul Payne is the New Canaan fire marshal.]

In the recent weeks there have been multiple carbon monoxide incidents in New Canaan. Here is some general information from our Fire Marshal’s Office concerning carbon monoxide safety for you, your family and friends. Carbon Monoxide or ‘CO’ safety relies on a system involving:  

Ensuring that you have functioning CO detectors on all floors of your residence  
Avoiding running gas-powered equipment inside or near the residence 
Evacuating the residence if the CO Detector activates and then calling 911 for NCFD response.  

Carbon monoxide is a byproduct of incomplete combustion and is dangerous to health when someone is exposed to elevated readings. It is odorless and colorless, and without a carbon monoxide eetector you will not know that you have been exposed to CO until you present with symptoms.  

If you are exposed to high levels of CO it can lead to unconsciousness and even death. The symptoms of CO exposure are:

Headache 
Nausea
Dizziness / Light Headedness 
Fatigue

There are a few things that you can do to protect yourself:

Install CO Detectors on every level of your home 

Read the instructions, as larger homes may require more than one detector per floor.

News

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

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This year, Daylight Savings Time begins on Sunday, March 8th at 2 a.m. (Remember “Spring Forward – Fall Behind.”)
In concert with the nationwide  “Change Your Clocks – Change Your Batteries,” the New Canaan Fire Department and the New Canaan Fire Marshal’s Office also want to remind everyone to change the batteries in your smoke detectors. By being proactive this also helps avoid that annoying “chirp” that inevitably starts at 2 in the morning. Also, if you have an alarm system, having annual servicing to ensure proper operation is vital. 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. If you have a security system with integrated smoke detectors, residents are reminded that these systems require annual maintenance as well.

News

New Canaan Fire Marshal: Forest and Brush Fire Prevention

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This office, in conjunction with the upcoming National Fire Prevention Week, would like to reiterate the importance of the tips the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has put forth in an effort to increase awareness and prevention of Forest and Brush Fires. For New Canaan specific information, please contact the Fire Marshal’s Office at 203-540-3030. 

When visiting our state or community parks, remember the following when creating a campfire:  

Obey local laws regarding open fires, including campfires.  
Keep all flammable objects away from fire. Scrape away leaves, twigs, and grass within a 10-foot diameter circle from fire.  
Have firefighting tools nearby and handy.  
Never leave a fire unattended.  
Carefully dispose of hot charcoal. 
Drown all fires. 

Equally important are the steps you can take to protect your home from the possibility of starting or being involved in a wildfire scenario:  

Make a fire safe zone around your house. 
Clean flammable vegetation and debris from at least 30 feet around the house and any outbuildings.  
Prune away the lower limbs of evergreens that are within the fire safe zone. Evergreens catch fire easily during dry periods and burn quickly.  Remove any limbs which overhang the roof or chimney.  
Regularly remove leaves and needles from gutters.  
Do not store firewood in the fire safe zone.  
Use fire resistant roofing materials.  Make sure firefighters can find and access your home. Mark your house and roads clearly, and prune away limbs and trees along your driveway which do not allow fire truck access.  
Have an escape plan and practice it.  
Follow state and local open burning laws.  
Stay with outside fires until they are completely safe and dead out.