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New Canaan Fire Marshal: Spontaneous Combustion

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[Paul Payne is the New Canaan fire marshal.]
Last week, a New Canaan residence experienced a fire caused by spontaneous combustion. The spontaneous combustion, or spontaneous ignition in this case, happened after an employee applied an oil based product to outdoor wood furniture. Upon completion of the day’s work, the oily rags, sponges and brushes were placed in a plastic bucket in the corner of an outbuilding on the property. When he arrived to complete task the following morning, he found the entire area burned and charred from floor to ceiling. Spontaneous combustion most often occurs when a flammable material (oil, stain, gasoline or other solvents) comes into contact with a combustible object such as a rag, towel or drop cloth.

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New Canaan Fire Marshal: Grilling Safety

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Outdoor grilling remains one of the most popular ways to cook food. A grill placed close to anything that can burn is a fire hazard. Over 10,000 home fires are started by grills on a yearly average. 64% of all U.S. households own at least one outdoor bbq, grill or smoker. 

Propane and charcoal BBQ grills should only be used outdoors. 
Never leave your grill unattended. 
Grills should be placed well away from the home, deck railings and out from under eaves and overhanging branches. 
Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the grill area. 
Clean your grill by removing grease or fat buildup from the grills and in trays below the grill. 
Always make sure your gas grill lid is open before lighting it. 

Charcoal Grills 

There are several ways to get the charcoal ready to use. Charcoal chimney starters allow you to start the charcoal using newspaper as a fuel. 
If you use a starter fluid, use only charcoal starter fluid.

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New Canaan Fire Marshal: Taking Down Christmas Trees 

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[Paul Payne is the New Canaan fire marshal.]

Taking down the Christmas tree isn’t nearly as much fun as putting it up. But the longer a tree stays up, the greater a fire hazard it becomes. All Christmas trees can burn, but a dried-out tree can become engulfed in flames in a matter of seconds. In a year where many people began decorating their homes earlier than usual, trees have been in homes longer than usual, presenting an increased risk of fire as the days go by. 

When Christmas is over or the tree begins to drop needles, dispose of it. 
Do not leave it in the house or store it in the garage. 
Never burn a tree in the fireplace or wood stove. 
To dispose of your tree, it can be taken to the Steve Benko pool in Waveny Park through Jan. 12 where it will be recycled and used to resurface the trails at the Nature Center.

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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.