We have all been there – driving to an unfamiliar area and trying to find an unfamiliar address. If house/street numbers are clearly displayed you can find your destination fairly easily. If there is no street number clearly visible, how do you know if you are at the right place? This sounds like a simple question but, in an emergency, it can be the difference between life and death. House numbers are not only convenient but critical for emergency responders to locate those in need.
This year daylight savings time comes early on Sunday March 10, 2024 at 2:00 AM. In concert with the nation wide “Change Your Clocks – Change Your Batteries” campaign the New Canaan Fire Marshal’s Office and New Canaan Fire Department want to remind everyone that this is the time to change the batteries in your smoke detectors. On Saturday, March 9, 2024 fire fighters will again be offering free batteries to New Canaan residents (3 per household please) at Fire Headquarters at 60 Main Street from 9:00 am-5:00 pm. Additionally, residents who are unable to change their own batteries due to age or disability may call the Fire Department at
203-594-3140 to arrange for fire fighters to come to your residence for assistance. Due to the high occurrence of false alarms plaguing the department the
New Canaan Fire Department would like to take this opportunity to remind residents with automatic fire alarm systems to please have them serviced by certified alarm technicians. This will ensure proper operation and help us to reduce false alarms.
If anyone has any questions or concerns about these or other fire safety topics pleased contact the New Canaan Fire Marshal’s Office at 203-594-3030.
Home fires can become a disaster if you and your family are not familiar with how to escape during an emergency. The first step is to design a fire escape plan:
Sketch a floor plan of your home, indicate on the plan doors and windows from which you can escape from each room. Identify at least 2 ways out of every room. Designate a meeting place outside of the home where family members should meet once they have safely escaped. Practice your fire escape plan; regular exit drills in the home will allow you to test the plan and make adjustments as needed.
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 from December 30th-January 8th where it will be recycled and used to resurface the trails at the Nature Center. This is a joint effort between the Town and Planet New Canaan.
Batteries are unsung heroes. While we turn them on to power everything from flashlights to remote controls to cars, we think about them only when they need to be replaced.
If you have batteries you are not using, you want to be sure that you know where they are and that they’re in good working condition once you need them.
In order to store your batteries correctly, you should keep them in their original packaging or place them in a plastic container; never store batteries inside equipment. Keep batteries in a cool location with low humidity and make sure they are aligned in the same direction. If possible, use plastic caps to prevent corrosion.
Lastly, be sure to separate old and new batteries from each other.
How to Store Batteries in a Safe Way
Whatever kind of batteries you need to store, the following guidelines should help you keep them in good condition for as long as possible. However, keep in mind all battery types have different shelf lives, even when kept under the best conditions.
How Long Does an Unused Battery Last?
Most unused alkaline batteries will last between five and 10 years, while Ni-MH (nickel metal hydride) batteries have a shelf life of three to five years of non-use.
