NewCanaanite.com (https://newcanaanite.com/author/paul-payne/page/9)
In observance of Fire Prevention Week October 9th through October 15th, the New Canaan Fire Marshal’s Office offers the following Fire Safety Tips:
Install smoke detectors on all levels of your home. Check them monthly and replace the batteries annually. Store gasoline and propane tanks outside, not in garages or basements. Keep ovens and stoves grease free. Clutter can have disastrous consequences in a fire.
This month many young adults are preparing to travel to college. The student and parents carefully researched the school for the best academic experience. To this point parents have ensured their safety and security living within your home, now they will be asked to live on their own.
There is an annual average of 4,000 fires in college dormitories. Fire can occur with on-campus housing and off-campus housing. Over 80% of the college student fire fatalities occurred in off-campus housing.
Wildfires are any unplanned fires that burn in forests and other wild lands such as shrubs or grass communities. They are a powerful force we must understand and respect in order to best help control them. Nearly 9 out of 10 wildfires nationwide are caused by humans and could have been prevented.
The video above from Saturday July 30, 2022 is a fire on the westbound shoulder of Route I84 between exit 6 & 7. The fire was most likely caused by a lit cigarette thrown out of a car window. Due to the wind and the dry conditions the Forest Fire Danger level in Connecticut has been high for most of the summer.
Home fires can become a disaster if you and your family are not familiar with how to escape during an emergency. To design a fire escape plan sketch the floor plan of your home, indicate on the plan doors and windows from which you can escape from each 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. Make sure you have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
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 fire works. Always keep at least 30’ away from spectators and structures and strictly follow manufacturer’s instructions.