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New Canaan Fire Marshal: Change Clocks, Check Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms

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[Paul Payne is the New Canaan fire marshal.]

As daylight saving time comes to an end, New Canaan Fire Services reminds residents to use the time change on Sunday, November 1, as an opportunity to check their home fire safety devices and ensure their families are protected. Changing the clocks is a great reminder to test smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms and replace batteries when needed. Working alarms provide an early warning that can save lives by giving residents valuable time to escape a fire or dangerous carbon monoxide exposure. Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are essential components of home safety. Taking a few minutes to test your alarms, replace batteries when needed, and make sure the devices are working properly can make a lifesaving difference.

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Warrant: Man, 25, Stole FedEx Delivery of $102,000 in Gold Coins

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Police on Oct. 14 arrested a 25-year-old Queens, N.Y. man by warrant in connection with the theft of more than $100,000 in gold coins from a New Canaan home, court records show. FedEx delivered the coins in two boxes to a South Avenue house on a Tuesday afternoon in June, but the delivery driver obtained a fraudulent signature from the man posing as the homeowner and person who had ordered them from the U.S. Gold Bureau, according to an arrest warrant application obtained by NewCanaanite.com. 

That happened June 2, and the victim contacted police June 6, according to an Aug. 31 arrest warrant application submitted by then-Officer (now Sgt.) Kelly Coughlin, signed Sept. 9 by state Superior Court judge Colleen Zingaro.

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Fire Chief: No Injuries or Illnesses Following Freon Leak at St. Luke’s

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New Canaan firefighters teamed up with multiple emergency response agencies Tuesday to address a reported freon leak at St. Luke’s School, officials say. At about 8:27 a.m., a building at the North Wilton Road private school’s campus was evacuated at the direction of the New Canaan Fire Department, according to a press release issued by Fire Chief William Perritt. The New Canaan Police Department, New Canaan Emergency Medical Services and Fairfield County Haz Mat Team responded to the scene, where “NCFD members entered the building wearing personal protective equipment and self-contained breathing apparatus to use meters to monitor the air,” the press release said. “Members located the leak in the ceiling of a classroom and monitored the area with meters,” Perritt said in the release.

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New Canaan Fire Marshal on Electrical Safety This Halloween

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[Paul Payne is the New Canaan fire marshal.]

Halloween decorations, inflatable displays, animated figures, fog machines, and decorative lighting can make the holiday memorable. However, improper installation or use can create electrical hazards. Outdoor equipment may be exposed to rain and damp conditions, and cords across walkways can pose tripping risks for residents and trick-or-treaters. The New Canaan Fire Marshal’s Office urges residents to make electrical safety part of their Halloween plans. 

Use GFCI Protection Outdoors 

Ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection helps reduce the risk of electrical shock by interrupting power when an imbalance is detected. Use GFCI-protected outlets or a properly rated GFCI cord set for outdoor decorations.

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Man, 27, Charged After Leaving Scene of Crash

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Police last week arrested a 27-year-old Stamford man and charged him with evading responsibility in connection with a car crash last month. At about 11:43 p.m. on Sept. 23 (a Wednesday), officers responded to the area of West and Hemlock Hill Roads on a report of a single-car crash, police said. There, officers found a car that had struck a utility pole, according to a police report. Its driver had left the scene, the report said.