New Canaan Fire Marshal: Thanksgiving Safety

The greatest number of home cooking fires occur on Thanksgiving, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Unattended cooking is by far the leading contributor in cooking fires. Keeping fire safety top of mind in the kitchen during this joyous but hectic time is important, especially when there’s a lot of activity and people at home. As you start preparing your holiday schedule and organizing that large family feast, remember, by following a few simple safety tips you can enjoy time with your loved ones and keep yourself and your family safe from fire. Top safety tips

Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stove top so you can keep an eye
on the food.

New Canaan Fire Marshal on College Fire Safety 

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.

New Canaan Fire Marshal: Brush Fire Danger This Summer [VIDEO]



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.

Fire Marshal: Two Brush Fires Over Weekend

This past weekend, New Canaan experienced two brush fires, the first was at Bristow Sanctuary on Old Stamford Road. This was caused by a small campfire that got out of control due to gusting winds. The second was at a residence on Valley Road. This fire was caused by a resident burning brush that again got out of control due to the gusting winds. While campfires are not permitted in Bristow Sanctuary at any time, the New Canaan Fire Department was not issuing open burning permits due to the high forest fire danger.

Fire Marshal on Residential Oil Tanks and Oil System Maintenance

The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection recommends that homeowners play an active role in ensuring that their oil system is properly maintained on an annual basis. They also give helpful tips on how to evaluate the health of their oil system. Residential home heating oil tanks can be found:

In a home’s basement
Outside, above ground, near the house
Buried in close proximity to the house

Annual Service; service boiler, oil line and visual inspection of the tank. Indoor tanks rust from the inside out. Insure oil lines have a protective sleeve 
Inspect tank legs for damage
Check for leaks at filters and valves, look for drips
Examine gauge for leaks and cracks
Check the condition of the oil tank.