Carefully decorating your home can help make your holidays safer. Between 2009-2014, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 210 home fires that started with Christmas trees per year. U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 860 home structure fires per year that began with decorations, excluding Christmas trees.

Christmas trees

• Between 2011-2015, U.S. fire departments responded to an average 200 home fires that started with Christmas trees per year. These fires caused an average of 6 deaths, 16 injuries, and $14.8 million in direct property damage annually.
• On average, one of every 32 reported home fires that began with a Christmas tree resulted in a death, compared to an average of one death per 143 total reported home fires.
• Electrical distribution or lighting equipment was involved in two of every five (40%) of home Christmas tree fires.
• In one-quarter (26%) of the Christmas tree fires and in 80% of the deaths, some type of heat source, such as a candle or equipment, was too close to the tree.
• One quarter (24%) of Christmas tree fires were intentional.
• Forty-two percent of reported home Christmas tree fires occurred in December and 37% were reported in January.
• More than one-third (37%) home Christmas tree fires started in the living room, family room, or den.

Christmas Tree Burn Video

Holiday decorations

• U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 840 home structure fires per year that began with decorations, excluding Christmas trees, in 2011-2015. These fires caused an annual average of two civilian fire deaths, 36 civilian fire injuries and $11.4 million in direct property damage.
• Ten percent of decoration fires were intentional.
• The decoration was too close to a heat source such as a candle or equipment in two of every five (42%) fires.
• More than one-fifth (21%) of the decoration fires started in the kitchen. Fifteen percent started in the living room, family room or den.

Candles

• Candles started more than one-third (36%) of home decoration structure fires.
• More than half (55%) of the December home decoration fires were started by candles, compared to one-third (32%) in January to November.
• The top three days for home candle fires were Christmas, New Year’s Day, and New Year’s Eve.

Often called the invisible killer, carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas created when fuels (such as gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, propane, oil, and methane) burn incompletely. CO gas is poisonous, can make a person feel sick and in high enough concentrations can be deadly. In your home the heating and cooking equipment that burn fuel are all sources that cause dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.

How to prevent CO poisoning:

1. When warming a vehicle, move it out of the garage. Do not run a fueled engine indoors, even if garage doors are open. Make sure the exhaust pipe of a running vehicle is not blocked.

2. Clear snow away. During and after a snowstorm, make sure vents for the dryer, furnace, stove and fireplace are clear of snow build-up.

3. Clear all debris from dryer, furnace, stove, and fireplace vents.

4. Gas or charcoal grills can produce CO. Only use them outside.

5. Have heating equipment and chimneys inspected by a professional every year before cold weather sets in.

6. Open the damper when using a fireplace for adequate ventilation.

7. Never use your oven or stove to heat your home.

 

Carbon monoxide alarms:

1. CO alarms should be installed outside each sleeping area. Install alarms on every level of the home. It is best to use interconnected alarms. When one sounds, all CO alarms in the home sound.

2. Follow the instructions on the package to properly install the CO alarm.

3. Test CO alarms at least once a month.

4. Replace CO alarms according to the instructions on the package.

5. Know the sounds the CO alarm makes. It will sound if CO is detected. It will make a different sound if the battery is low or if it is time to get a new CO alarm. If the battery is low, replace it.

6. If the CO alarm sounds, you must get fresh air. Move outdoors, by an open window or near an open door. Make sure everyone in the home gets to fresh air. Call the fire department from a fresh air location. GET OUT AND STAY OUT until help arrives.

And as always, “LIKE” us on FACEBOOK and visit our SCVFD EVENTS PAGE

 

 

As we ‘fall back’ it’s important to remember that when you “Change your clock, change your batteries”. Working smoke detectors are critical to saving lives in the event of a fire. Take the time to change all batteries in your smoke detectors and test them for proper function.

And as always, “LIKE” us on FACEBOOK and visit our SCVFD EVENTS PAGE

From The Dominion Post:

STAR CITY — The Star City Volunteer Fire Department (SCVFD) has made a significant investment for the community this month.

In an effort to provide better care to those suffering cardiac emergencies in Star City and surrounding areas, SCVFD has purchased an AutoPulse Resuscitation System, also known as an automated CPR device. The SCVFD also purchased five new state-of-the-art monitors/defibrillators, which the agency’s EMS division will be using.

SCVFD invested about $25,000 per monitor/defibrillator, and an additional $25,000 for the AutoPulse Resuscitation System.

“This is the only device of its kind being used by fire departments in Monongalia County,” EMS administrator John Hitchens said.

And as always, “LIKE” us on FACEBOOK and visit our SCVFD EVENTS PAGE

Today is the beginning of Fire Prevention Week for 2017. The year’s theme is “Every Second Counts: Plan 2 Ways Out”. If you would like to visit our station during this important week in fire safety or at any time during the year feel free to contact the station at (304) 599-1539 9am-6pm or stop by any night between 6pm-10pm when we conduct our ‘duty crew’ activities. In the meantime there are steps YOU CAN TAKE TODAY to help protect yourself, your family and neighbors in the event of a fire.

In a fire, seconds count. Seconds can mean the difference between escaping safely from a fire or having tragedy strike.

• Draw a map of your home by USING THIS GRID with all members of your household, marking two exits from each room and a path to the outside from each exit.
• Practice your home fire drill AT LEAST twice a year. Conduct one at night and one during the day and practice using all the different ways out.
• Teach children how to escape on their own in case you can’t help them.
• Make sure the number of your home is clearly marked and easy for the fire department to find.
• “Stay low and go”, but close doors behind you as you leave if able to do so – this will slow the spread of smoke, heat, and fire.
• Once you GET OUTSIDE STAY OUTSIDE. Never go back inside a burning building.

And as always, “LIKE” us on FACEBOOK and visit our SCVFD EVENTS PAGE

Today FF Tyler Anderson and FF Zach Karn climbed over 190 flights of steps in memory of our 343 brother firefighters and all others that lost their lives 16 years ago. It goes without saying that heroes never die and that we as an emergency services community will never forget. Rest easy brothers.

FF Anderson climbed this year for Captain Terence S. Hatton. Captain Hatton served as the OIC with FDNY Rescue Company 1 during the attacks on the World Trade Center.

FF Karn climbed this year for Firefighter Christopher Blackwell of FDNY Rescue Company 3.

And as always, “LIKE” us on FACEBOOK and visit our SCVFD EVENTS PAGE