Fire Prevention_Safety.pptx

Fire Prevention/Safety Top Safety Tips 1. Working smoke alarms reduce the chances of dying in a fire by nearly 50 percent. They are a critical first step for staying safe, but in order to be effective, they have to be working properly. For the best protection, install smoke alarms on every level of...

Fire Prevention/Safety Top Safety Tips 1. Working smoke alarms reduce the chances of dying in a fire by nearly 50 percent. They are a critical first step for staying safe, but in order to be effective, they have to be working properly. For the best protection, install smoke alarms on every level of your home and in every sleeping area. 2. Consider installing a smoke alarm that has a 10-year battery. 3. Keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything that can burn, and always blow them out when you leave the room or before you go to sleep. Teach older kids not to use candles in their bedrooms, unless supervised by an adult. 4. Use common sense in the kitchen. Limit distractions when cooking and don’t leave a hot oven or stovetop unattended. 5. Have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen in case of emergency, and make sure you know how it works. You might be surprised that most people don’t know how to use one. 6. At this point, preteens and teens should know how to respond to the sound of a smoke alarm. But it never hurts to make sure. Make sure they know to get low and get out when they hear it. 7. Practice feeling the door, doorknob and cracks around the door with the back of your hand to see if they are too hot. Help your children practice this step. 8. Together, have your family plan and practice a home fire escape plan with two ways out of your house in case of a fire. It is important to have an alternate exit in case one is blocked by fire. 9. Choose a place to meet outside that is a safe distance away from your home. 10. If you cannot safely escape your home or apartment, keep smoke out of the room by covering vents and cracks around the door and call 911 or your fire department as quickly as possible. Then signal for help at the window with a light-colored cloth or a flashlight. Fire and Burn Hazards Cigarette smoking, especially combined with drugs and alcohol. Cooking — contact with stoves or other appliances; hot liquids or grease while serving or cooking food, including job-related. Flammable substances — gasoline, including use in car, storage in garage, use to start fire; explosive chemicals. Burn from mechanical equipment — burns from exhaust, radiator, battery or welding on cars or motorcycles; gasoline; mini-bikes and lawn mowers. Clothing ignition from careless smoking or cooking. Smoke and gas inhalation from fire. Outdoor hazards — utility poles and high-tension wires; sunburn; fireworks. Fires in Texas 2010 In 2022, Texas fire departments reported 91,904 fires thru the Texas Fire Incident Reporting System (TEXFIRS). As a result of these fires, ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ 157 civilians lost their lives 18 fire service members lost their lives 441 civilians were injured 454 fire service members were injured $1,361,966,109 in property loss was realized. In 2022, there were ○ ○ ○ ○ 31,140 structure fires 13,864 vehicle fires 69,930 ‘other’ fires (grass, brush, etc) 1,266 natural disaster and severe weather calls regarding fires The Smokehouse Creek Fire of 2024 West Texas Fire Wildfires in Texas In 2022 there were 12,11 wildfires, burning 650,712 acres In 2021 there were 6,039 wildfires, burning 158,612 acres In 2020 there were 7,233 wildfires, burning 256,750 acres Wildfire Prevention Nationally, almost 9 out of 10 wildfires are caused by humans. These preventable wildfires threaten lives, property and our precious natural resources. Check weather and drought conditions Pay close attention to weather and drought conditions, which can affect the flammability of vegetation. Avoid any activities that involve fire or sparks when it’s hot, dry and windy. If the conditions aren’t right, choose non-flammable options. Remember, conditions and local restrictions should guide your decision for any fire-related activity such as building a campfire, operating equipment, off-roading on dry grass, or burning debris. Build your campfire in an open location and far from flammables To build a campfire safely, make sure you: Select a flat, open location away from flammable materials such as logs, brush or decaying leaves and needles Scrape away grass, leaves and needles down to the mineral soil Cut wood in short lengths, pile it within the cleared area and the light the fire. Stay with your fire Extinguish it completely before leaving Douse your campfire until it’s cold Make sure your campfire is completely out by following the steps below: 1. 2. 3. 4. Douse the fire with at least one bucket of water Stir it Add another bucket of water Stir it again Your campfire should be cold to the touch before you leave Keep vehicles off dry grass If you are off-roading, remember that your exhaust can reach temperatures of 1,000+ degrees! So, avoid driving or parking over dry grass. Regularly maintain your equipment and vehicle Vehicles and equipment can shoot sparks from their exhaust, particularly vehicles that haven’t received regular maintenance Whether it’s a car, truck, or OHV (off-highway vehicle), make sure your vehicle is current on all mechanical checkups and suited for off-road adventures Practice Vehicle Safety Carry a shovel, bucket and a fire extinguisher in your vehicle to put out fires. Off-highway vehicles must have a spark arrester. You should also carry a bucket, but you could also use a helmet or anything else to carry water Check your tires, bearings and axles on your trailer If you’re towing a trailer, please remember to do a maintenance check to ensure the tires are not worn, the bearings and axles are greased, and safety chains are properly in place and not dragging on the ground. Keep sparks away from dry vegetation Make sure you never operate equipment that produces sparks near dry vegetation. Always clear the area around your workspace. This area should be even larger if it is windy and dry. Create clearing where all flammables have been removed. The width or radius of the clearing will vary with the conditions from 10-25 feet. Check conditions and regulations before you use fireworks or consider safe alternatives Fireworks start of 19,000 fires and send over 9,000 people to the ER each year in the United States Check your local, federal, state and city regulations before using fireworks. States, counties and cities may have different laws and regulations, so a little bit of research could save you the cost of an improper fireworks use penalty, or worse - the cost of fighting a wildfire Cautiously burn debris and never when it’s windy or restricted Sometimes people burn trash, leaves, agricultural waste, or other materials. If you plan to burn debris on your private property, make sure you have water nearby (such as a garden hose) and NEVER burn anything if it’s windy Once your burn is completed, be sure to “mop up” the ashes with water and stirring Wildfires often start from “holdover” debris piles that were not extinguished, days or even weeks after they were burned. There may be burning restrictions in your area, so contact your local fire authority for more information and debris burning tips