Transcript Medford Fire Prevention Bureau

Foster Care Fire Safety
Medford Fire-Rescue Fire & Life Safety Division
Foster Care
Fire Safety Training
What Will You Learn From This?
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Case Studies of Fire Tragedies
Fire Statistics
Fire Behavior
Challenges of Foster Homes
OAR’s
Emergency Planning
Fire Prevention
Purpose?
• To reduce the risk of tragedy
Challenges to
Provider/Caregiver
Huge Responsibility and Liability
• 3 minutes to evacuate all occupants
• 1:5+ caregiver to occupant ratio
• Increasing care needs of occupants
What About Fire?
• Discovering a fire
• Calling 911
• Deciding if you should fight the fire
• How to react to a fire emergency
• Who to evacuate first
• Who to protect in place
• Getting through the smoke and heat
Medford Foster Home Structure
Fire History - Victims
January 30, 1985
Medford Foster Home Structure
Fire History - Victims
January 30, 1985
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2 elderly residents died
Reported: 6:34 AM
Single story wood framed house
Husband and wife caretakers normally slept outside of the
home at night in a travel trailer
Smoke detectors awakened caretaker who that morning
came in and fell asleep on the couch in the family room
She saw flames from the upper part of the kitchen/dining
room area utility closet
There was a delay in calling 911 (approx. 15 minutes)
The cause of the fire was an electrical problem in a forcedair heating unit
The house contained two working smoke detectors
Medford Foster Home Structure
Fire History - Victims
January 12, 1995
Medford Foster Home Structure
Fire History - Victims
January 12, 1995
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4 elderly residents died
Reported: 11:34 PM
Single story wood framed house
Fire Department reported upon arrival 25% of the structure
in flames and heavy smoke coming from all openings
Two people exited prior to FD arrival-one was the caregiver
The fire originated in a chair of a smoking room
The caretaker admitted to drinking alcohol and falling
asleep. She was awakened when she heard an “explosion”
Oxygen cylinders ruptured accelerating the burning
The house contained 8 smoke detectors-all working except
one with a missing battery
Medford Foster Home Structure
Fire History - Victims
For one week the daughter watched their mother slowly die
because of complications from smoke inhalation. Their
mother pleaded the day before she died:
“I hurt so bad, please help me”
Her daughter stated:
“You cannot watch your mother going through the agony
she did for a week and not be angry”
U.S. Statistics – Home Fires
2010 Statistics
– 384,000 home fires in the U.S.
– 2,665 lives lost not including firefighters
» 92% of structure fire deaths were in homes
Purdue Fire
– 13,800 injured not including firefighters
» 86% of civilian fire injuries were in home structure fires
– $7.1 billion dollars lost in residential fires
» 68% of direct property losses due to fire were in homes
– On average 100 firefighters die annually
» 92% of structure fire firefighter fire ground fatalities were
associated with home fires
Smoking is the Leading Cause of Fire-related Deaths
Cooking is the Primary Cause of Residential Fires
2010 Medford
Structural Fire Statistics
Structure Fires by Type:
• 80% Residential
• 20% Commercial
2010 Medford
Structural Fire Statistics
Residential Structure Fires by Type:
• 67% Single Family Residence
• 10% Duplex
• 18% Multi-Family
2010 Residential Fire Statistics
Time of Alarm:
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5% between 12:00 AM and 3:59 AM
1.5% between 4:00 AM and 7:59 AM
17% between 8:00 AM and 11:59 AM
30% between 12:00 PM and 3:59 PM
35% between 4:00 PM and 7:59 PM
11.5% between 8:00 PM and 11:59 PM
2010 Residential Fire Statistics
Areas of Origin:
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33% kitchens
8% courtyard, patio, porch
7% bedrooms
7% common rooms (living room, den, family room)
6% laundry areas
Causes:
• 80% unintentional
• 15% intentional
• 5% undetermined
Initial Ignition Heat Sources:
• 12% radiated/conducted heat from operating equipment
• 12% from powered equipment
• 12% heat from hot ember or ash
2010 Residential Fire Statistics
Smoke Alarms:
• 53% present and alerted the residents
• 35% did not alert or were not present
Medford Fire Deaths
Medford Fatalities-Since 1981
31 out of 33 in Residential Occupancies
Average Annual Fire Death Rate = 12.7 per million (Since 1990)
# of Fatalities
5
4
4
3
3
3
3
2
2
1
1
0 0
2
1
1
0 0 0
0
2
2
2
# of Fatalities
1 1 1
0
0 0
0
0 0 0 0
19
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
2099
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
10
0
4
Year
Most Fire Deaths:
• Are caused from smoke inhalation
• Occur between midnight and 8:00 AM
National Residential Fire
Statistics-Primary Victims
Young Children and Older Adults
• 2-4 times more likely to die in a fire than general
population
Source: NFPA
National Residential Fire
Statistics-Primary Victims
Young Children
• Often hide during fires
• May sleep through a sounding smoke alarm
Older Adults
• May suffer from reduced sensory abilities such as
smell, touch, vision, and hearing
- Inability to smell smoke
- Inability to feel if something is hot
- Inability to see fires or notice fire causes
- Inability to hear smoke alarms or fire sounds
• May suffer from disabilities
• Have reduced reaction times
Source: USFA
Fire Behavior
Why 3 minutes?
• Studies have shown that the average safe
window of escape time has been reduced from
17 minutes in the 1970’s to as little as three
minutes currently.
• This change is attributed to the widespread use
of hydrocarbons in modern furniture, such as
polyurethane foams and plastics.
• These newer fuels cause more rapid fire
growth.
• Smoke and products of combustion from these
fires become deadly in a matter of just a few
minutes.
The Facts-Flashover
Residents Do Not Survive Flashover
• Caused when the fire spreads very
rapidly when all combustible items in
a room reach their ignition
temperatures simultaneously
• Flashover can occur in as little as 3-4
minutes1
• Post-flashover fires triple the number
of victims2
• Most victims in post-flashover fires
are found remote from the room
of origin2
Flashover
Fire Behavior
Fire Behavior
Side-by-Side Bedroom Burn Demonstration
Test Fire-Without Sprinklers
Sources: National Fire Sprinkler Association
Test Fire-Without Sprinklers
Temp.
OF
1400
3” Below Ceiling
60” Above Floor
36” Above Floor
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
0
60
120
180
240
Time (sec.)
300
360
420
Sources: National Fire Sprinkler Association
Test Fire-Without Sprinklers
4000
Carbon Monoxide

3000
PPM
A concentration of as little as
0.04% (400 parts per million)
carbon monoxide in the air can be
fatal.
2000
1000
0
0
60
120
180
240
Time (sec.)
300
360
420
Sources: National Fire Sprinkler Association
Test Fire-With Sprinklers
Temp.
OF
140
3” Below Ceiling
60” Above Floor
36” Above Floor
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
0
60
Time (sec.)
120
180
240
Sources: National Fire Sprinkler Association
Test Fire-With Sprinklers
4000
Carbon Monoxide
3000
PPM
2000
1000
0
0
60
Time (sec.)
120
180
Sources: National Fire Sprinkler Association
The FactsFurnishings & Fuel Loads
Heat Release Rates (HRR)
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Small wastebasket
TV set
Cotton mattress
Polyurethane mattress
Cotton easy chair
Polyurethane easy chair
Polyurethane sofa
Armchair (modern)
Recliner (synthetic padding/covering)
Christmas tree, dry
Pool of gasoline (2 quarts on concrete)
Living room or bedroom fully involved
(Btu/sec)
4-142
114-275
38-921
768-2495 (+271-2025%)
275-351
1281-1888 (+466-538%)
2960
332-711
474-949
474-617
949
2846-9487
Sources: NFPA 921; Kirk’s Fire Investigation
The FactsFurnishings & Fuel Loads
12'-0"
Dresser
Bed
4'-0"
12'-0"
Bedroom
Desk
Polyurethane
Mattress
768-2495 Btu/sec
11-23’ flame height
TV
114-275 Btu/sec
5-10’ flame height
Wastebasket
4-142 Btu/sec
1-7’ flame height
Desk Chair
142-237 Btu/sec
7-9’ flame height
2'-6"
Minimum 497.3 Btu/sec HRR required for flashover in this typical bedroom
Sources: NFPA 921; Kirk’s Fire Investigation
Fire Behavior
Video: UL Legacy vs. Modern Furnishings
A small
fire
starts in
your
home
0
Smoke
reaches
the
smoke
detector
1
Ceiling
temp.
reaches
165
degrees.
Smoke
begins to
layer
down
2
3
Ceiling
temp.
reaches
1,000
degrees,
visibility is
reduced
to zero
4
Ceiling temp
reaches 1,400
degrees.
Flashover
occurs
engulfing all
contents of the
fire room and
extending fire
throughout
home
5
The fire room and all contents are
completely destroyed. Heat damage
extends throughout the entire house,
burning or melting all items within 5 feet
of the ceiling. Smoke has blackened all
contents of the house. Windows and roof
vent holes must be boarded-up. All
drywall will need to be replaced and all
contents replaced or restored. Extensive
water damage exists from firefighting
efforts. Average time of displacement...6
months to a year.
10
15
20
Time Line (minutes)
You are
awakened
by the
smoke
detector
You
investigate
and find a
fire
You
awaken
other
family
members
and go to
a neighbor
to call 911
You give
The fire
the 911
dept.
operator
responds
the
information
and she
notifies the
fire dept.
The fire dept. arrives, assesses the situation
& applies 250 gpm to fire areas. Windows
are broken and holes are cut in the roof to
vent fire gases and smoke.
Your Fire Scenario
Source: Oregon Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition
A small
fire
starts in
your
home
0
Smoke
reaches
the
smoke
detector
1
Ceiling
temp.
reaches 165
degrees.
The fire
sprinkler
head over
the fire
activates
2
3
4
Fire damage is limited to the objects in or
near the initial fire. Heat damage is
limited to the fire room. Heavy smoke
damage is limited to the fire room. Water
damage is limited to the sprinkler flow of
15 gpm (approx. 150 gal total). Average
time of displacement from home...1-2
days.
Fire is
controlled or
completely
extinguished.
Sprinkler head
continues to
spray water at
15 gpm.
5
10
15
20
Time Line (minutes)
You are
awakened
by the
smoke
detector
You
investigate
and find a
fire
You
awaken
other
family
members
and go to
a neighbor
to call 911
You give
The fire
the 911
dept.
operator
responds
the
information
and she
notifies the
fire dept.
The fire dept. arrives, assesses the situation
and limits water damage by shutting down
the water supply to the sprinkler system.
The fire department then assists with initial
clean-up operations.
Sprinkler System Fire Scenario
Source: Oregon Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition
DHS Rules and Fire Safety
DHS Rules for Fire Safety
Orientation with 24 hours of arrival:
Applies to any new resident or caregiver
• How to respond to a smoke alarm
• How to participate in an emergency
evacuation drill
• Basic fire safety
Emergency Evacuation Plan
Written Emergency Plan:
• An emergency evacuation plan must be
developed, and revised as necessary to
reflect the current condition of the
residents in the home
• The plan must be rehearsed with all
occupants
Escape Plan Required
Emergency Evacuation Drills
Purpose of Fire Drills
• To be ready should an occurrence happen,
increasing the chanced of survival
• A disorganized evacuation can lead to
confusion, injury, death and property damage
DHS Rules for Fire Safety
Emergency Evacuation Fire Drills:
• The foster provider must be able to demonstrate the ability to
evacuate all residents in foster care from the home within 3
minutes
• Required unannounced at least once every 90 days
• Required at least one drill practice per year occurring during
sleeping hours
• Drills must occur at different times of the day, evening and night,
with exit routes being vartied based on the location of the
simulated fire
• All residents must participate in the evacuation drills.
• A new resident placed in foster care must receive orientation to
basic safety, be shown how to respond to a fire alarm, and shown
how to exit in an emergency
DHS Rules for Fire Safety
Emergency Evacuation Fire Drills:
• Alternate caregivers and other staff must be familiar with the
emergency evacuation plan
• Fire drill records must be retained for at least two years. Records
must contain the following information:
• Date and time
• Location of similated fire and exit route
• The last names of all individuals and providers present on the
premises at the time of the drill
• The type of evacuation assistance provided
• The amount of time required by each individual to evacuate
• The signature of the provider conducting the drill.
What the Oregon Fire Code Says
Self Preservation:
• The ability of building occupants to reach an approved
predetermined point of safety without physical assistance from
staff. Self preservation may be accomplished with the aid of
technical devices or assistance animals.
Assisted Self Preservation:
• The capability of a resident to evacuate to a point of safety
with physical assistance.
Point of Safety:
• Exterior to and away from the structure with access to a public
sidewalk or street.
What the Oregon Fire Code Says
Assisted Self Preservation:
• A Group R-3 residential occupancy, subject to licensure by
the state, where personal care is administered for five or
fewer persons, and whose occupants may require assisted selfpreservation shall be classified as a Group SR-3 occupancy
and shall comply with the provisions of Appendix SR.
• Group SR-3 occupancies require a residential sprinkler
system.
Home Fire Escape Drills
Plan Ahead and Practice!
• Establish a safe meeting place.
• Teach your children to crawl on the floor to avoid smoke and
heat. Show them how to feel the door with the back of their
hand and to not open the door if it is hot to the touch.
• Make sure you have two ways out of every sleeping room,
and that the windows can be opened easily. If the primary
route is blocked by smoke or fire, you may have to escape
through a window.
• Conduct a fire drill at night to determine your child’s
response, and practice until it becomes routine.
• Practice home escape drills with your family monthly.
• Sleep with bedroom doors closed to provide a barrier of
protection from smoke and heat spreading into your
bedrooms.
DHS Rules for Fire Safety
Smoke Alarms:
• Must be installed in each bedroom, adjacent hallways
leading to the bedrooms, common living areas, basements,
and at the top of every stairway in multi-story homes.
• Must be equipped with a device that warns of low battery
condition when battery operated. All smoke alarms are to
be maintained in functional condition.
• Must contain a sounding device or be interconnected to
other detectors to provide, when actuated, an alarm which
is audible in all sleeping rooms.
• Bedrooms used by hearing-impaired occupants who may
not hear the sound of a regular smoke alarm must be
equipped with an additional smoke alarm that has visual or
vibrating capacity.
Smoke Alarms are Essential
Smoke Alarms:
• Provide an early warning of a fire developing in your home
• Should be on every level of the home, in the immediate
area outside of the sleeping rooms, and in every bedroom
• Should be tested monthly
• Anyone that has a hearing disability should be
provided with a visual smoke alarm
• If you discover your child will not wake to a traditional
sounding alarm, consider installing a personalized parent
voice alarm
• Properly placed and maintained smoke alarms increase
your chances of surviving a fire by 50%
• Are missing or inoperable in 2/3 of deadly residential fires
DHS Rules for Fire Safety
Carbon Monoxide Detector:
• Must install at least one carbon monoxide
detector
Statistics:
• Responsible annually for an average of:
- Over 400 deaths per year
- Over 20,000 emergency room visits
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Carbon Monoxide Detectors:
• Are required when you have fuel-fired
appliances or any carbon monoxide source
• Includes door opening between living space
and garage
• Provide an early warning of a dangerous CO
concentrations developing in your home
• According to Oregon Administrative Rules,
should be located within each bedroom or
within 15 feet outside of each bedroom
door. Bedrooms on separate floors in a
structure containing two or more stories require
separate carbon monoxide alarms.
• Should be installed according to manufacturer’s
Carbon Monoxide
Safety measures:
• Never use portable fueled/unvented heaters in your home. These will
cause a CO buildup and may also deplete the oxygen to dangerously
low levels.
• Never use a gas oven to heat your home
• Never use charcoal or propane fueled barbeques indoors
• Never idle the car in the garage for extended periods of time or with
the garage door closed
• Never use a generator in your home
• Have your chimney checked or cleaned every year. Chimneys
blocked by debris can cause CO to build up inside your home or
cabin.
• Have your fuel-fired appliances inspected by a trained technician for
proper venting
DHS Rules for Fire Safety
Fire Extinguishers:
• At least one fire extinguisher, minimally rated
2:A:10:B:C, must be visible and readily
accessible on each floor, including basements.
• A qualified professional who is well versed in
fire extinguisher maintenance must inspect every
fire extinguisher at least once per year. All
recharging and hydrostatic testing must be
completed by a qualified entity properly trained
and equipped for this purpose.
How do I Use a Fire Extinguisher?
Proper extinguisher use, think “PASS”:
Pull trigger pin (Stand back several feet away from fire)
Aim low, point the nozzle at the base of the fire
Squeeze trigger
Sweep from side to side until the fire appears to be out
DHS Rules for Fire Safety
Bedrooms:
• Must be on ground level for individuals
who are non-ambulatory or have impaired mobility
• Must have at least one window or exterior door that readily
opens from the inside without special tools and that provides a
clear opening of not less than 821 square inches
(5.7 sq. ft.), with the least dimensions not less than 22 inches in
height or 20 inches in width.
• Window sill height must not be more than 44 inches from the
floor level or there must be approved steps or other aids to
window egress that may be used by individuals. Windows with
a clear opening of not less than 5.0 square feet or 720 square
inches with sill heights of 48 inches may be accepted when
approved by the State Fire Marshal or designee.
DHS Rules for Fire Safety
Egress:
• Hardware for all exit doors and interior doors
used for exit purposes must have simple hardware
that cannot be locked against exit and must have
an obvious method of single action operation.
• Hasps, sliding bolts, hooks and eyes, and double
key deadbolts are not permitted.
• Homes with one or more individuals who have
impaired judgment and are known to wander
away from their place of residence must have a
functional and activated alarm system to alert a
caregiver of an unsupervised exit by an
individual.
DHS Rules for Fire Safety
Egress:
• Foster homes must have two unrestricted exits in
case of fire. A sliding door or window that may be
used to evacuate a child may be considered a
usable exit.
• Barred windows or doors used for possible exit in
case of fire must be fitted with operable quick
release mechanisms.
• Every bedroom used by a child in foster care must
have at least one operable window, of a size that
allows safe rescue, with safe and direct exit to the
ground, or a door for secondary means of escape
or rescue.
DHS Rules for Fire Safety
Egress:
• All external and inside doors must have simple
hardware with an obvious method of operation
that allows for safe evacuation from the home.
• A home with a child that is known to leave their
place of residence without permission must have
a functional and activated alarm system to alert
the foster provider.
DHS Rules for Fire Safety
Flame Spread/Smoke Density:
• At least substantially comparable to wood lath
and plaster or better
• Maximum flame spread may not exceed Class III
(76-200)
• Maximum smoke density may not be greater than
450
• If more than 10 percent of combined wall and
ceiling areas in a sleeping room or exit way is
composed of readily combustible material such as
acoustical tile or wood paneling, such material
must be treated with an approved flame retardant
coating. Exception: Buildings supplied with an
approved automatic sprinkler system.
Portable Space Heater Fires
Statistics:
• Responsible annually for an average of:
- 62,200 fires
- 670 deaths
- 1,550 civilian injuries
- $909 million in property damage
• Primary cause = too close to combustibles
DHS Rules for Fire Safety
Portable Space Heaters:
• Use of space heaters must be limited to only
electric space heaters equipped with tip-over
protection
• Space heaters must be plugged directly into the
wall outlet
• No extension cords must be used with such
heaters
• No freestanding kerosene, propane, or liquid fuel
space heaters must be used in the foster home
Portable Space Heater Safety
Safety measures:
• Keep heaters a minimum of 36” away from
combustibles
• Plug directly into a wall outlet. Don’t use an
extension cord
• Use only heaters with built-in high temperature and
tip-over shutoff features
• Do not use un-vented fuel-fired heaters indoors
• Do not hang combustible items to dry over a heater
• Turn off portable heaters when family members are
sleeping or leave the house
• Keep heaters out of high traffic areas and exit paths
Cooking Fires
Statistics:
• Responsible annually for an average of:
- 100,000 home fires
- 400 deaths
- 5,000 civilian injuries
- $200 million in property damage
• Primary cause = unattended cooking
Cooking Safety
Safety measures:
• Never leave cooking food unattended
• Keep combustible material and loose
clothing away from open flames
• Keep the appliance and cooking area
clean
• Use extra caution with cooking oils as
they can ignite easily
• Always turn the pan handle sideways
Cooking Fires
Statistics:
Cooking is leading cause of burn injuries among older people
Burns:
•
•
•
•
•
Treat a burn immediately
Cool a burn with cool water, never ice
Cover a burn with a clean, dry cloth or bandage
Don’t use ointment, spray, or butter
If a burn is larger than your fist, get medical help.
If you have questions about burn injuries, email the
Oregon Burn Center at [email protected].
For life threatening emergencies, call 9-1-1
Source: OSFM; USFA
Candle Fires
Statistics:
• Responsible annually for an average of:
- 23,600 home fires
- 165 deaths
- 1,525 civilian injuries
- $300 million in property damage
• Primary cause = unattended candles
Candle Safety
Safety Measures:
• Consider a “no candle” policy
• Use LED candles instead
If You Must Use Candles:
• Blow out candles before leaving the room
• Keep candles away from items that can burn
• Always use sturdy metal, glass or ceramic candle
holders
• Place candles out of reach of small children and pets
Fireplace/Wood Stove Fires
Statistics:
• Responsible annually for an average of:
- 25,000 fires
- 20-50 deaths
- 90 civilian injuries
- $126 million in property damage
• Primary causes =
- Issue with flue
- Igniting combustibles in room
DHS Rules for Fire Safety
Fireplaces and Wood Stoves:
• Must include secure barriers to keep a child safe from
potential injury and away from exposed heat sources.
• Chimneys must be inspected at the time of initial certification
and if necessary the chimney must be cleaned. Chimneys must
be inspected annually, unless the fireplace and or solid fuelburning appliance was not used through the year of
certification and may not be used in the future.
• A signed statement by the foster provider and certifier
assuring that the fireplace and or solid fuel-burning appliance
may not be in use must be submitted to the Division with the
renewal application if a chimney inspection may not be
completed.
Electrical Fires
Statistics:
• Responsible annually for an average of:
- 28,600 fires
- 310 deaths
- 1,100 civilian injuries
- $1.1 billion in property damage
• Homes more than 40 years old are 3 times more
likely to catch fire from electrical causes than
homes 11-20 years old
• Primary causes =
- Extension cords
- Incorrectly installed wiring
- Overloading circuits
Source: USFA
DHS Rules for Fire Safety
Extension Cords:
• Extension cords must not be used in place of
permanent wiring.
Electrical Safety
Safety measures:
• Replace electrical cords that show signs of damage, and never
coil or walk on cords
• Avoid using extension cords. Use a power strip with a built-in
circuit breaker instead
• Avoid overloading circuits
• Have an electrician check your house if fuses blow or breakers
trip frequently
• Have an electrician check your house if you frequently
experience dimming of lighting
Source: USFA
Smoking
Statistics:
• The leading cause of fire-related deaths
• Accounts for nearly 1/3 of fire deaths in adults over age 70
DHS Rules for Fire Safety
Smoking:
• No smoking allowed within the Foster Home
• Smoking may be allowed outside only
• Smoking must be a minimum 10’ away from
doors & windows
Smoking
Safety measures:
•
•
•
•
Always discard smoldering and spent cigarettes properly
Use large non-combustible deep and tip resistant ashtrays
Never smoke in bed
Never smoke while using oxygen. Warn visitors not to
smoke near you.
• Douse cigarettes with water before throwing them in the
trash
• Always keep matches/lighters out of reach of children
Clothes Dryer Fires
Statistics:
Responsible annually for an average of:
- 15,500 home fires
- 10 deaths
- 310 injuries
- $84.4 million in property damage.
Clothes Dryer Fires
Safety measures:
• Clean the lint screen before every use
• Clean out exhaust vents regularly and check for proper airflow
• Use a smooth metal exhaust vent (avoid using foil or plastic
venting)
• Use a cool-down cycle to prevent the possibility of spontaneous
ignition
• Do not dry clothing/fabric on which there is anything flammable
(alcohol, cooking oils, gasoline, spot removers, dry-cleaning
solvents, etc.)
• Cotton fabrics are susceptible to spontaneous ignition if they have
interacted with oils even if they have been laundered with
detergent. Any fabric that has been exposed to oils should be
stored in a covered metal container.
Holiday-Christmas Tree Fires
Statistics:
Responsible annually for an average of:
- 400 home fires
- 10 deaths
- 80 injuries
- $15 million in property damage.
Holiday-Christmas Tree Fires
Safety Measures:
• Do not use open flames or candles near a Christmas tree.
• Do not place the tree near heating vents, fireplaces, or other heat
sources.
• The tree should be removed from the house whenever the needles or
leaves fall off readily when a tree branch is shaken or if the needles
are brittle and break when bent between the thumb and index finger.
• The tree should be checked daily for dryness. Check the water level
daily. A 6’ tree will consume approximately 1 gallon of water every
two days. If it is not consuming water, thenit is drying.
• Make sure the stand is secure and stable
• Do not place the tree near an exit
• Check the wiring and lights for defects before they are hung on the
tree. Miniature lights are recommended, as they use less power and
produce less heat
DHS Rules for Fire Safety
Flammable/Combustible/Hazardous Materials:
• Must be stored in a safe area not accessible to residents
• Must be stored in original properly labeled containers
• Must be stored away from any heat source
How Will You React to a Fire?
What to Do in a Fire
In case of fire, think “RACE”:
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Rescue all persons in immediate area
Alarm: announce the fire- Pull alarm and dial 911
Confine the fire by closing doors
Evacuate/Extinguish the fire if possible
Do not:
– Try to fight the fire unless it is very small
– Attempt to re-enter a burning home
Sources: Oregon Fire Code, NFPA, OSHA, and Numerous Business Emergency Plans.
What If I Am Unable to
Get Out?
Create an area of refuge for yourself
• Seal the room
- Use wet cloth to stuff around cracks in doors and
seal up vents to protect against smoke
• Do not break the windows
- Flames and smoke can come back in from the
outside. If you need air, open the window a crack
• Stay low under the smoke
- The freshest air is near the floor. Keep a wet cloth
over your nose and mouth and breath through
your nose only
• Signal for help
- Use the telephone, or hang something out the window
Sources: Fire Safety for Older Persons, Seattle Fire Department.
Questions?