Transcript Emergency Disaster Preparedness

Emergency Preparedness
Fire Prevention & The Public
a necessary partnership
The Greater Cleveland Safety Council
October 10, 2013
Jim Alunni, Fire Marshal
Chagrin Falls Fire Department
Fire Marshal Jim Alunni
• Chagrin Falls Fire Department
• Fire Marshal for the Municipalities of
Bentleyville, Chagrin Falls, Hunting Valley,
and Moreland Hills.
• Ohio Fire Officials Association
• Northeastern Ohio Fire Prevention
Organization
• NFPA (IFMA), ICC
• At 42 I’m considered a young inspector
What is a Fire Prevention Bureau?
• The FPB is primarily responsible for the
enforcement of local, state, and federal laws
pertaining to the prevention of fire and the
maintaining of fire safe buildings throughout
the a municipality. These goals are primarily
accomplished through the regular inspection of
commercial properties, schools, hospitals and
multi-family dwellings as well as review of
plans for new properties.
What else do you do?
• In addition to our primary responsibilities, the
FPB is also responsible for public education.
• The FPB is involved with the fire safety
requirements of all public events that take
place within their municipalities. The events
add a unique dimension to fire safety
protection. Art shows, festivals, concerts,
fireworks shows, etc…
The Basics
• Fire Safety Inspections are usually conducted
annually
• We ask that you provide as much detailed
information as possible on your occupancy
• Follow up inspections are conducted for
compliance at preset intervals, we give thirty
days, some give ten, the State gives seven.
Types of Inspections
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Bureau Inspections
Company Inspections
Occupancy Inspections
Safety System Inspections
Acceptance Tests
Types of inspectors, the good, the
bad, and the ugly.
• Good Inspectors are usually members of a
dedicated Fire Prevention Bureau. They attend
the latest training and can explain to you why
you are being cited.
• Bad inspectors, this is relative, usually smaller
departments, company inspectors don’t catch
everything.
• The Ugly….badge pointers, it’s wrong because
I said so.
What’s that Inspector looking for and
how much is this going to cost me?
I’m looking for what is going to kill my Firefighters, the
public ignores fire alarms but they run when they see
smoke and fire.
By the time Fire Crews arrive the structures are already
severely compromised.
Our Cliché: “The Fire Code is written in blood”
How well do you know your
building?
• Primary & secondary means of egress (evacuation routes)
• Building safety features – emergency & exit lighting, fire
extinguishers, specialty suppression systems, fire alarm pull
stations, fire alarm control panel, and sprinkler systems
• Emergency plans and central meeting places
• Accounting for all employees, vendors, & visitors
• Fire alarm system notifying fire department & place a 911 call
with additional information
Inspection Checklists
General Precautions: Storage
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All storage, regardless of the type, shall be
kept at least 24 inches below a ceiling in
non-sprinklered areas and at least 18
inches below the ceiling in sprinklered
areas of the building.
By keeping storage at least 24 inches
below the ceiling in non-sprinklered
buildings, the fire department can direct
water over the storage to reach the fire,
and will also help to minimize the fire
spread through the building.
In buildings equipped with automatic fire
sprinklers, the storage must be kept at least
18 inches below the ceiling or the spray
pattern issued from the sprinklers will be
blocked by the storage, thus keeping water
from reaching the fire.
Fire Service Features
• Fire lanes
• Premises identification
• Knox box/key box
maintenance
• Hazards to firefighters
• Hydrant access
Building Service & Systems
• Working space and
clearance
• Multiplug adapters
• Extension cords
Fire Resistive Construction
• Partitions
• Walls
• Ceilings
Fire Protection Systems
• Automatic sprinkler
systems
Fire Protection Systems
Alternative automatic fire
extinguishing system
Fire Protection Systems
• Standpipe systems
Fire Protection Systems
• Portable fire
extinguishers
• P.A.S.S.
• Pull the pin
• Aim at the base of the
fire
• Squeeze the handle
• Sweep the fire away
from you
Fire Protection Systems
• Fire alarm and detection
systems
Means of Egress
Occupant load
Means of Egress
Exit & Emergency Lighting
Means of Egress
Doors, gates and turnstiles
Means of Egress
Ohio Administrative Code
(Ohio Fire Code)
• (3) 117.3 Reporting of fires.
Unfriendly fires shall be reported to the fire
department having jurisdiction. The fire chief
or designee shall make a report and forward a
copy of said report to the state fire marshal of
such unfriendly fires as required by section
3737.24 of the Revised Code.
Carbon Monoxide Emergencies
• It is a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas that is
produced by incomplete burning of carbon based
fuels.
• Important to properly maintain appliances, equipment
and chimneys.
• Carbon monoxide poisoning can lead to serious injury
and death – know the warning signs.
• Call you local fire department if you suspect a
problem.
Natural Gas and LP Gas Emergencies
• Recognize the odor
o A “Rotten egg” odor
o A blowing or hissing sound
o Dead or discolored vegetation in an otherwise
green area
o Flames, if a leak has ignited
o Dirt or dust blowing from a hole in the ground
o Bubbling in a wet or flooded area
Natural Gas and LP Gas Emergencies
• React & Report
o Leave the area immediately and call 911 from a
safe area.
o Do not use any electrical devices in area of leak –
light switches, telephones, or appliances.
o Do not use any open flame, matches or lighter.
o Do not start vehicles close to area of leak.
o Stay clear of structure just in case there is an
explosion.
Blackouts
• Power failures can occur at any time and
may last for minutes, hours, or days.
• If you see a wire down, report it to your fire
department immediately.
• Assume it is a live, energized wire until the
power company says it is de-energized.
• Keep people away from the wire and
anything the wire is touching including
fences.
• If generators are being used for secondary
power, they have to be outside away from
any open windows to prevent CO
poisoning.
Blackouts
• Use caution when refueling generator.
• Have a plan if blackout occurs during
the winter for an extended period and
you have no heat.
• Dry ice can preserve food in
refrigerator and freezers
Hazardous Materials Incidents
• Occur when chemicals are used or released
improperly.
• Incidents can occur during production, storage,
transportation, use or disposal.
• Accidents can cause death, serious injury, longlasting health effects and damage to buildings, homes,
other property, or the environment.
• Material Safety Data Sheets
• Emergency Response Plans
Hazardous Materials Incidents
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911 and fire department response
Evacuation
Shelter in place
Contaminated employees –
decontamination
• Medical evaluation
• Hazard mitigation
• Incident clean-up; contractors
Warning Systems & Signals
• Wireless Emergency Alerts
o Free informational text messages to WEA-enabled
cell phones
• Emergency Alert System
o Local radio and TV stations
• NOAA Weather Radio
o Nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting
weather information from local weather service
office
Weather Emergencies
• Flooding – do not drive or walk through the
water
• Flooded basements and workplaces –
numerous hazards
• Hurricanes
• High winds
Other Emergencies
• Earthquakes
• Wildfires
• Terrorism /
Biological Events
• Bomb Threats
• Evacuations
Communications
• Family First
• Management Team
• Employees
• More info at www.ready.gov
Thank you!
Questions?
Jim Alunni
Fire Marshal
Chagrin Falls Fire Department
21 West Washington Street
Chagrin Falls OH 44022
440-247-1671
[email protected]