Mocanaqua Volunteer Fire Station 118

 

ELECTRICAL WIRING

Replace any wiring that is frayed or cracked

Do not place wiring under rugs, over nails or high traffic areas.

Avoid overloading outlets and make sure they stay cool to the touch.

Keep covers over electrical plates and avoid exposed wiring.

 

SAFE COOKING PRACTICES

 

Don't leave food unattended on the stove.

 

Keep dangling clothing away from the burners.

 

Keep appliances clean and free of grease and crumbs.

 

Keep curtains and other combustibles away from the stove.

 

Make sure the stove is off and small appliances are unplugged when not in use.

 

NEVER use a gas range or oven to heat your house. Any un-vented fuel burning appliance is capable of producing deadly levels of carbon monoxide.

 

Don't leave oven doors open if the oven is on. This could cause a carbon monoxide buildup, and children can easily get burnt.

 

CHILDREN AND FIRE SAFETY

 

Keep lighters and matches away from children.

 

Teach children how to call for emergency assistance by using 911.

 

Use safety plugs in electrical outlets.

 

 

HOME FIRE ESCAPE PLAN

 

Have an escape plan and make sure all family members know it.

 

Practice the plan every six months.

 

Keep emergency numbers, a whistle and a flashlight near the telephone.

 

Identify an outside meeting place and never return into a burning building.

 

Know how to call for emergency assistance by using 911.

 

 

FIRE SAFETY TECHNOLOGY

 

Keep a fire extinguisher handy, especially in the kitchen.

 

Consider installing residential fire sprinklers.

 

PORTABLE HEATERS

 

Never use any fuel burning devices without proper ventilation. Fuels produce deadly fumes, and need proper air ventilation to assure safety.

 

Make sure the unit is in proper working order and is clean. Dirt or damage to heating units can cause a fire hazard.

 

Use only the fuel recommended for heaters.

 

Never use gas or kerosene to light a fire.

 

Keep gas and all other flammable liquids sorted outside of the house.

 

Make sure there is adequate clearance around all heating units. Three feet should be the minimum space allowed

 

Use a screen around stoves and space heaters that have open flames. Make sure all combustibles are kept clear (curtains, furniture etc.).

 

Avoid using electric heat sources around water, and don't touch them when you're wet.

 

Never use Kerosene heaters in living areas.

 

Do not overfill heaters by trying to put in too much fuel, and do not fill heaters while they are running.

 

Keep small children away from heaters, especially when they are wearing loose fitting clothing.

 

When using portable heaters, turn off units when going to bed, or as a minimum, put them on the low settings.

 

If using a fuel burning unit, leave a window cracked open when going to bed. This will assure proper ventilation, and assure that the heater does not use up all the oxygen in the room.

 

Use only safety listed equipment. If you choose an oil heater, look for the UL label; a gas appliance, the AGA or UL label; or on electric units, the UL label.

 

Plug heaters directly into the wall socket, and not into extension cords.

 

Unplug heaters when they are not in use.

 

FIREPLACES

 

Fireplaces can be cozy and warm, but can also cause a fire when not properly tended to. Follow these guidelines when using fireplaces:

 

Do not use gas or kerosene to light a fireplace.

 

Keep a metal screen in front of the fireplace. Flying embers can cause a fire.

 

Do not over stoke a fire. Making a fire too big can ignite soot in the chimney.

 

Never burn charcoal inside a house.

 

Make sure the area around the fireplace if free from loose materials that may ignite and cause a fire.

 

Make sure the fire is out when you go to bed, and never close the damper if the ashes are still hot. This can cause them to flare up, which could set the house on fire if no one is awake to notice it.

 

Make sure you have your chimney cleaned often. Soot builds up in a chimney from normal use, and can cause a fire if not properly cleaned.

 

If using starter logs, make sure to follow the manufacturer's directions to prevent possible fire or health hazards.

 

FURNACES

 

It is important to have furnaces cleaned and tuned annually by a trained professional. In addition to this, here are a few additional guidelines:

 

Make sure thermostats and emergency shut offs are working properly.

 

Leave maintenance to a trained professional, never try to service the unit yourself.

 

Make sure the flue pipes and chimney are free of cracks and in good condition.

 

Keep trash and other combustible items away from furnaces.

 

 

 

The National Propane Gas Association is warning of a potentially hazardous situation regarding propane cylinders with brass valves. Persons engaged in the illegal manufacturing of Methamphetamines (Crank) are using propane cylinders to store the corrosive agent Anhydrous Ammonia. This chemical (used legitimately in agriculture) is corrosive to brass and other metals causing a deterioration in the metal of the valve body or its components. Under pressure this could cause the valve to explode from the body of the cylinder leading to fires, explosions and injury.

These cylinders once used are being returned to propane cylinder exchange sites by these persons putting potentially damaged cylinders into the hands of consumers. Propane refilling stations and exchange services have been advised to watch out for these cylinders but and unknown number of them may be in use. These occurrences have happened in a number of U.S. cities so these cylinders could be anywhere. You can tell if your cylinder has been used for this purpose by the existence of a greenish corroded material on the valve end of the cylinder. If you have such a cylinder immediately contact local authorities (Fire, Police) for assistance.