Fire Safety

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Not all smoke detectors are the same

For many years, the motto of America’s Fire Service has been, “Smoke alarms save lives”. Smoke alarms do save lives, but the smoke alarm you have is critically important as not all smoke alarms are the same.

Current smoke alarms use two types of smoke alarm technologies: photoelectric and ionization.

Ionization smoke alarms are found in an estimated 93% of U.S homes and cost between $5.00 and $10.00. Ionization type detects changes in a local ionization field within the detection chamber resulting in the presence of smoke. This type of alarm responds faster to flaming fires.

Photoelectric smoke alarms cost between $10.00 and $15.00. The photoelectric type has a light source and detects the scattering or obscuration caused by smoke particles. This type of alarms responds faster to smoldering fires such as those ignited by cigarettes in upholstered furniture.

Duel sensor smoke detector (containing both ionization and photo electric technology) usually cost between $18.00 and $30.00 each.

A 2004 study conducted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology indicated that fire in today’s homes smolder longer and burn hotter and faster than what was typical when smoke detectors were first introduced a number of years ago. The NIST study also concluded that because fires could be more aggressive, the time needed to escape some type of fires has been reduced significantly from approximately seventeen (17) minutes at the time of the original study in the 1970’s to as little as three (3) minutes under certain conditions today.

Since it cannot be predicted what type of fire will start in the home, it is important that both smoldering and flaming fires are detected as quickly as possible. The best protection is to have dual sensor technology smoke alarms that incorporate both ionization/photoelectric sensors.

Working smoke alarms need should be installed on every level of the home, outside sleeping areas and inside bedrooms

Photoelectric smoke detectors usually have the word PHOTOELECTRIC right on them. You might also see a big “P” or a blue symbol. If you don’t see any symbols chances are, it’s probably an ionization smoke detector. These alarms are sometime marked with a letter I or other symbols.

Fairfield Township Fire Department will provide smoke detectors at no cost to township residents.

Contact (513) 887-4402

Dangers and Challenges of Fire Fighting

Firefighting Video

This is a short film that visually demonstrates the dangers and challenges faced by firefighters during a structure fire.

This film serves to educate recruit firefighters, elected officials, and the public in fire department operations.

It demonstrates the need for a safe aggressive interior attack coupled with adequate resources in order to save lives and reduce property loss.

Home Fire Sprinklers

Fire Sprinklers are economical, reliable and proven to be the best way to protect your family and home from the dangers of fire. Click the following link to watch a timeline video of a home fire:

Home Fire Timeline Video

For more information on home fire sprinklers, please visit: http://www.homefiresprinkler.org/

Driver Safety Tips

The National Safety Council recommends the following:

DRIVING AT NIGHT: Traffic death rates are three times greater at night than during the day, according to the National Safety Council. Prepare your car for night driving:

Clean headlights, taillights, signal lights and windows (inside and out) once per week, or more often as necessary.
Have your headlights properly aimed.
Have your headlights properly aimed. Misaimed headlights blind other drivers and reduce your ability to see the road.
Do not drink and drive. Not only does alcohol severely impair your driving ability, it also acts as a depressant. Just one drink can induce fatigue.
Avoid smoking when you drive. The nicotine and carbon monoxide in smoke hampers night vision
Reduce your speed and increase your following distance. it is more difficult to judge the speed and distance of another vehicle at night
If there is any doubt, turn on your headlights. Lights will not help you see better in early twilight, but they will make it easier for other drivers to see you. Being seen is as important as seeing.
Do not overdrive your headlights. You should be able to stop inside the illuminated area. If you are not, then you are creating a blind crash area in front of your vehicle
When following another vehicle, keep your headlights on low beams so you do not blind the driver ahead of you.
If an oncoming vehicle does not lower beams from high to low, avoid glare by watching the right edge of the road and using it as a steering guide.
Make frequent stops for light snacks and exercise. If you are too tired to drive, stop and get some rest.
If you have car trouble, pull off the road as far as possible. Warn approaching traffic at once by setting up reflecting triangles near your vehicle and 300 feet behind it. Turn on flashers and the dome light. Stay off the roadway and get passengers away from the area.

FOG: It is best not to drive in foggy conditions. However, if you must drive in the fog, take the following precautions:

Slow down and watch your speedometer. Fog creates a visual illusion of slow motion when you may actually be speeding.
Remember, going too slow can be hazardous. If you see approaching headlights or taillights, slow down even more. A driver may be driving in the center of the roadway or may be stopped or barely moving.
Drive with your headlights set on dim, or use fog lights if available. High beams will reflect back off the fog and actually impair visibility even more.
Do not overdrive your headlights. Stay within the limits of your vision. You may have to stop suddenly. If the fog is too dense, pull off the roadway and stop.
Use your turn signals long before you turn and brake early when you approach a stop to warn other drivers.
Use the right edge of the road or painted road markings as a guide.
Be patient. Do not pass lines of traffic.

RAIN: When rain begins to fall lightly, water, dust, oil and leaves cause the roadway to become slippery.

Increase your following distance. Take special care on curves and turns and while braking.
Your headlights must be on when operating your wipers. Parking lights alone are not acceptable.
When rain begins to fall heavily, your tires may hydroplane. This means the tires are riding on a layer of water and not on the roadway. Avoid hydroplaning by slowing down and keeping your tires properly maintained.

HIGH WINDS: Wind can be a difficult problem for all drivers. In high winds, you should reduce your speed and make steering corrections when you go from a protected area to an open area and when meeting large vehicles such as trucks and buses. Heavy rain or sleet often accompanies high winds. You should be alert to wet or slippery areas and plan for those conditions.

What to do if your Car Catches Fire

A fire in one’s car or other motor vehicle is a frightening situation which can quickly involve great personal danger to vehicle occupants and bystanders. Although every vehicle fire incident will have certain unique factors present at the time, the National Safety Council offers the following step-by-step general suggestions on what to do if your car (or other motor vehicle) catches on fire.

While you are moving on a roadway:

Signal your intentions and move to the right lane.
Get onto the shoulder or breakdown lane.
Stop immediately.
Shut off the engine.
Get yourself and all other persons out of the vehicle.
Get far away from the vehicle and stay away from it. Keep onlookers and others away.
Warn oncoming traffic.
Notify the fire department.
Don’t attempt to try to put out the fire yourself. (The unseen danger is the possible ignition of fuel in the
vehicle’s tank.)

While the vehicle is stopped in traffic or parked:

Shut off the engine.
Get far away from the vehicle.
Warn pedestrians and other vehicles to stay away.
Notify the fire department.
Don’t attempt to try to put out the fire yourself. (The unseen danger is the possible ignition of fuel in the vehicle’s tank.)

In all vehicle fire situations, the first thing to think about is personal safety; Any vehicle can be replaced, humans cannot. Think and act quickly, in the safest way possible.