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Fire prevention lessons
Published October 23, 2009
LOGANVILLE — In honor of October being Fire Prevention Month, officials from the Loganville Fire Department spent some time in local schools advising students of home-related fire hazards and how to combat them.
Monday, students from Loganville Elementary School had an opportunity to experience a simulated fire emergency in the safety trailer.
“We release smoke into the room upstairs and they get to practice getting down low, crawling out and then climbing down the ladder,” said LFD public information officer Lt. Rick Morris. “We do this at the elementary school age — that is the age where you make the most impression on children.”
Gwinnett County fire authorities also used Fire Prevention Month to get the word out as they gear up for a busy winter season with the onset of the cold weather usually signifying an increase in the number of structure fires that firefighters have to respond to.
“During the cold weather months, home heating tends to be a leading cause of residential fires in Gwinnett County,” said Capt. Tommy Rutledge, spokesman for the Gwinnett Fire Department. “Many of these fires occur due to poorly maintained heating appliances and fireplaces or portable heaters that are placed too close to combustible materials.”
When turned on for the first time a furnace, whether gas or electric, may produce a burning smell or even a slight odor of dust inside the home. This happens because the furnace sits during the spring and summer and is not used. According to firefighters, this is not a cause for alarm. However, they suggest calling the fire department if there is any sign of smoke or fire from the appliance or inside the home. Having the furnace serviced annually by a certified professional can help reduce the chances of a fire starting and will also help to prevent a carbon monoxide emergency.
Officials warn people to keep space heaters away from combustible materials, avoid placing them in high traffic areas or where they are in the way of children or pets and to turn them off when going to sleep or leaving the home.
Other dangers include a fireplace or wood stove and officials warn the chimney should be cleaned and inspected annually by a certified professional. The damper also needs to be open when the fireplace is in use or hot ashes remain in the fireplace. Closing the damper could cause toxic levels of carbon monoxide to spread throughout the home. Use a glass or metal screen in front of the fireplace to keep hot embers or sparks from jumping out and igniting furniture or carpeting.
Officials advise that before going to sleep, the homeowner should always ensure the fireplace is out and any hot ashes removed and placed a safe distance from the house. Also, never attempt to use a range top stove or oven as a supplemental way to stay warm. Not only is it a safety hazard, it could also be a source of potentially toxic fumes. Carbon monoxide, or CO, can kill or cause long-lasting health problems. It is especially dangerous for children, pregnant women, people with heart disease, and the elderly. Early signs of CO poisoning include: headache, sleepiness, nausea, and dizziness. Officials advise that if you suddenly feel these symptoms, open all doors and windows to ventilate your home and go outside in the fresh air. If fresh air brings relief of these symptoms, have your home heating appliances checked. Call 9-1-1 if you experience medical complications related to a CO leak. Officials advise installing carbon monoxide alarms in homes as well as smoke detectors.
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