Fire Department / Code Enforcement

FIRE PREVENTION RESOURCES

Visit the NYS Office for Fire Prevention and Control web site

FIRE SAFETY PAMPHLETS

View these Fire Safety pamphlets (to view pdf files, you must have Adobe Acrobat installed on your computer. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat you can download it now for free.)

Candle Fire Safety (368k)
- Provides safety tips for the use of candles and includes statistical information. (NOTE: hard copy is not available)
Carbon Monoxide (140k)
- Where does carbon monoxide come from, what it does, and the do's and don'ts to make your home safer.
Exit Drills in the Home (EDITH) (212k)
- Exit Drills in the Home step-by-step. Learn planning your escape, the family meeting place and the drill.
High-Rise Fire Safety (232k) (2 pgs) (See High-Rise Fires in the Kids’ Room)
- In the event of a fire, do you know what to do? Learn valuable safety tips to survive a high-rise fire.
Holiday Safety (172k)
- This brochure will help you in decorating for a safe holiday. Also included are prohibitions of interior decorations found in the Fire Code of New York State. Please direct CODES questions to the NYS Division of Codes at codes@dos.state.ny.us
Home Fire Extinguishers (148k)
- Using the correct extinguishers and knowing how to operate them in the event of an emergency.
Home Fire Safety Tips (232k)
- Tips for smoke detectors, escape plans, cooking safety, woodstoves and fireplaces, kerosene and space heaters and electrical safety.
Hotel/Motel Safety (268k)
- What you should do when you check in and steps for survival in case of a fire.
It's time for RISK WATCH (172k)
- This brochure is provided as a service by the Team New York Coalition and is only available by downloading from this site at this time. Contents include safety information for the eight major unintentional injuries to children.
Smoke Detectors (184k)
- Installation guidelines and test, clean, battery maintenance tips for working smoke detectors to save lives.

FIRE PREVENTION TIPS: FIRE SAFETY IN THE HOME

Electrical Fire Hazards

DO NOT overload electrical sockets!
If your have an older home, have the wiring checked to make sure it meets current building codes.
Check all appliances and extension cords for frayed or exposed wires. Open or damaged wires start a number of home fires.
Clean and service heating systems and furnaces annually. Neglect can lead to poor ventilation or deteriorating wires and both can cause fires. Also, make sure your system has an emergency shut-off switch!
Misused space heaters start fires fast. They should never be used as a primary source of heat. DO NOT leave them in doorways or stairways. Make sure they are nowhere near combustible materials such as upholstery and drapes. DO NOT add fuel to a portable that is still on or hot. The fuel could "explode" into flames.
Unplug heat-producing appliances that are not in use, such as toasters, kettles, space heaters, electric frying pans and irons. On/Off switches can fail, leaving the appliance on.
Use only appliances listed by Underwriter Laboratories (UL) or the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). They are tested for safety.
Turn off appliances when not in use.
Always use the proper fuses in your home. NEVER use pennies, wires or fuses of higher amperage than required to replace burned out fuses.

Chimney & Barbecue Hazards

Consider installing a spark arrestor on your chimney. They are relatively inexpensive. An approved arrestor will prevent sparks and other burning material from escaping and starting a fire an your roof, your trees, your bushes, or your neighbor's property.
If there is uncleared land surrounding your property, trim back brush at least 100 feet from your home. Keep tree branches at least 10 feet from your chimney.
Keep barbecue grills away from any and all flammable materials. Trees, shrubs, and even your hose could catch on fire from your grill.
Store unused starter fluid and charcoal away from the grill. Keep all highly flammable materials such as charcoal, starter fluid, paints, solvents and varnishes in a locked, fireproof cabinet.
NEVER use gasoline as a cleaning solvent, and never use flammable materials in an enclosed area.

Matches & Cigarettes

NEVER smoke in bed. This is a major cause of house fires!
NEVER smoke or light matches near flammable materials.
Teach children the danger of playing with matches. They could seriously injure themselves and cause severe property loss.

Smoke Detectors

Smoke detectors are CRUCIAL to your safety. Most fires occur at night while people are sleeping. Toxic gases from a fire can numb your senses, disorient you, and kill you. Buy and carefully maintain a quality smoke detector. Don't wait until it's too late!

For maximum effectiveness, install heat and smoke detectors that can be monitored by a U.L. approved central station.
When using battery operated smoke detectors, clean and test the batteries every month. Set up an annual time to change them, such as when you set your clocks forward or backward for daylight savings time.
Electric (110v) smoke detectors should be used only in conjunction with battery-operated detectors. The advantage of electric smoke detectors is that a remote fire in the building sets off all the detectors on the circuit. These alarms are also far louder than conventional battery alarms. Battery-powered smoke alarms offer the advantage of working even in the event of a power outage. Where possible, both types of alarms should be installed in the home.
Mount smoke detectors in all bedrooms as well as in a central location on every floor, high on the wall or ceiling. Remember...smoke rises.
Do Not install smoke detectors near doors, windows, or vents where drafts could affect their ability to detect smoke.
Gently vacuum smoke detectors to keep them free of dust and other foreign particles.

Fire Extinguishers

Extinguishers come in a variety of sizes and modules. Look for one that has been approved, tested, and labeled by Factory Mutual Research or Underwriters Laboratories. They are labeled by class according to the type of fire they extinguish:

Class A: Ordinary Combustibles

Class B: Flammable Liquids (Grease, Oil, Fat, Gasoline, Oil Paints, and Paint Thinner)

Class C: Electrical Equipment (appliances, motors, power tools)

The Escape Route

Sleep with the bedroom doors shut. House fires develop and spread rapidly. Toxic smoke can fill the house in two or three minutes. Closed doors can give you extra seconds.
Establish a well-planned escape route with the entire family. Hold practice fire drills until all family members are thoroughly familiar with the plan.
Have at least two exits planned in case one is blocked.
Install rope ladders by upstairs windows.
Establish a meeting place across the street, at a neighbor's home, etc. This will enable you to make sure everyone is out of the house and accounted for.
In case of fire, act quickly but cautiously. Feel the door. If it's hot, don't open.
Hot, toxic smoke rises. Get down and crawl where the air is better to breathe.

Other Safety Tips

Don't let old newspapers, magazines or rags pile up in the basement, house or garage. They're ideal for spreading fire.
Always keep a fire extinguisher by the stove. Make sure it can be used on grease or electrical fires.
Learn what causes fire. Inspect your home to eliminate or control fire hazards.