Fire Prevention

Fire Facts
Tornado
Preventing Fires in Mobile Homes
Grilling
Flammable Storage
Fireworks
Keeping Cool

Hello, I am Captain Karla Nevel. I am in charge of Canton Township Fire Department’s Fire Prevention and Investigation Bureau. I have been on the department for over 21 years and have been full time in charge of the Bureau since 2002. Our bureau consists of 12 certified fire inspectors and 9 certified fire investigators. The main goal for the fire prevention bureau is to make Canton Township a safer place to live and to work, which is accomplished through fire safety education.

I got involved with the fire service because I wanted to know what caused fires to occur. My father was on the fire department and I guess you could say I followed in his footsteps. My whole family revolves around the fire service in some way with my husband, daughter and her husband all being in the fire service too. When I’m not busy with the fire department I spend my time with my granddaughter, my family and my horses.

I will continue to put interesting topics relating not only to fire safety but safety in general.

If you have suggestions on topics or areas of interest that you would like addressed, please feel free to contact me.

My e-mail address is: mailto: bureau1@neo.rr.com.

Fire Facts

Americans watch too much television. Television programs give people the wrong ideas on fires. You see people run into a burning building, past the flames to rescue the family pet, and run back out the hero. What people fail to realize is that fires are pitch black. A fire starts bright but quickly, less than 30 seconds, produces thick black smoke and complete darkness. In minutes your house will be filled with this smoke. The smoke is highly toxic and even a small amount inhaled can make you drowsy, disoriented and short of breath. A larger breath and you are dead! More people die of smoke inhalation than of burns.

And speaking of burns, then there is the heat. It alone can kill you. On the floor level it might be 100 degrees but at eye level it will be 600 degrees. If you inhale this air, your lungs will scorch. It is so hot that your clothes will melt to your skin. This all happens at the start of a fire. In 5 minutes or less the room can get so hot that everything in it will ignite at once. This is what firefighters call flashover. You will never see flashover; you will be dead long before this happens.

To the fire service; fire is the number one terrorist. It kills more than 5,000 Americans every year. It injures more than 25,000. It kills more people than all natural disasters combined. Direct property damage usually exceeds $9 billion. The sad part is that most of these losses can be prevented and education is the weapon of choice.

Listed below are the statistics on fires in the United States (collected prior to 9/11/01:

The United States has one of the highest fire death rates in the world, 14.9 deaths per million.
Fire is the third leading cause of accidental death in the home.
About 2 million fires are reported every year, and many go unreported.
Over 80% of fire deaths occur in the home.
22% of all fires are in the home.
Children are 9% of the population but account for 17% of fire deaths.
The people at the highest risk of dying in a fire are:
- Children and adults 65 and older have twice the risk.
- Adults 85 and older have four times the risk.
Men die and are injured almost twice as often as women.
Most fatal fires kill 1 or 2 people.
Half of the fire deaths occur between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., but only a quarter of the fires happen then.
At only 1/5 of the fires where people died were there working smoking detectors.
Careless smoking is the leading cause of home fire deaths, except in the months of December, January and February, then heating mishaps share the blame.
Heating is the second leading cause of home fire deaths.
Arson is both the third leading cause of home fires and home fire deaths. In commercial properties it is the major cause of deaths, injuries and property loss.
Cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries.

As you can see there are a lot of areas that need addressing. It is our hope that we can educate the public on many of these issues.

Tornado

Tornadoes are nature’s most violent storms. Spawned from powerful thunderstorms, tornadoes can cause fatalities and devastate a neighborhood in seconds. Tornado A tornado appears as a rotating, funnel-shaped cloud that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground with whirling winds that can reach 300 miles per hour. Damage paths can be in excess of one mile wide and 50 miles long. Every state is at some risk from this hazard.

Some tornados are clearly visible, while rain or nearby low-hanging clouds obscure others. Occasionally, tornadoes develop so rapidly that little, if any, advance warning is possible.

Before a tornado hits, the wind may die down and the air may become very still. A cloud of debris can mark the location of a tornado even if a funnel is not visible. Tornadoes generally occur near the trailing edge of a thunderstorm. It is not uncommon to see clear, sunlit skies behind a tornado.

These are some tornado facts:

They may strike quickly, with little or no warning.
They may appear nearly transparent until dust and debris are picked up or a cloud forms in the funnel.
The average tornado moves Southwest to Northeast, but tornadoes have been known to move in any direction.
The average forward speed of a tornado is 30 MPH, but may vary from stationary to 70 MPH.

How Can I Protect Myself From A Tornado?

Know your tornado terms
What to do before a tornado
What to do during a tornado

Terms

Tornado Watch
- Tornados are possible. Remain alert for approaching storms. Watch the sky and stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information.
Tornado Warning
- A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. Take shelter immediately.

What to do Before a Tornado

Be alert to changing weather conditions.

Listen to NOAA Weather Radio or to commercial radio or television newscasts for the latest information.
Look for approaching storms.
Look for the following danger signs:
- Dark, often greenish sky
- Large hail
- A large, dark, low-lying cloud (particularly if rotating)
- Loud roar, similar to a freight train

If you see approaching storms or any of the danger signs, be prepared to take shelter immediately.

What to do During a Tornado

If you are under a tornado WARNING, seek shelter immediately!

If you are in:

A structure:
- go to a pre-designated shelter area such as a safe room, basement, storm cellar, or the lowest building level. If there is no basement, go to the center of an interior room on the lowest level away from corners, windows, doors, and outside walls. Put as many walls possible between you and the outside. Get under a sturdy table and use your arms to protect your head and neck. Do not open windows.
A vehicle, trailer, or mobile home:

Get our immediately and go to the lowest floor of a sturdy, nearby building or a storm shelter. Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes.

The outside with no shelter:
- Lie flat in a nearby ditch or depression and cover your head with your hands. Be aware of the potential for flooding.
- Do not get under an overpass or bridge. You are safer in a low, flat location.
- Never try to outrun a tornado in urban or congested areas in a car or truck. Instead, leave the vehicle immediately for safer shelter.
- Watch out for flying debris. Flying debris from tornadoes causes most fatalities and injuries.

Preventing Fire in Mobile Homes

Install & Maintain Smoke Detectors
- Smoke detectors provide the best protection. Install a smoke detector in the kitchen area, outside the heating equipment area, and also in the sleeping areas.
No Smoking in Bed
- One way to prevent fires is NEVER SMOKE IN BED. Falling ashes can be hot enough to ignite your bed, clothes, or sleepwear.
Heating System Maintenance
- Your heating system should be checked by a qualified technician each year.
- Never use the heater room for storage.
- Sparks and spontaneous combustion from heat build-up cause many fires that may block your escape path.
- Walls in the heater room should be made of noncombustible materials.
Debris Collecting Under the Home
- Keep the area under your mobile home clear of debris.
- Never store gasoline or power equipment under your home.
- Fires can start under the home, smolder and burn for quite a while before they may be discovered.
Electrical Systems
- Know where your circuit breaker box is and know how it works.
- Mark each breaker as to what area it controls.
- If a breaker trips constantly, call a qualified electrician to make the necessary repairs.
- Do not overload your electrical circuits.
- Be very careful with extension cords.
- Never run wires under carpet or through hallways.
Can You Get Out?
- Make sure that all family members know how to unlock and open each door and window in your home!
- Make sure that ALL windows and doors can be opened in your home and are not nailed shut, painted shut or bars over them

Grilling

It’s that time of year again to dust off the old grill and enjoy some well done hamburgers. Before you start this activity you should be prepared.

Check your grill, either gas or charcoal, before lighting it up. Make sure everything works as it should, i.e., hoses are intact and not leaking (you can check the connections using soapy water), burners work correctly, lids close properly and grates in the proper position. Another tip is to check for bee’s nests, especially if you are allergic to bee stings. Nothing makes bees angrier than having their homes disturbed.
Keep distances to houses and decks in check. Never place grills where the heat could damage the siding and/or eaves, or catch them on fire. Also be careful placing hem close to railings of decks, etc.
Always shut off the gas tank after use! A leak could develop and the gas could cause an explosion.
When using a charcoal grill, be extremely careful in lighting it. Only use enough charcoal lighter fluid (nothing else such as gasoline) to soak the coals. Avoid pooling of the fluid in the bottom of the grill. Use a long lighter or match to light it. NEVER add more fluid after the coals have been lit.
One of the more important duties is to supervise the grill while in use and while it is cooling down. Keep children and pets away from the grilling area.
Keeping a fire extinguisher near, and knowing how to use it, is always a prudent safety precaution.
And when you are having a few cold ones, to beat the heat, let someone else do the grilling. Never operate a grill when impaired.

Flammable Storage

Never store flammable liquids or gases in the home.
Store gasoline, kerosene, propane, etc. outside or in a properly vented garage or shed.
Only store small amounts of flammable liquids.
Don’t purchase all of the gasoline for the lawn mower for the entire season at once.
Only use original containers or approved safety containers.
Never store gasoline or the like in any glass containers.
Remember the vapors are highly flammable and a little spark can ignite them.
Always let mowers and other gas powered machines cool before refilling or putting them away and be careful not to overfill.

Fireworks

Let the professionals handle fireworks! Use of fireworks is illegal in Ohio except by certified fireworks exhibitors.

Keeping Cool

Have your air conditioners checked each year prior to use. Whole house units should be checked by a professional and don’t forget to check the filters. If using window units, plug them straight into a wall outlet. If you must use extension cords, use the size and type recommended by the manufacturer. Never run cords under doors, rugs, etc.

If you are using fans, make sure they are in good working order. Check the wires and covers. Never place anything on or near the fan that could block the flow of air, they can catch fire.