Home – Odenton Volunteer Fire Company https://www.ovfc28.org Neighbors helping neighbors since 1931. Thu, 31 Oct 2024 13:53:11 +0000 en hourly 1 https://www.ovfc28.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/patch-512x-150x150.png Home – Odenton Volunteer Fire Company https://www.ovfc28.org 32 32 Arson https://www.ovfc28.org/arson/ Mon, 01 Jul 2024 23:00:05 +0000 http://www.ovfc28.org/?p=9835

18% OF ARSON FIRES ARE SET IN BUILDINGS

According to the U.S. Fire Administration and the National Fire Protection Association, there are more than 16,000 intentionally set fires in homes every year, resulting in an estimated 300 deaths, 700 injuries and $500 million in direct property damage. The average dollar loss for an intentionally set fire in a residential building is $21,320. The fatality rate for intentionally set residential fires is more than twice that of other residential building fires.

Arson in the Home – What you can do

  • The fatality rate for intentionally set residential fires is more than twice that of other residential building fires.
  • Install lights on all sides of the house and motion-activated lighting near the entrances.
  • Put timers on interior lights to give the illusion the home is occupied.
  • Trim or remove shrubbery that blocks the view of the house from the street.
  • Consider installing security and fire alarm devices that can transmit an alarm to the police or fire department when the home alarm sounds.
  • Install deadbolts on all external doors.
  • Clean around your house and garage, removing unused and unneeded paper, trash, cleaning supplies, partial cans of paint and other materials that could become kindling and fuel a fire for an arsonist.

Arson at houses of worship – What you can do

  • Each year from 2020 to 2022, an estimated average of 1,300 fires in places of worship were reported to fire departments in the U.S. These fires resulted in an estimated annual average of $74.6 million in property loss. The leading cause of fires in places of worship was cooking (33%), but intentional actions accounted for an additional 15%.
  • Illuminate building exterior and entrances. Place motion-activated lighting near entrances. Install lights to cover all sides of the building. Put interior lights on timers.
  • Install smoke alarms and a fire sprinkler system. The most effective fire loss prevention and reduction measure for both life and property is the installation and maintenance of fire sprinklers.
  • Keep doors locked. Equip external doors with code-compliant hardware and secure them when the facility isn't occupied. Limit and track which members of the congregation have keys and alarm codes.

Quick Tips to Share

Spread the word by sharing these graphics with your family and friends! We encourage you to print these and also share on social media.

Information provided by the U.S. Fire Administration.

https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/arson/

]]> Home Recovery https://www.ovfc28.org/home-fire-recovery/ Mon, 01 Jul 2024 22:15:00 +0000 http://www.ovfc28.org/?p=9878

CLEANUP WILL TAKE TIME

A fire in a home can cause serious damage. The building and many of the things in your home may have been badly damaged by flames, heat, smoke and water. You will find that things the fire did not burn up are now ruined by smoke and soggy with water used to put out the flames. Anything that you want to save or reuse will need to be carefully cleaned. The firefighters may have cut holes in the walls of the building to look for any hidden flames. They may even have cut holes in the roof to let out the heat and smoke. Cleanup will take time and patience.

Now that you have more of an idea of what to expect, here are tips to follow to help you get your family back to normal!

What Do I Do Now?

  • Take care of yourself and family.
  • Contact your insurance agent and/or organizations that may help.
  • Help your pets.
  • Security and safety is your first priority.
  • Finances (landlord, mortgage lender, credit card company, etc)

Quick Tips to Share

Spread the word by sharing these graphics with your family and friends! We encourage you to print these and also share on social media.

Information provided by the U.S. Fire Administration.

https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/fa_46.pdf

https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/fa_46s.pdf

]]> Garage and Basement https://www.ovfc28.org/garage-and-basement/ Mon, 01 Jul 2024 22:00:19 +0000 http://www.ovfc28.org/?p=9870

THEY CAN SPREAD FASTER

Garage and basement fires can spread farther and cause more injuries and dollar loss than fires that start in other areas of your home. Here are some things you need to know about keeping your home safe!

Garage and Basement Fire Tips

  • Store oil, gasoline, paints, propane and varnishes in a shed away from your home.
  • Keep items that can burn on shelves away from appliances.
  • Plug only one charging appliance into an outlet.
  • Don’t use an extension cord when charging an appliance.

Consider Installing:

  • A 20-minute fire-rated door that is self-closing and self-latching from the garage into the house.
  • A ceiling made with ⅝-inch Type X gypsum board (or the equivalent) if you have living space above the garage.
  • A wall with ½-inch gypsum board (or the equivalent) if the wall attaches the garage to your home.
  • An attic hatch cover if you have attic access from the garage.
  • A heat alarm — not a smoke alarm — in your garage. The heat alarm will sound if the temperature rises too high.

Did You Know? Facts about Garage Fires 

  • Every year, there are 6,600 garage fires in homes that result in an average of 30 deaths, 400 injuries, and $457 million in property loss.
  • Of these fires, 93 percent occurred in one- and two-family homes.
  • Electrical malfunction is the leading cause of garage fires. These fires can start because of shorts in wires, damaged wires, and overloading electrical outlets.

Quick Tips to Share

Spread the word by sharing these graphics with your family and friends! We encourage you to print these and also share on social media.

Information provided by the U.S. Fire Administration.

https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/home-fires/prevent-fires/basement-and-garage/

]]> Campus https://www.ovfc28.org/campus/ Mon, 01 Jul 2024 21:45:56 +0000 http://www.ovfc28.org/?p=9781

responsibility is now yours

Going to college is an exciting time for students and their parents. Living in a new “home away from home” not only gives young adults more freedom to make their own choices, but it also provides them an increased level of personal responsibility while at school.

When it comes to on- and off-campus housing, it’s important for students and parents to keep fire safety top of mind. Here is everything you need to know about fire safety on campus!

Campus Fire Safety- Facts and Stats

  • 94 percent of fatal campus fires occurred off-campus.
  • Smoking (29 percent) was the leading cause of fatal campus fires.
  • Alcohol was a factor in 76 percent of fatal campus fires.
  • Smoke alarms were either missing or tampered with (disconnected or battery removed) in 58 percent of fatal campus fires.
  • Fire sprinklers were not present in any of the 85 fatal campus fires.
  • 70 percent of fatal campus fires occurred on the weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday).
  • 73 percent of the fatal fires occurred between midnight and 6 a.m.
  • April was the peak month (13 percent) for fatal fires in campus housing.

Student Safety Tips – Cooking

  • Cook only where it is allowed.
  • Keep your cooking area clean and free of anything that can burn.
  • If a fire starts in a microwave, keep the door closed and unplug the unit.
  • Keep an eye on what you are cooking, especially if you are cooking at high temperatures.

Student Safety Tips – Smoking

  • Make sure cigarettes and ashes are out.
  • Never toss hot cigarettes butts or ashes in the trash can.
  • Use deep, wide ashtrays.
  • Place ashtrays on something sturdy and hard to burn.
  • Don’t smoke when you have been drinking or are drowsy.
  • After a party, check for cigarette butts, especially under cushions. Chairs and sofas catch on fire fast and burn fast.

Student Safety Tips – Electrical Safety

  • Keep lamps, light fixtures, and light bulbs away from anything that can burn.
  • Never use an extension cord with large appliances, like a refrigerator.
  • Do not overload outlets.Use only surge protectors or power strips that have internal overload protection.

Quick Tips to Share

Spread the word by sharing these graphics with your family and friends! We encourage you to print these and also share on social media.

Information provided by the U.S. Fire Administration.

https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/home-fires/at-risk-audiences/college-students/

]]> Apartments https://www.ovfc28.org/apartments/ Mon, 01 Jul 2024 21:30:15 +0000 http://www.ovfc28.org/?p=9830

REMEMBER, THE BUILDING IS SHARED

People living in an apartment building need to think ahead and be prepared in the event of a fire. It is important to know the fire safety features in your building and work together with neighbors to help keep the building as fire-safe as possible.

If you live in an apartment or condominium you need to know how to get out quickly if a fire starts. Here are some things you need to know about apartment living and fire safety!

Apartment Fires- Quick Facts

  • The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that the U.S. has experienced an average of 88,600 apartment building fires per year between 2013 and 2022.
  • Apartment building fires were responsible for 12 percent of the fire deaths and 21 percent of the fire injuries in 2022 in the U.S.
  • Deaths from apartment fires has been declining from an average of 840 per year in the 1980s to an average of about 375 per year (2013-2022).
  • Injuries from apartment fires, however, continued to climb into the 1990s before gradually declining.

Apartment Fire Safety – Checklist

Make sure the following statements are all true for your new home!

  • Do you have at least one operable smoke alarm?
  • Are your electrical cords in good condition?
  • Do you have any electrical cords running under rugs?
  • Are your space heaters at least three feet from combustibles?
  • If your fire escape window clear and unobstructed?
  • Can your windows be easily opened from the inside?
  • Are your building stairwells free of storage and rubbish?
  • Are the exit lights in your stairwell in working order?
  • Do you have a fire escape plan?

Apartment Fire Safety – Tips

Building Fire Safety-

  • Don’t prop open exit or stairway doors.
  • Speak to your apartment manager if you see a damaged smoke alarm, fire extinguisher or an emergency light that has been burned out.

Be Prepared-

  • Count the number of doors there are between your apartment and the nearest fire exit.
  • Know where all the exit doors and stairs are on your floor.
  • Learn your building evacuation plan if you have one. Create and practice an escape plan for your specific apartment.

Stay Calm-

  • If your door feels warm to the touch, do not attempt to open it. Call 9-1-1 and tell the dispatcher your apartment number and that you can’t open your door.
  • Stuff the cracks around the door with towels, rags, bedding, or tape.
  • Wait at a window and signal for help with a flashlight or by waving a white cloth.
  • If your apartment door is cool to the touch, open it slowly and stay low as you check for fire and smoke in the hallway. If the hallway is safe, follow your building’s evacuation plan.
  • Never use an elevator to escape a fire. Always use the stairs.

Wait Outside for the Fire Department-

  • Stay outside. Do not go back inside for any reason.
  • If you think someone is still inside, tell firefighters where you think they are.
  • Wait until firefighters tell you it is safe to go back into the apartment structure.

Quick Tips to Share

Spread the word by sharing these graphics with your family and friends! We encourage you to print these and also share on social media.

Information provided by the U.S. Fire Administration.

https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/home-fires/

]]> Fire Sprinklers https://www.ovfc28.org/fire-sprinklers/ Mon, 01 Jul 2024 21:00:08 +0000 http://www.ovfc28.org/?p=9705

PROPERLY INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED FIRE SPRINKLERS HELP SAVE LIVES.

Because fire sprinklers react so quickly, they can dramatically reduce the heat, flames, and smoke produced in a fire.

Fire sprinklers have been around for more than a century, protecting commercial and industrial properties and public buildings. What many people don’t realize is that the same life-saving technology is also available for homes, where roughly 85% of all civilian fire deaths occur.

Home Fire Sprinklers – Quick Facts

  • Home fire sprinklers can control and may even extinguish a fire in less time than it would take the fire department to arrive on the scene.
  • Only the sprinkler closest to the fire will activate, spraying water directly on the fire. In 84% of home fires where the sprinklers operate, just one sprinkler operates.
  • If you have a fire in your home, the risk of dying is cut by about one-third when smoke alarms are present (or about half if the smoke alarms are working), while automatic fire sprinkler systems cut the risk of dying by about 80%.
  • In a home with sprinklers, the average property loss per fire is cut by about 70% (compared to fires where sprinklers are not present.)
  • The cost of installing home fire sprinklers vary depending on construction type, area, etc and averages $1.35 per sprinklered square foot.

Home Fire Sprinklers – Did You Know?

  • Safer fire service: The risk to firefighters is much less. Sprinklers reduce the heat, flame and smoke from a fire.
  • Fast response: Home fire sprinklers are more sensitive to heat than those found in businesses or industrial buildings. This means the fire will be detected much sooner.
  • Can blend with your home decor: You can buy home fire sprinklers in different colors. Some can be installed flush with the ceiling, so you will hardly notice they are there.
  • Reliable: Home fire sprinklers only spray when the temperature in the room rises quickly. The sprinkler above the fire is the only one that sprays.
  • Easy installation: Installing a home sprinkler system in a home under construction or being remodeled requires a little extra piping and labor and greatly increases the safety of residents.
  • Low water requirement: Home fire sprinklers can be connected to the home water supply. They require less water than business and industrial systems.
  • Lower insurance: Installing a sprinkler system has the potential to lower insurance rates by 5-15 percent by meeting code requirements.

Quick Tips to Share

Spread the word by sharing these graphics with your family and friends! We encourage you to print these and also share on social media.

Information provided by the U.S. Fire Administration.

https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/home-fires/prepare-for-fire/home-fire-sprinklers/

]]> Electrical https://www.ovfc28.org/electrical/ Mon, 01 Jul 2024 20:30:46 +0000 http://www.ovfc28.org/?p=9864

MIDNIGHT TO 6 AM

Electricity helps make our lives easier but there are times when we can take its power and its potential for fire-related hazards for granted.  

Electrical malfunction is the leading cause of home fires year after year. Here are things you need to know about protecting your home and your family!

Home Electrical Fires- Did you know?

  • There are more than 45,000 home electrical fires every year
  • About half of these involve lighting equipment and home electrical wiring
  • Home electrical fire deaths peak between midnight and 6 a.m.
  • Peak months for electrical fire deaths are December through March

What to Know About Electrical Fire Prevention

  • Electrical work should only be done by a qualified electrician.
  • Check your electrical cords. If they are cracked or damaged, replace them. Don’t try to repair them.
  • Don’t overload extension cords or wall outlets.
  • Never use extension cords with appliances. Plug them directly into wall outlets.

Quick Tips to Share

Spread the word by sharing these graphics with your family and friends! We encourage you to print these and also share on social media.

Information provided by the U.S. Fire Administration.

https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/home-fires/prevent-fires/appliance-and-electrical/

]]> Clothes Dryer https://www.ovfc28.org/clothes-dryer/ Mon, 01 Jul 2024 20:15:15 +0000 http://www.ovfc28.org/?p=9859

ALMOST 16,000 HOME FIRES

In 2010-2014, U.S. municipal fire departments responded to an estimated 15,970 home fires involving clothes dryers or washing machines each year. These fires resulted in annual losses estimated at 13 civilian deaths, 440 civilian injuries, and $238 million in direct property damage.   Here are some things you need to know about clothes dryer fire safety and prevention!

clean the vent

Clothes Dryer Fires – Facts and Stats

  • Clothes dryers accounted for 92% of the fires; washing machines 4%, and washer and dryer combinations accounted for 5%.
  • The leading factor contributing to the ignition of home fires involving clothes dryers was failure to clean, accounting for one-third (33%) of dryer fires.
  • A mechanical or electrical failure or malfunction was involved in the vast majority of home fires involving washing machines.
  • Fires involving clothes dryers usually started with the ignition of something that was being dried or was a byproduct (such as lint) of drying, while washing machine fires usually involved the ignition of some part of the appliance.

Clothes Dryers and Fire Safety – Quick Tips

  • Have your dryer installed and serviced by a professional.
  • Do not use the dryer without a lint filter.
  • Make sure you clean the lint filter before or after each load of laundry. Remove lint that has collected around the drum.
  • Rigid or flexible metal venting material should be used to sustain proper air flow and drying time.
  • Make sure the air exhaust vent pipe is not restricted and the outdoor vent flap will open when the dryer is operating. Once a year, or more often if you notice that it is taking longer than normal for your clothes to dry, clean lint out of the vent pipe or have a dryer lint removal service do it for you.
  • Keep dryers in good working order. Gas dryers should be inspected by a qualified professional to make sure that the gas line and connection are intact and free of leaks.
  • Make sure the right plug and outlet are used and that the machine is connected properly.
  • Follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions and don’t overload your dryer.
  • Turn the dryer off if you leave home or when you you go to sleep.

Quick Tips to Share

Spread the word by sharing these graphics with your family and friends! We encourage you to print these and also share on social media.

Information provided by the U.S. Fire Administration.

https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/home-fires/prevent-fires/appliance-and-electrical/

]]> Escape Planning https://www.ovfc28.org/escape-planning/ Mon, 01 Jul 2024 20:00:34 +0000 http://www.ovfc28.org/?p=9750

HAVE A PLAN AND PRACTICE IT.

Your ability to get out depends on advance warning from smoke alarms and advance planning.

Fire can spread rapidly through your home, leaving you as little as one or two minutes to escape safely once the alarm sounds. Pull together everyone in your household and make a plan. Walk through your home and inspect all possible exits and escape routes. Households with children should consider drawing a floor plan of your home, marking two ways out of each room, including windows and doors. Also, mark the location of each smoke alarm. Here are some tips for helping you with your home fire escape plan!

Fire drills are important for all homes, including apartment buildings and other high-rise structures. You need to know the basics of escape planning, from identifying two ways out of every room to getting low and going under smoke, and the importance of practicing how you would respond in an emergency. Be aware that sometimes the safest thing you can do in a tall building fire is to stay put and wait for the firefighters.

To increase fire safety for apartment dwellers, NFPA offers the following guidelines:

Know the Plan

Make sure that you’re familiar with your building’s evacuation plan, which should illustrate what residents are supposed to do in the event of an emergency. The evacuation plan should be posted in places where all residents can see and review it, and the building management should hold a fire drill with occupants at least once a year. Most states also require that buildings periodically test their fire safety systems as well.  Be sure to participate when your building drills take place. When looking for an apartment or high-rise home, look for one with an automatic sprinkler system. Sprinklers can extinguish a home fire in less time that it takes for the fire department to arrive.

Whether your building has one floor or 50, it’s essential that you and your family are prepared to respond to a fire alarm. Identify all of the exits in your building and if you are using an escape planning grid, mark them on your escape plan. Make sure to mark the various stairways too, in case one is blocked by fire.

In case of fire, always use the stairs to get out, never the elevator. Make sure to practice using the stairs as part of your escape plan. If someone in your family has difficulty climbing down steps, make sure to incorporate a contingency for this into your plan.

Smoke from a fire is toxic and deadly no matter what kind of structure you live in. When you hold your fire drill, everyone in the family should practice getting low and going under the smoke to the exit. In the event of a fire, if both stairwells are filled with smoke, stay in your apartment and wait for the firefighters.

If you can’t exit an apartment building due to smoke or fire in the hallway, call the fire department to report your exact location and gather in a room with a window to await their arrival. Close all doors between you and the fire. Use duct tape or towels to create a seal around the door and over air vents in order to keep smoke from coming in.

If possible, you should open your windows at the top and the bottom so fresh air can get in. Don’t break the window – if smoke enters the room from outside the building, you won’t be able to protect yourself.

Wave a flashlight or light colored cloth at the window to let the fire department know where you are located.

Make Every Second Count! – Helpful Hints

  • Draw a map of your home by using grid paper with all members of your household, marking two exits from each room and a path to the outside from each exit.
  • Practice your home fire drill twice a year. Conduct one at night and one during the day with everyone in your home, and practice using different ways out.
  • Teach children how to escape on their own in case you can’t help them.
  • Make sure the number of your home is clearly marked and easy for the fire department to find.
  • Close doors behind you as you leave – this may slow the spread of smoke, heat, and fire.
  • Once you get outside, stay outside. Never go back inside a burning building.

Quick Tips to Share

Spread the word by sharing these graphics with your family and friends! We encourage you to print these and also share on social media.

Information provided by the U.S. Fire Administration.

https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/home-fires/prepare-for-fire/home-fire-escape-plans/

]]> Fire Extinguishers https://www.ovfc28.org/fire-extinguishers/ Mon, 01 Jul 2024 19:30:57 +0000 http://www.ovfc28.org/?p=9743

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS SAVE LIFES AND PROPERTY.

A portable fire extinguisher can save lives and property by putting out a small fire or containing it until the fire department arrives; but portable extinguishers have limitations. Because fire grows and spreads so rapidly, the #1 priority for residents is to get out safely. Here are some things you need to know about choosing and using fire extinguishers!

How To Use a Fire Extinguisher

Use a fire extinguisher when all of these questions are answered “yes.” If you’re unsure about whether or not it’s safe to use a fire extinguisher, and for all other situations, alert others, leave the building, and call 911 from a mobile or neighbor’s phone. It is not recommended that children use fire extinguishers.

When operating a fire extinguisher, tell remember the word PASS.

    1. Pull the pin. Hold the extinguisher with the nozzle pointing away from you and release the locking mechanism.
    2. Aim low. Point the extinguisher at the base of the fire.
    3. Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly.
    4. Sweep the nozzle from side-to-side.

Remember to Check Your Fire Extinguisher For

  • Easy access in an emergency - be sure nothing is blocking or limiting your ability to reach it.
  • The recommended pressure level - many extinguishers have gauges that show when pressure is too high or too low.
  • Working parts - make sure the can, hoses and nozzles aren’t damaged, dented, or rusted.
  • Cleanliness - remove any dust, oil, or grease that might be on the outside of the extinguisher.
  • Guidelines and instructions - some extinguishers need to be shaken monthly, others need to be pressure tested every few years.

When to Use a Fire Extinguisher

Fire extinguishers can be helpful on a small fire. Below is a checklist to help you prepare to use a fire extinguisher.
  • Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol don’t use the stove or stovetop.
  • Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, boiling or broiling food.
  • If you are simmering, baking or roasting food, check it regularly, remain in the kitchen while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
  • Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains — away from your stovetop.

More Fire Extinguisher Tips

  • For the home, select a multi-purpose extinguisher (can be used on all types of home fires) that is large enough to put out a small fire, but not so heavy as to be difficult to handle.
  • Choose a fire extinguisher that carries the label of an independent testing laboratory.
  • Read the instructions that come with the fire extinguisher and become familiar with its parts and operation before a fire breaks out. Local fire departments or fire equipment distributors often offer hands-on fire extinguisher trainings.
  • Install fire extinguishers close to an exit and keep your back to a clear exit when you use the device so you can make an easy escape if the fire cannot be controlled. If the room fills with smoke, leave immediately.

Quick Tips to Share

Spread the word by sharing these graphics with your family and friends! We encourage you to print these and also share on social media.

Information provided by the U.S. Fire Administration.

https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/home-fires/

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