RISK REDUCTION: Beach Fire to conduct residential safety programs
Officials from the Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District are planning on holding free community educational programs for residents, condominium dwellers and business leaders in the near future.
If interested in attending, send a request to prevention@fmbfire.org as local fire officials will organize courses and notify via reply email, www.fmbfire.org or through media channels.
Beach Fire Marshal Capt. Ron Martin along with Fire Inspectors Lloyd Adams and Bill Genevrino conducted a VIP presentation to serve as an inaugural introduction to the Residential Safety Program recently. The presentation, which invited members of the media, business community, first responders, fire commissioners and community activists, was held during Fire Prevention Week, which was observed this year on Oct. 4-10.
“This course is dedicated to raising our community’s awareness both on the residents’ side and on the property owners’ side on common sense, risk reduction, things you can do around the home to keep yourself safe and your family safe from the threat of fire,” said Martin.
Martin explained such a program was created after a fire fatality shocked the Beach community in May. The death of Beach resident Jo Finney was the first fire fatality in 35 years on the island.
“We here at the fire district are committed to going another 35 years and maybe even longer without having another fire fatality strike our small community,” Martin said. “We are going to roll this (program) out aggressively to landlords, tenants, residents and whoever wants to benefit from the increased knowledge.”
The course is expected to have two components: classroom education and hands-on experience in fighting fire with a fire extinguisher.
“I lot of people have never used a fire extinguisher or laid their hands on one,” Martin said. “We want to raise awareness on how to put out a fire in your home properly if you can do it safely.
Both Adams and Genevrino developed the mitigation plan as an education program. The overview discussed smoke alarms, cooking safety, electrical and appliance safety, smoking safety, candle safety, household safety and a home escape plan in case a fire breaks out in your building.
The power point presentation included a Jim Carrey skit entitled “Fire Marshal Bill;” a video of the quick ignition of the fire on Anchorage Street in which the whole house was incinerated prior to the fire engine’s two-minute response time; a video of an indoor Christmas tree that caught fire and engulfed the room in flames and black smoke within 43 seconds; and a video of extreme reaction of water and oil to fire involving deep fryers.
Lloyd explained that once a fire victim is out of the burning home, he or she should stay out.
“If everyone is accounted for, that will tell the fire rescue team how to attack that fire,” he said. “If someone is unaccounted for, that will change the way we attack that fire.”
Within a multi-floor building, the method is to go a few floors below if a fire strikes your floor.
“Once you are below the fire with a sprinkler system, you should be in a safe place a few floors below,” Lloyd said.
If it strikes on a floor below you, find a safe place until help arrives. The sprinkler system should keep you safe.
Other fire dos and don’ts involve a structure’s roof (not a rescue point), elevators (do not use), practice an escape plan (yes) and the fact that smoke alarms should be tested monthly (yes).
The most common cause of house fires is cooking. Keep the range surface clean from debris, pots (when not cooking) and other items. Keep your oven vents clean.
Genevrino spoke on electrical and appliance safety. Faulty extension cords and lamps cords cause 3,000 fires a year and 50 deaths annually.
“Unlike permanent wiring in your home, they are a stranded wire as opposed to a solid conductor in your home,” he said. “The more you stretch and flex and bend them over time, some of the strands will break. That will limit the cords capability to even carry the current. Another cord that’s frayed or damaged where the insulation is split and you have open conductors, you want to get rid of it right away.”
Large appliances should be plugged directly in the wall without cords. Dryer lint filters need to be cleaned regularly as does the venting system that goes outdoors.
There are 17,600 smoking-material related fires on average within a year, including 25 fires a year attributed to e-vapor type cigarettes during the charging process.
Candles should be placed in sturdy fire-proof containers that cannot be tipped over. More than 10,000 fires a year are caused by lit candles.
“Never leave candles unattended,” Genevrino said.
Household safety has changed throughout the years. These days, there are many more combustible items within homes.
“Modern materials are a lot of plastic, synthetics, laminates on your furniture and even your flat screen TV is all full of plastics. This all equates to a high fire load and much more poisonous smoke that is created by fires with extreme, high-temperature, rapid development,” Genevrino said.
Grills and other propane items should be maintained a minimum of three feet away from a structure. Due to fire code, gas and electric grills are not allowed on multi-floor balconies.
Hazardous material, such as paints, propane tanks and any other combustible items, within a home should be discarded if not needed. Homeowners are allowed to bring such items to the following address: Lee County Hazardous Waste, 6441 Topaz Court, Fort Myers. Call 533-8000 for more information. Mass gatherings of materials is prohibited. Beach Fire has tried to push for a collection of community hazardous waste, but officials at the hazardous waste business will not allow such collection and require each individual homeowner to show residential identification before dropping off items.
The District Fire Prevention Specialists would like many people to be aware of fire safety.
“If you know somebody that is at risk that lives in the District that can benefit from this class, please encourage them to take it and reach out to us,” said Martin. “We are here and committed to saving lives and preserving property.”