Online Chat with Fire Marshall Tom Andrews
October 6, 2011
Online Chat with Fire Marshall Tom Andrews
Moderator: Today we have Tom Andrews, Fire Marshall for the Emporia Fire Department here for an online chat about Fire Prevention Week, Fire Safety and any other questions you may have for him. We only have 30 minutes to chat today so we will get started with the first question.
moderator: When is Fire Safety Week and what all is involved?
Tom Andrews: Fire Prevention Week is October 9th through the 15th. Fire Prevention Week began on October 9, 1911 with Fire Prevention Day. October 9th marks the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. That fire killed 250 people and destroyed 17,430 buildings. In 1992 the observance was extended to the full week which includes October 9th.
moderator: What are some of the things the Emporia Fire Department does to increase fire safety awareness?
Tom Andrews: Fire Prevention Week will get started Monday morning when the firefighters begin a full week of visiting the schools to conduct fire drills and talk with the children about fire safety and prevention. The women’s auxillary will have a sloppy joe feed at fire station 2 the evening of Monday October 10th. Cost is $5. Then on Thursday the 13th from 5:30 to 7:30 in the evening the public is invited to the fairgrounds for the 6th annual Fire Extravaganza. We will serve free Fanestil hotdogs. Several public safety agencies from throughout the county will be on hand to talk about and demonstrate what they do to keep the public safe. The Emporia Fire Department will demonstrate the proper way to extinguish a grease fire and the public will have an opportunity to learn how to use a fire extinguisher. We will have items to give away as well as prizes that can be won. We will also have a demonstration of the Jaws of Life rescue tools.
moderator: What is the number one tip you would offer for fire safety in the home?
Tom Andrews: Smoke detectors. People die in residential fires when the fire breaks out while they are asleep. It is critical that you are woken up in the early stages of the fire so that you may have a chance to escape. A smoke detector should be placed in every sleeping room, outside of every sleeping room and at least one detector on every level of the home.
moderator: Where can citizens find more information about fire safety?
Tom Andrews: I would encourage anyone with questions to go to any fire department throughout the country and talk to the firefighters. The public is always welcome into fire stations and the firefighters are very knowledgeable about fire prevention. Two websites I use are www.usfa.dhs.gov (U.S. Fire Administration) and www. nfpa.org (National Fire Prevention Association).
moderator: Wildfires have been particularly devastating this year in areas that don't often see such big problems, what should we do to protect against those risks in Kansas?
Tom Andrews: It is important to keep grass short around structures. Any burning that county residents do including trash should be monitored until the fire is out.
moderator: With Halloween just around the corner what safety tips can you offer the future Treak-or-Treaters of Emporia?
Tom Andrews: Traffic always increases during trick or treating so I would caution both drivers and pedestrians to be aware of each other. If you use candles in your jack o lanterns be sure to extinguish them before going to bed.
murmusic: Can I burn fall leaves in my yard inside city limits?
Tom Andrews: Yes. The wind speed needs to be below 15 mph. Keep a distance of 25 ft. from structures unless you are burning in a barrel with a mesh cover then you can decrease that distance to 15 ft. Have on hand a way to extinguish the fire such as a garden hose. Also keep your neighbors in mind as far as creating a nuisance with the smoke. Burn only between the hours of 7 am and 7 pm. It is also a good idea to let the Fire Department know you will be burning.
moderator: Holiday seasons tend to have increased fire risk, what tips can you offer for fire safety during the holidays?
Tom Andrews: I remember one Thanksgiving I worked early in my career. I was at station 2, we had just finished our Thanksgiving meal and like most people do on Thanksgiving I had over indulged. Before we got the chance to get up from the table and start doing the dishes a fire call came in. It was a chimney fire on the west side of town. It probably took an hour or more to get everything wrapped up and I was miserable the whole time. I swore I would never overeat again at work. Have your chimneys inspected annually. Do not leave burning candles unattended. Inspect any extension cords you may use for lighting. They should not show much wear or have any exposed wire. Be careful not to overload your circuits. If you throw a breaker you need to decrease the load on that circuit. If you use a real tree be sure to keep it watered.
moderator: Any final thoughts you would like to share with the Gazette readers?
Tom Andrews: Three leading causes of fire continue to be children playing with matches, unattended cooking and portable heaters. Remember, if it gets hot it can start a fire. Do not use portable heaters in a child’s bedroom and keep matches and lighters away from children. It is normal for children to be curious about fire and it is a parents responsibility to talk with their children about the use of fire. Use only portable heaters that have safety switches on them and plug them directly into an outlet. Keep in mind that all electronics create heat and are meant to be surrounded by air, not insulated with discarded clothing or blankets. All three of these causes of fire can be prevented. If anyone has any specific questions or would like more in depth information on any of these topics please give us a call or stop by to visit. We will be glad to come out to your home and provide a free fire prevention survey. We can be reached at 343-4230.
Moderator: Well it looks like that is all of the time that we have for our online chat today. Be sure to check out the Extravaganza next Thursday and come back next Tuesday when we have Tyler Curtis, Alumni Director for ESU here to chat about 2011 ESU Homecoming.