New Members Wanted

The Newbury Fire Department is looking for firefighters and EMTs. If you are interested in becomming part of the Newbury Fire Department, please stop by at the fire station any Tuesday evening and fill out an Application

Holiday Decorating Safety

Decorate Safely for the Holiday Season Keep your holidays injury-free with these important safety tips from Safe Kids USA and the United States Fire Administration

Washington, DC — In addition to food, family, and gifts, decorations are one of the reasons that many look forward to the holiday season. While candles, Christmas trees, and other decorations are part of the holiday spirit, they can pose fire and poisoning hazards, especially to curious children. Safe Kids USA and the United States Fire Administration remind parents and caregivers to take a few precautions when decorating for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and other festivities. Wintertime is the most dangerous time of the year for injuries and deaths from fire. Each year, approximately 450 children ages 14 and under die in residential fires; children under the age of 5 are at the greatest risk. “Never, never leave lit candles unattended,” says Suzanne Morton, Safe Kids USA fire and burn safety program manager. “Don’t put candles on a tree or a natural wreath, or near curtains or drapes, and keep matches and lighters locked out of reach of children.”

In 2005, candles started an estimated 15,600 home fires in the United States, and the top four days for candle fires are around Christmas and New Year’s, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Battery-operated flameless candles are an alternative that does not have a fire risk. Decorative lighting should be labeled with the seal of an independent testing lab and should only be used outdoors if it’s labeled for outdoor use.

“I am pleased to join with Safe Kids USA to raise the level of awareness about the potential dangers during the holiday season,” said U.S. Fire Administrator, Kelvin J. Cochran. “Make sure your smoke alarms are working and that your children can hear them while they are sleeping; make and practice a home fire escape plan; and follow basic safety tips regarding holiday decorating.”

If you decorate a tree, Safe Kids USA and the USFA recommend these precautions:

A recent Newbury Fire & Rescue department training class focused on electrical safety and the danger of serious injury or death from overhead power lines. Every year the department is called to numerous reports of downed power lines or trees falling on power lines.

The message that was conveyed to the firefighters, which is also critical for the public to be aware of is that you must assume that every power line that is down is still alive and the power can kill you. There is no way to tell by looking at a wire if the power is off, even if the wire is broken. Only trained PSNH employees should handle electrical wires. Many times we find people driving over power lines in the road or walking near a line hanging from a tree, pole or on the ground. If you see a utility wire on the ground or hanging low to the ground, call 911 so that the fire department can secure the area until PSNH arrives to repair the hazard.

With the cold weather, the lake will be starting to freeze and lakeside residents who have ice eaters, bubblers and other devices to keep ice from forming around their docks are reminded that under NH law these devices must be registered with the town clerk. A listing of all registered devices is provided to the fire department, so that emergency responders are aware of locations where there may be open water or thin ice. Contact the town clerk if you have questions, there is no charge for the registration.

As the snow starts to pile up residents are reminded of the town ordinance that requires all properties to have a street address posted that can be easily seen from the street. Numbers on a house that may be visible during the summer or a small sign on the driveway may not be seen when there are piles of snow. Many emergency responses, especially for medical emergencies are delayed because the responders cannot identify the house where the emergency is because there is no visible street number. Take a look at your home from the street at night. If you are unable to read a street address, it is unlikely that the fire, police or emergency medical responders will be able to. The best place for an address sign is near the end of the driveway, four to six feet above the ground. A numbered mail box is good if it is near the driveway on the same side of the street, but a separate sign may be needed if it is not immediately evident where the access to the house is.

1. No vehicle or obstruction shall be parked or placed in any manner upon or along any street, alley or way located within the municipal limits of and maintained for the public good by the Town of Newbury from 12 midnight on October 31 through and including 12 midnight on April 30 of any year.

2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph I above, residential areas within the municipal boundaries of the Town of Newbury that have been specifically marked and / or posted for regulated parking shall be subject to the posted provisions for parking in such designated areas.

3. A violation of this provision shall yield the removal of such vehicle or obstruction by any duly authorized employee or contracted agent for the Town of Newbury, with such expenses for said removal and subsequent storage to be incurred upon the owner of the vehicle or property removed.

No person, firm or corporation engaged in the operation of snow plowing, blowing or removal shall allow or cause any accumulation of snow to obstruct or impair any town-maintained street, roadway, parking lot or right-of-way, unless such operations are approved by the Newbury Highway Administrator, nor shall any snow be placed or caused to be placed, upon any hydrants in the Town of Newbury.

One new public safety tool that the Town of Newbury has added since the ice storm of 2008 is the “Code Red” emergency communications system, commonly called Reverse 911. This system can provide important public safety information during an emergency through a system that will call all town residents.

The system will provide updates on shelter locations, where to go for water or supplies and information on the restoration of services. The Code Red system is based on the information in the local telephone directory and is incomplete because it does not include unlisted telephone numbers and cellular phones, which may be your only phone if the wires are down.

We ask you to complete your emergency contact information by going to the Code Red information update link and completing the form. This information is only for emergency contact by the Town and will not be shared with any other organization or business. If you do not have access to a computer or need assistance, please see Denise Walter at Town office.

Newbury Fire & Rescue Department Knox Box Program

The Newbury Fire & Rescue Department is joining neighboring communities and fire departments throughout the country in establishing a “Knox Box” program for emergency building access. A Knox Box is a secure key box containing building keys affixed to the outside of a business or home. If a fire alarm is received or there is a report of other emergency when the building us unoccupied, the fire department utilizes special fire department key, that will open the Knox Box containing the building keys. This eliminates the need to break down doors or windows to enter the building or presume there is no fire when nothing is visible from the outside. The ability to thoroughly inspect a building will enable the responders to locate other problems such as electrical hazards, heating problems and gas and water leaks set off an alarm and could lead to costly other problems if not identified. The Knox Box system is only used to enter a building in the event of a fire department emergency response to an alarm activation or report of an emergency at the location.

The fire department key is secured in special Knox Box on the truck that can only be opened by authorized personnel and all openings of the box are electronically recorded. Knox Boxes keyed to the Newbury system are purchased by the building owner from the Knox Box company and are installed in accordance with fire department specifications. Knox Boxes are generally installed at locations with Town of Newbury permitted central station fire alarm systems, where the Newbury Police and Fire Departments have emergency contact information. Building owners or their authorized emergency contacts are notified of every alarm notification and when the Knox Box is used to provide emergency personnel with access to the building. Emergency contact Information provided is kept confidential by the police and fire departments.

Information on the Knox Box system is available on the company’s website www.knoxbox.com, For residential and small business use the Knox Residential 1650 Series surface mount box is used. Other models are available for larger businesses where multiple access keys may be needed, for new construction and other special requirements. Complete the attached application and submit to Chief Henry Thomas, Jr. at the Newbury Fire & Rescue Department, 952 Route 103, PO Box 373, Newbury NH 03255 if you are interested in participating in the Knox Box Program or contact Chief Thomas if you have questions

With weather here people are beginning to use their wood stoves and need to use caution as well. First, be sure your chimney flue has been cleaned to avoid chimney fires. Whether you use a wood stove or other heating device, be sure to keep combustibles a safe distance away – three feet is good. Improper disposal of ashes is good for a couple of fire calls a year – please don’t be one of them. Proper disposal of ashes requires a metal container with a lid. If you’re going to spread them in the yard or garden, it’s safest to first store the ash bucket with the lid firmly in place outside for several days, away from any structures. If there is no snow cover on the ground, be sure to wet the ashes down when you spread them. Ashes can also be brought to the transfer station; check with Churchill Heselton on how they’re handled there.

The Newbury Fire & Rescue Dept. meets each Tuesday and three of those evenings are devoted to training each month.

On Oct. 27, for example, there was a course on misuse of prescription and street drugs, what responders might have to deal with in physical reactions and behaviors and how to treat an overdose. Asst. Chief Jeff Libby of Lebanon Fire Dept. ran a very interactive and well-received program.

On Sept. 26 several Newbury firefighters attended a hazardous materials and decontamination training in Sunapee with the Midwest NH hazmat team. Major Mike Terry also came in with members of the CST Division of the National Guard to assist with the training using their decon trailer. Major Terry’s team stages at the Loudon race track to handle hazmat and decon during race events. Some may remember the Guard’s decon trailer from when it was displayed at the fire station during Old Home Day a couple years ago.

A committee has been formed to thoroughly research the right replacement for the 31-year-old pumper in the Blodgett’s Landing station. The intent is to have it voted on at town meeting in March for delivery in 2011.

The Town of Newbury Alarm Ordinance requires a permit for all business and residential central station fire and security alarms. Please note that the grace period is now over and fines will be assessed for alarm systems that do not have the new permits.

All alarms installed in the town pursuant to this chapter shall conform to the standards set forth in state law, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 72 National Fire Alarm Code, the National Electrical Code and the codes published by the International Building Code (IBC). Permitted central stations shall comply with NFPA 71.

Alarm Permit Required