Heating Fire Safety

Each winter the high cost of home heating fuels and utilities causes many Americans to search for alternate sources of home heating. The use of wood burning stoves is growing and space heaters are selling rapidly. Fireplaces are burning wood and man-made logs. All these methods of heating may be acceptable. They are however, a major contributing factor in home fires.

Many of these fires can be prevented. You can prevent the loss of life and property resulting from heating fires by being able to identify potential hazards and following a few safety tips:

Check Your Hotspots

Each year fire claims the lives of 3,500 Americans, injures 18,300, and causes billions of dollars worth of damage. People living in rural areas are more than twice as likely to die in a fire than those living in mid-sized cities or suburban areas. The misuse of wood stoves, portable space heaters and kerosene heaters are especially common risks in rural areas.

The United States Fire Administration (USFA) believes rural fire problems can be reduced by teaching people to recognize the hazards. By following some of the outlined precautionary steps, individuals can greatly reduce their chances of becoming a fire casualty.

Wood Stoves

Wood stoves cause over 4,000 residential fires every year. Carefully follow the manufacturer's installation and maintenance instructions. Look for solid construction, such as plate steel or cast iron metal. Check for cracks and inspect legs, hinges and door seals for smooth joints and seams. Use only seasoned wood for fuel, not green wood, artificial logs, or trash. Inspect and clean your pipes and chimneys annually and check monthly for damage or obstructions. Be sure to keep combustible objects at least three feet away from your wood stove.

Electric Space Heaters

Buy only heaters evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Check to make sure it has a thermostat control mechanism, and will switch off automatically if the heater falls over. Heaters are not dryers or tables; don't dry clothes or store objects on top of your heater. Space heaters need space; keep combustibles at least three feet away from each heater. Always unplug your electric space heater when not in use.

Kerosene Heaters

Buy only heaters evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL), and check with your local fire department on the legality of kerosene heater use in your community. Never fill your heater with gasoline or camp stove fuel; both flare-up easily. Only use crystal clear K-1 kerosene. Never overfill any portable heater. Use the kerosene heater in a well ventilated room.

Fireplaces

Fireplaces regularly build up creosote in their chimneys. They need to be cleaned out frequently and chimneys should be inspected for obstructions and cracks to prevent deadly chimney and roof fires. Check to make sure the damper is open before starting any fire. Never burn trash, paper or green wood in your fireplace. These materials cause heavy creosote buildup and are difficult to control. Use a screen heavy enough to stop rolling logs and big enough to cover the entire opening of the fireplace to catch flying sparks. Don't wear loose-fitting clothes near any open flame. Make sure the fire is completely out before leaving the house or going to bed. Store cooled ashes in a tightly sealed metal container outside the home.

Finally, having a working smoke alarm dramatically increases your chances of surviving a fire. And remember to practice a home escape plan frequently with your family.

The new Newbury Fire & Rescue 83-Engine 4, is a 2010 Valley Ford F550 4 Wheel Drive crew cab with a 250 gpm Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS) pump and a 300 gallon tank.

The Town of Newbury and five other towns in our area have contracted with the CodeRED reverse emergency notification system, which allows the town to call you in an emergency.

If you received telephone calls or voicemail messages from Code Red in the past, you are registered in the Code Red system and no additional action is needed. You will automatically receive future Code red messages.

The current CodeRED database comprises commercially-available phone numbers (such as those provided on credit applications) and numbers added directly by residents of the six communities. To ensure that your phone number (including cell phone) is in the database, go to your Town’s website or click here to access the CodeRED Emergency Notification Network update form

Required information includes a street address (physical address, no P.O. boxes) for location purposes and at least a primary phone number. Additional phone numbers, email and text addresses may also be entered. Even if you have an unlisted phone number, you can safely register your phone number in the CodeRED database; the information will not be sold nor will it be used for any purpose other than emergency contact from the town.

If you do not have internet access, please call Denise Sherrill at the Town Office (763-4940 x201) and she will enter the information for you.

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

The Town of Newbury Alarm Ordinance requires a permit for all business and residential central station fire and security alarms. The Town of Newbury will access fines for alarm systems that do not have the alarm 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