G'Day,
Welcome to the first of our news sheets, which we intend to put out every 2 months, to give you some useful safety tips and keep you up to date with what's happening in the world of the fire force.
Well, winter is upon us, so it's time to crank up all the ways we can think of to keep warm, but beware – you could get into all sorts of problems if you don't spend a few minutes cleaning and checking.
Clean the chimney or flue before lighting the fire. Don't wait until smoke blows back into the room to decide the chimney is blocked. Chimney fires are caused by all sorts of things: Leaves, residue of last year's soot and tar, birds' nests, etc. A short while spent cleaning out the flue could save you a very messy chimney fire – and remember, a chimney fire can soon spread into the walls or roof space and become a major house fire.
What to do if you get a chimney fire? – CALL 111
Have your electric blanket checked by a reputable supplier (ie, Rotorua Electricity) if you are at all worried about it. This service is usually free of charge. Electric blankets should not be stored folded up, so check for fraying or broken elements, check the power cord and switch before plugging in. Not only can a faulty electric blanket set fire to your bed, it can kill you.
So if in doubt – ASK
Electric radiant heaters should be cleaned. Remove dust carefully from the element and reflector. This will remove the fire risk and also give a better heat output. Check the power cord and have it replaced if necessary. Do not put radiant heaters too close to bedding, furniture or curtains. Also, remember that curtains can blow around if a door is opened, so place your heater far enough away to allow for that curtain movement.
Bottle gas heaters are great things, but before use, again check: are all the connections tight, is the hose perished, does the ignition work properly? If you smell gas while using, your heater, TURN IT OFF straight away and contact your serviceman.
A few other simple precautions: Don’t throw hot ashes out into the garden. Let the ashes cool down first in a fireproof container, then dispose of them. If you are cooking and a pan of fat catches fire, turn off the element and, if possible, put a lid on the pan. If this is not possible, put a damp towel over the top of the pan and carefully move it away from the hot element. Do not take the cover off the pan to have a look, and do not put water into or onto the pan. And once again, CALL 111.
Okay, that’s enough disastrous stuff. Have you got a fire extinguisher in your house? If so do you know what type it is – CO₂, Dry Powder, BCF? Do you know what sort of fire it will extinguish? Do you know when it was last serviced and when it is due for its next service? We might well be able to help you with the answers to some or all of these questions. So please feel free to call at the fire station on Wednesday nights – 7.30 PM onwards for any help and advice you might need. Wednesday is our training night, and presently we are putting 6 people through their heavy truck licence as well as brushing up our knowledge of basic firefighting and techniques. With the advent of the icy weather, we will be spending some time on updating training in procedures at traffic accidents, so remember if there is a traffic accident locally, we have expertise and equipment and can help. Again, CALL 111.
Well, that’s all for this news sheet. If you feel that you want to know more about the Fire Force, or wish to contribute anything for the news sheet, please don’t hesitate to call me at home on 3628 105 or call into the fire station on Wednesday Nights
David Field
Rural Fire Officer
Lake Okareka.
Welcome to the first of our news sheets, which we intend to put out every 2 months, to give you some useful safety tips and keep you up to date with what's happening in the world of the fire force.
Well, winter is upon us, so it's time to crank up all the ways we can think of to keep warm, but beware – you could get into all sorts of problems if you don't spend a few minutes cleaning and checking.
Clean the chimney or flue before lighting the fire. Don't wait until smoke blows back into the room to decide the chimney is blocked. Chimney fires are caused by all sorts of things: Leaves, residue of last year's soot and tar, birds' nests, etc. A short while spent cleaning out the flue could save you a very messy chimney fire – and remember, a chimney fire can soon spread into the walls or roof space and become a major house fire.
What to do if you get a chimney fire? – CALL 111
Have your electric blanket checked by a reputable supplier (ie, Rotorua Electricity) if you are at all worried about it. This service is usually free of charge. Electric blankets should not be stored folded up, so check for fraying or broken elements, check the power cord and switch before plugging in. Not only can a faulty electric blanket set fire to your bed, it can kill you.
So if in doubt – ASK
Electric radiant heaters should be cleaned. Remove dust carefully from the element and reflector. This will remove the fire risk and also give a better heat output. Check the power cord and have it replaced if necessary. Do not put radiant heaters too close to bedding, furniture or curtains. Also, remember that curtains can blow around if a door is opened, so place your heater far enough away to allow for that curtain movement.
Bottle gas heaters are great things, but before use, again check: are all the connections tight, is the hose perished, does the ignition work properly? If you smell gas while using, your heater, TURN IT OFF straight away and contact your serviceman.
A few other simple precautions: Don’t throw hot ashes out into the garden. Let the ashes cool down first in a fireproof container, then dispose of them. If you are cooking and a pan of fat catches fire, turn off the element and, if possible, put a lid on the pan. If this is not possible, put a damp towel over the top of the pan and carefully move it away from the hot element. Do not take the cover off the pan to have a look, and do not put water into or onto the pan. And once again, CALL 111.
Okay, that’s enough disastrous stuff. Have you got a fire extinguisher in your house? If so do you know what type it is – CO₂, Dry Powder, BCF? Do you know what sort of fire it will extinguish? Do you know when it was last serviced and when it is due for its next service? We might well be able to help you with the answers to some or all of these questions. So please feel free to call at the fire station on Wednesday nights – 7.30 PM onwards for any help and advice you might need. Wednesday is our training night, and presently we are putting 6 people through their heavy truck licence as well as brushing up our knowledge of basic firefighting and techniques. With the advent of the icy weather, we will be spending some time on updating training in procedures at traffic accidents, so remember if there is a traffic accident locally, we have expertise and equipment and can help. Again, CALL 111.
Well, that’s all for this news sheet. If you feel that you want to know more about the Fire Force, or wish to contribute anything for the news sheet, please don’t hesitate to call me at home on 3628 105 or call into the fire station on Wednesday Nights
David Field
Rural Fire Officer
Lake Okareka.
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