Fire Extinguishers
Smoke Detectors | Fire Prevention | Fire Prevention Week | Carbon Monoxide
A portable fire extinguisher can save lives and property by putting out a small fire or containing it until the fire department arrives; but portable extinguishers have limitations. Because fire grows and spreads so rapidly, the number one priority for residents is to get out safely.
To see an online lesson about fire extinguishers visit www. fireextinguisher.com
Fire Extinguisher Tips
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ALWAYS CALL THE FIRE DEPARMENT FIRST WHEN A FIRE OCCURS!
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Use a portable fire extinguisher when the fire is confined to a small area, such as a wastebasket, and is not growing; everyone has exited the building; the fire department has been called or is being called; and the room is not filled with smoke.
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To operate a fire extinguisher, remember the word PASS:
- Pull the pin. Hold the extinguisher with the nozzle
pointing away from you, and release the locking
mechanism.
- Aim low. Point the extinguisher at the base of the fire.
- Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly.
- Sweep the nozzle from side-to-side. -
For the home, select a multi-purpose extinguisher (can be used on all types of home fires) that is large enough to put out a small fire, but not so heavy as to be difficult to handle.
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Choose a fire extinguisher that carries the label of an independent testing laboratory.
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Read the instructions that come with the fire extinguisher and become familiar with its parts and operation before a fire breaks out. Local fire departments or fire equipment distributors often offer hands-on fire extinguisher trainings.
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Install fire extinguishers close to an exit and keep your back to a clear exit when you use the device so you can make an easy escape if the fire cannot be controlled. If the room fills with smoke, leave immediately.
Know when to go. Fire extinguishers are one element of a fire response plan, but the primary element is safe escape. Every household should have a home fire escape plan and working smoke alarms.
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fire prevention week
Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, the tragic 1871 conflagration that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. The fire began on October 8, but continued into and did most of its damage on October 9, 1871.
On the 40th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire, the Fire Marshals Association of North America (today known as the International Fire Marshals Association), decided that the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire should henceforth be observed not with festivities, but in a way that would keep the public informed about the importance of fire prevention. The commemoration grew incrementally official over the years.
In 1920, President Woodrow Wilson issued the first National Fire Prevention Day proclamation, and since 1922, Fire Prevention Week has been observed on the Sunday through Saturday period in which October 9 falls. According to the National Archives and Records Administration's Library Information Center, Fire Prevention Week is the longest running public health and safety observance on record. The President of the United States has signed a proclamation proclaiming a national observance during that week every year since 1925.
Fire Prevention Week in Nassau Bay
The Nassau Bay Volunteer Fire Department participates in the annual fire prevention week activities by educating children on school visits, hosting fire prevention classes for groups and organizations and on the Friday night of Fire Prevention Week hosts it's annual Open House.
The Mayor of Nassau Bay signs a proclamation proclaiming a city wide observance of Fire Prevention Week every October to coincide with the national observation. This proclamation is made during a City of Nassau Bay Council Meeting. Members of the NBVFD attend this meeting and give the City Council a schedule of events planned for the week.
If you or your group are interested in scheduling a vist to the fire station, or scheduling a fire prevention class please contact the NBVFD
If you would like more information about Fire Prevention Week, visit the National Fire Prevention Association's website by clicking here.
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