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Home My WebLink About2007 - Couplings Fall-Winter Newsletter kE, iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliilliillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillilliillillillillillillillillillillilliillillililI CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT o use By Tom Kiurski One thin that I havel r F �� b " ^ a � r, Y The Ann Arbor Trail g J en t always enjoyed m m Y ri �� - house had a large living 20-plus years in the fire room, so one great drill service is when wewe were able to practice actually get a house that - '' �� ' ot '� there is to take our self- we can train in. contained breathing Obviously, this isn't the � apparatus (SCBA) apart average house, filledand line up all the parts with nice furniture, that � ��` in the center of the we can use during the �,�� room. Firefighters day and have to give 1 �;; entered the room and back in a clean began searching for all condition by the time the / �y,i the parts necessary to family arrives home in '` '� put their SCBA together. the afternoon. These In a smoke-filled homes are the ones that atmosphere, firefighters are scheduled for � �i ��oi��/ a � , quickly assembled their demolition for one SCBA and started reason or another. On Eight Mile Road, we practiced breathing the clean air inside. They stretching a hoseline into a home. The assisted their partners in locating Some recent training took place in house had a fire in a burn chamber parts that may not have been put homes on Eight Mile Road near located in a remote bedroom. The together yet, and exited as a team. Up Middlebelt and on Ann Arbor Trail crews, with no visibility, had to on the roof, the finer points of roof near Newburgh. The skills that we negotiate their way into that back construction, and how that affects our can practice in these homes go a long bedroom with the crew intact. Once ventilation, were discussed. way in helping us stay sharp on skills there, they opened a window and used Ventilation is the planned, systematic, that aren't used every day. We one of our newest nozzles. They shot release of hot fire gases when certainly don't want to practice a new the nozzle, equipped with pressurized firefighting crews are about to enter a skill when your home is burning, so water, out the rear window. This nozzle structure. This release makes we rely on donated homes to practice has many capabilities, so crews conditions inside more tenable for any those skills on, so we will be keenly practiced all options with our nozzles. victims, taking heat and smoke up and confident when the situation does A thermal imaging camera was used out of the structure. arise. We don't intend to fool anyone and explained to crews, finding heated here...we don't have house fires every areas with the camera. This device is We wish to thank those individuals single day here in Livonia. Newer similar to a video camera, that shows and companies that have donated construction, solid home values, grey images, with high heat showing houses to us for training purposes. The stringent codes, detailed inspections up as a white color. This helps our skills that we practice regularly keep us and a pride in appearance keep our crews find the direction of fire travel ready when we are called upon to save homes high on their curb appeal. faster that we had in the past. lives and property when seconds count. "From the Chief" VIII By: Shadd Whitehead Sharing is Caring I am overwhelmed with the positive By Tom Kiurski responses that this office has received from Livonia Fire & Rescue has a proud the "Couplings" newsletter. I want to thank history of sharing its resources with other you for taking the time to share your thoughts fire departments that request help. This and feelings, and am happy to give to you this can be through use of our vehicles when a neighboring city has all of its fire resources next issue of our newsletter. If you missed the tied up, we come in and help them out. previous issue, it is on the city website, so just They help us out as well. This help also follow the drop-down menu to the Public goes way beyond our neighboring cities. Safety Department, then click on the Fire Department, then you will see the link t0 the Our fire department is heralded as one of the best in the nation when it comes to first issue. I look forward to seeing you at our educating the public. We have had Open House events, and hope you enjoy this members speak locally and at national issue Of "Couplings". conferences about our fire safety education programs. Our Open House events, as well as the September "Passport to Safety" event at Laurel Park Place Mall, are considered top-notch. ylO D While we are proud of that, we constantly strive to do more. We share our efforts in fire safety "Flames arcryaR education through the pages of the "f premiere fire service trade journal "Fire Engineering." In 2006, we have shared No Game with other fire departments about our open houses in an article that appeared in the January 2006 issue called "Fun in the Teach your family what to do in case of a fire in the home. Firehouse." In April 2006, we showcased our new golf cart along with some other 1. Get out Fast, Seconds Count. Phone for help from a vehicles from around the country in an neighbor's home, or use a cell phone from outside your article we authored called "Fire Vehicles home. Never call from inside a burning building. that Draw Attention and Educate." We 2. Crawl Low under the smoke to exit a smoky building. again hit the presses with a July 2006 article called "Get Help Writing About 3. Test the Door. If it is hot or there is smoke, use another way Safety in Your Community", where we to get out. outlined the fantastic relationship we have 4. Once Out, Stay Out. There's nothing more important in your with the great folks at the Livonia Observer home than you. If someone is missing, tell a firefighter. & Eccentric, and how we get our messages out with their help. 5. Designate an Outside Meeting Place. This is a place for all family members go to meet and do a head count to let Thanks for being there at our events— firefighters know if everyone is out or not. we couldn't do it without you! 2 � pllll1ell are burneleve �� Awareness � �IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII i0d e0 ry �1 Imu Cord Safety year by electric space �� heaters. By following these simple safety tips, you can TO PREVENT EIECTRICA[ CORd PROb[EMS AROUNd THE hOUSE, avoid becoming a burn PRACTICE THE FOROWING SAFETY TIPS victim. — Look for number of watts or appliances and select the proper cord for the wattage. Place heaters at least — Plug only the specified amount of wattage into a cord. Never plug one extension three feet away from cord into another. upholstered furniture, — Avoid driving, dragging, walking or placing objects over a cord. Constant friction drapes, bedding and can cause a break in the wiring, resulting in a fire. other combustible — Use special heavy-duty cords outdoors and in the workshop. Many cords are materials. equipped with circuit breakers to protect against overloads. -� Check to see that all electrical cords are in good condition; a frayed area may the cord is frayed, not use the heater if crack and expose the metal conductor, or make it easier for a child or pet to chew the through. splitting or the plug is -� Cover unused outlets with plastic outlet covers if you have small children in the broken. home. Buy an approved heater that has been tested by Underwriters Place.- Laboratories (UL). Turn the heater off when family members leave the room and NEVER By Tom Kiurski leave a heater of any kind unattended. Warming up by the fireplace conjures up some fond memories of playing in the NEVER use heaters to snow and decorating the Christmas tree, among many others. But safety must be the dry clothing or shoes. order of the day, since heating equipment is a leading cause of home fires during the months of December, January and February. Home heating fires in those months are NEVER leave children second only to cooking fires, which is always at the top of the list. unattended while using a heater. In the year 2002, heating equipment was involved in an estimated 45, 500 home Make sure the heater is structure fires in the United States, according to the NFPA(National Fire Protection placed securely on the Association). These fires caused an estimated 220 civilian fire deaths, 990 civilian fire floor. injuries and caused $449 million in direct property damage. Direct property damage is limited to damage caused by the fire, and does not include expenses associated with Portable kerosene alternate living arrangements, replacement clothing and food costs. heaters are illegal heating devices inside a Fireplaces and chimneys rank first in the number of fires among types of heating home (carbon monoxide equipment. Most of these were caused by creosote build-up in chimneys. If you use hazards). your fireplace, you should have it cleaned and inspected at least once a year by a licensed professional. Portable and fixed space heaters, including wood stoves, caused a disproportionate share of the home heating fire deaths. Space heaters were involved in 25% of the home heating fires but 74 percent of the deaths. Space heaters need a 3-foot i I space in front of the unit where combustible are kept clear. Newer space heaters i have "tip-over"switches, so that if the unit gets knocked over, it turns off. This is a nice feature to have if you are considering buying a new one. d t Fireplaces should use only dry wood, and the screen should be pulled in the closed position, to keep any sparks or embers away from combustibles. The 3-foot clearance should also be observed with the fireplace. i Fireplaces can be a great gathering place in the home. Take a few extra " minutes to ensure a safe atmosphere. H 3 Do IDWhat o.? ,F You are driving down the road, enjoying the music coming from the car radio and winding down from a busy day at work. Suddenly, your attention is drawn to the flashing lights in the rear-view mirror, and you see a fire department vehicle approaching you from behind, sirens ablaze. What should you do? DO V Remain Calm Move your vehicle to the right (if possible), come to a complete stop, and wait for the emergency vehicle(s) to pass. Stay put at intersections, stop signs and traffic signals. Do not attempt to quickly move through or turn in front of our 40,000 pound fire vehicles. Make sure another emergency vehicle isn't coming along behind the first one before you proceed forward. You may see another fire vehicle coming, but if they don't have lights and sirens on, they are going along with normal traffic (something we do regularly). DON'T X Stop in the middle of an intersection. Proceed through it, then pull over to the right-hand side of the road and stop. X Stop in the middle of a lane where there is room to pull over to the right. X Pull to the left in the center yellow lane or left turn lane. X Race ahead to get through a green light or turn before the emergency vehicle gets there. X Make a left turn quickly into a driveway or side street X Disregard the emergency vehicle and continue to travel...we may be going to your house or a neighbor's house! ,� M MB�� Move TO rN IRIN LIGHT a� 4 ' IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ��Vld��Iltese By Tom Kiurski i Almost any fire apparatus you see today has a Maltese cross on it. Firefighters wear badges that also have the shape of the Maltese cross on it. The Maltese cross is the red center circle, with the four shapes that emanate from the center. But many people ask us what the connection is between the fire service and that Maltese cross. Hopefully, the following � I tale will help to answer that question. This emblem had its beginning during the Crusades, and was the symbol of the knights of that period in history. The knights were designing a shield that could be used in battle, but not be too Candle Safety cumbersome during the fighting while riding horses. The cross design Do not use candles that was adopted and put into use by the early Knights of Malta. have dried flowers or potpourri embedded in The Knights of Malta became a charitable, non-military organization the wax (these materials are flammable). during the 11th and 12th centuries. They also provided aid to the sick Keep candles away from and poor and help to set up numerous hospitals. Later, they would take hair and materials such up arms and join with the Knights of the Crusades in an effort to win back as clothing, furniture, the Holy Land. drapes, bedding, carpet, decorations and other flammable items. This new breed of knight was quite well known as a flamboyant lot. They Avoid spraying aerosols dressed in regal fashion to show their colors in a uniform manner. Large (like hair spray or air crimson-colored capes were worn over the suits of armor. Not only were fresheners) near a candle. the capes symbolic, the also helped provide a defense against one of the Keep candles out of the newest weapons of war - fire.As invading forces attacked a castle, the reach of children and defenders would throw containers of naphtha and other flammable pets. Avoid placing liquids. Once the armies were soaked, a torch would be thrown down at candles where they could be knocked over the attackers, igniting their fuel-soaked clothing. by children or pets. Remember to extinguish With their fellow troops engulfed in fire, the Maltese Knights would all candles when leaving approach on horseback, rip off their capes, and use it to extinguish the the room or going to sleep. flames on their burning fellow fighters. Do not carry a lit candle or use a candle to look As a reward for their bravery, the cross that was worn by those Knights for items in a closet or was decorated and inscribed by their admirers. It came to be known as other confined area. the most honorable badge of acclaim that could be adorned on a uniform. The legend of the Maltese cross grew as it was associated with the admirable qualities of loyalty, bravery and defender of the weak. Today, your firefighters are all proud to wear the time-honored Maltese cross as part of their uniform and adorn our chariots with the emblem as well. 5 Fire Extinguishers . . . Worth the Time and Effort to Have By Tom Kiurski Home fire extinguishers have been around for a number of years, and still make good sense to have on hand. While not intended to fight a fire like "The Towering Inferno", they are a good item to have on hand to control small fires when they are still just that—small! Fire extinguishers need very little care, can last for years and are simple to purchase and use. But for you to use them correctly during an emergency, you must take time and learn the proper procedure when there is no emergency present. Let's start and look at the types of fire extinguishers out there. Fire extinguishers are rated by the class or classes of fire they can effectively put out. The most common rating for home fire extinguishers are Class A, B and C. Class A is for ordinary combustibles, such as paper, wood, plastics and home furnishings. Class B is a category reserved for flammable liquids, such as gasoline, oils, paints, thinners, stains and cooking oils and sprays. Class C is for energized electrical equipment, which is anything that you have plugged in to an outlet, such as televisions, stereos, toasters, computers, and accessories. When choosing a home fire extinguisher, choose an "ABC"-rated fire extinguisher, so that no matter how the fire breaks out, or what is involved in flames, you have an extinguisher on hand that can handle small fires of all kinds. Keep your fire extinguisher located inside your home where all adults know where it is. Playing the odds, keeping one near the kitchen area makes good sense. If you are going to have more than one fire extinguisher, a basement or garage is an excellent place for them. Use the mounting bracket and install the fire extinguisher, so that it is less likely to be moved and not missed. Almost all fire extinguishers operate according to the PASS method. PASS is an acronym for Pull,Aim, Squeeze and Sweep. The Pull part of the acronym is for pulling the pin or tape out of the way, then you Aim the nozzle or hose at the base of the flames, at the burning fuel. The first "S" stands for Squeeze, where the handles are squeezed together and then you would Sweep the extinguishing agent from side to side at the base of the flames. Home fire extinguishers are designed for small fires, limited to an object or two, and last about ten seconds.Always keep a clear exit to your back so you can leave the burning building if the fire doesn't go out. You should always call your Livonia firefighters in case of any unwanted fire in your home, by dialing 911. If you put the fire out with a home fire extinguisher, then tell the dispatcher on the phone that you believe the fire is out. They will send less fire apparatus to investigate and collect insurance information. Take the time to research fire extinguishers and purchase the right one. Once it is used, it needs to be replaced or recharged. Learn and teach your family how to use the fire extinguishers in your home, and discuss how they work into your home fire safety plan. They'll be glad you did! 6 Z "M Draw your escape �; Get out fast. plan. Know where �� y � to meet outside. 20 �. Go over your „�, �� Practice getting ,, plan together. Y �� r � out when people ml are asleep too. irmaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamnirr iruwmnwmww�wmrtuwanuuworiiu(i' iwawuwurawmpnuuuunrwwi ;P ouu ti4rw� �t�p� �V Keep the way , °F Go to your , �, out clear. ��`�� 1§�� meeting place. J rAf 0 Ji Put your plan t In a real fire, call where everyone r« � � can see it. t from outside. �� w� �� RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR�m pp VV VV � �R �o�Is ssssssssp�'��Wppppp r JpNl�ll u Push the smoke �„ III 111111 alarm buitton to H O ' M E start the fire drill. SAFETY COUNCIL® M=11111111111 11 1 MINE 7 Livonia Fire & Rescue BULK RATE 14910 Farmington Road U.S. POSTAGE Livonia, Michigan 48154 PAID Permit No. 54 CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT Livonia MI Shadd Whitehead, Chief Tom Kiurski, Editor °"11111"' "'° IIIIPIIII IIIIIP VIII IN S U Ik A, IM CIII CHILDREN & FIRE aIV combination! Children have a natural curiosity that can be Education and information are the best two weapons exasperating at times. This curiosity is how children that a parent/guardian or teacher has to prevent a child learn about their environment. Unfortunately, fire is so from experiencing burn injuries. Teaching the child fire unpredictable and dangerous that a moment of safe behaviors early can reduce the level of curiosity, carelessness can result in a lifetime of regret. thereby removing the child's urge to experiment on their own. If you do not know what to teach your child, stop by your local station. mt40�f .j �„ Mr Keep ° matches „ .: .... and lighters w m up high out-of sightSM KIS" 4... and reach f young "QHS TM MTT, 1b Y, i;T T a-II �P II tE T 4 .s CRI'4 Vous V&:$ML., �.. W"M children. T NE JR Te)YC. m gym, It's best to keep A,. IF w J,Teems)I � 1 ..N.,A .T~�u �Tw them under v" m .Tu ..gyp IDICk and key. A IF Toy Seer;A FNNIM 11AXPAW&0)T TA m ,. .N..I.AN AT4.a1.1 —171 K.......... 75 „m �� m '�„m��T .�,�-- � �� •gyp,. STT .��.,. al Sparaxe r” erW traftmark%of me N Th�nam and the Mao:4