Monday, December 1, 2008
Smoke Alarms May Be Less Effective for Older Adults
While the use of smoke alarms and signaling systems is associated with a reduction in fire fatalities in the general population, reducing the chances of dying in a fire by up to 50% when present, a recent study suggests that adults ages 65 and older may not fully benefit from conventional smoke alarm systems, particularly during sleeping hours. ...
OSHA Releases Fire Protection Design Manual
Information contained in a new Occupational Safety and Health Administration manual may help increase the safety of building occupants and emergency responders, according to its publisher. Fire Service Features of Building and Fire Protection Systems is designed to help streamline fire service interaction with building features and fire protection systems....
Functional Alarms Found in 1 of 4 Fatal Fires
The U.S. Fire Administration has released a special report regarding fatal residential structure fires with working smoke alarms. The report reveals alarms operated in 34% of fatal apartment fires and in 12% of fatal one- and two-family dwelling fires....
3,675 Die in U.S. Fires in 2005
Results of a National Fire Protection Association study released Aug. 1 show an estimated 3,675 people died in fires in the United States in 2005. That number represents a decrease of nearly 6% compared to 2004 fire fatalities, despite a more than 3% increase in the total number of fires occurring....
Candles Responsible for 23,600 Fires, 165 Deaths Annually
The U.S. Fire Administration has released findings of a study of fires caused by candles in structural residences. The report estimates candles are responsible for 23,600 residential structure fires each year and cause 1,525 civilian injuries, 165 fatalities and $390 million in direct property loss....
Humidifiers Recalled for Fire Hazard
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the Hunter Fan Co. of Memphis, Tenn., has announced a voluntary recall of about 29,000 electrically powered humidifiers. Water from the humidifier can leak into the unit's electrical compartment posing a fire hazard...
Lawn Tractors Recalled for Fire Hazard
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Husqvarna Outdoor Products Inc. (formerly known as Electrolux Outdoor Products Inc.) of Augusta, Ga., has announced a voluntary recall of about 174,000 lawn tractors. The fuel line on these lawn tractors can separate form the fuel tank outlet. If this occurs, fuel spills out, posing a fire hazard....
Candles Recalled Due to Fire Hazard
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Home Fragrance Holdings Inc. of Houston, has announced a voluntary recall of about 413,000 candles. The candles can unexpectedly flare, posing a fire hazard....
NFPA to Allow Electronic Monitoring of Fire Extinguishers
Recognizing the improved reliability and added safety of electronically monitored fire extinguishers, the National Fire Protection Association has amended NFPA 10, Portable Fire Extinguishers, and NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm Code, to allow electronic monitoring in lieu of mandatory physical 30-day inspections. The amended codes will go into effect in September 2006 ...
Grills Recalled Due to Fire Hazard
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Nexgrill Industries Inc., has announced a voluntary recall of about 16,000 gas grills....
Study Analyzes Fire Spread in Tunnels
In a number of catastrophic tunnel fires, fire often spreads from vehicle to vehicle over surprisingly large distances, occasionally hundreds of meters....
West Virginia Adopts NFPA 1 & 101
West Virginia has adopted the 2003 editions of NFPA 1, Uniform Fire Code, and NFPA 101, Life Safety Code....
USFA, NFPA Issue Cigarette Fires Report
Joint work by the USFA and NFPA has resulted in set of sound, research-based recommendations for behavioral mitigation strategies to reduce smoking fire fatalities in the United States....
Emergency Smoke Hoods Recalled
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Brookdale International Systems Inc. of Vancouver, B.C., Canada, has announced a voluntary recall of the company’s emergency escape smoke hoods....
USFA Releases Confined Structure Fires Reports
In 2002, there were approximately 52,000 confined structure fire incidents reported to the National Fire Incident Reporting System., according to two new reports from the U.S. Fire Administration....
Reports of Inoperable Smoke Alarms Prompts Investigation
Federal safety officials are investigating reports that many First Alert OneLink smoke and carbon monoxide alarms installed in the State College, Pa., area have been found inoperable. Fire inspectors have found many of the OneLink alarms with drained batteries less than six weeks after installation....
HSC Accepts Donation from Sprinkler Association
The Home Safety Council has announced it is the recipient of a "generous" contribution from the National Fire Sprinkler Association to help support the efforts of the HSC's educational outreach efforts related to fire sprinklers...
USFA Releases Structure Fire Response Times Report
The U.S. Fire Administration has released the report Structure Fire Response Times from the National Fire Data Center in Emmitsburg, Md. Response times in this report are measured from alarm time to the arrival of firefighters on scene....
SFC America Recalls Fire Extinguishers
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Strike First Corp., of Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, has announced a voluntary recall of 51,000 fire extinguishers.......
USFA Releases Fire and the Older-Adult Report
Adults age 65 and older are two-and-a-half times more likely to die in fires than the overall population, and as Americans age, their fire risk increases, according to a new report issued today by the U.S. Fire Administration....
USFA: 106 Fatalities in 2005
The USFA also reports four firefighter fatalities in 2005 related to injuries suffered in years prior to 2005. ...
Evaluation Metrics Proposed for Thermal Imagers
Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology have submitted recommendations to the National Fire Protection Association that outline evaluation methods for thermal imagers as used in six critical emergency situations. These recommendations include tests to assess durability as well as image quality....
Candles Spark Fire Prevention Theme
The National Fire Protection Association is urging the public to focus on candle safety during its Fire Prevention Week 2005, Oct. 9-15. Emphasis is placed...
CPSC Recalls Kidde Fire Extinguishers
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Walter Kidde Portable Equipment Inc. of Mebane, N.C, have announced a voluntary recall of about 470,000...
NFPA Issues Milestone Sprinkler Codes
The standards council of the National Fire Protection Association in August issued two key safety codes that will require fire sprinklers in all nursing...
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