1. Campaigns / Other Fire Prevention Efforts
2. Campus Fire Safety
3. Inspections/Code enforcement
4. Smoke Alarms
5. Sprinklers
6. Wildland Fire Safety
7. Fire safety tips and reminders
8. Other Safety News
9. Smoke Alarm Saves
10. Sprinkler Saves
11. International News

Links to Fire Prevention-related news articles – Updated 04/23/2012

Campaigns/ Other Fire Prevention Activities

1. Ill. officials introduce autism awareness training – The Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM), in partnership with the Illinois Fire Service Institute and Giant Steps, today announced a new training program for firefighters and emergency medical services (EMS) personnel to help better protect individuals with autism spectrum and related disorders. The new program, available online at no cost, helps first responders …
2. Tulare County officials address mobile home fires – Visalia Emma Leal says fire safety is a top priority at the Gold Star Mobile Home Estates, the south Visalia park she manages. She takes weekly trips around the park looking for debris that could be removed, the same safety check performed by state and local …
3. Cresskill Fire Department teams with Liberty to inspect borough homes – New Jersey
4. New Fire Prevention Initiative – The Philadelphia Fire Department says citizens can receive all fire safety and prevention information from their smart phones.
5. Seminar to discuss fire safety with senior citizens - Senior citizens age 55 and older can learn more about the risk of home fires during a free seminar April 12 at the Thomasville Senior Center. The Davidson County Department of Senior Services’ Senior Dynamics program has teamed up with Michele Hill,
6. Blue Cross of NEPA grant funds fire-safety program at Scranton schools – A grant from Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania will fund a fire safety program for students in the Scranton School District, according to a …
7. Fire safety trailer rolls into Orcutt – A Santa Barbara County Fire Department fire safety trailer full of educational tools that rolled into the campus’s front parking lot Tuesday was part of the lesson . In the middle of the fire education program , county firefighters were called away to a …
8. Manatee youngsters honored for fire prevention drawings – – Nine youngsters from eight elementary schools, along with an entire class at Wakeland Elementary, have been recognized for creating comic books and strips focused on fire prevention .
9. City launches wildland fire prevention program – The Wildland Fire Prevention Program works to identify properties at higher risk for wildland fires, and to provide their owners with recommendations on ways to prevent wildland fires from starting and spreading to nearby areas. ‘Remembering When’ program designed to prevent fires,
10. Mooresville looks to improve fire safety of older homes – The Mooresville Fire Department will seek a federal grant that it hopes will improve fire safety in some of the town’s older homes. Town commissioners on Monday gave their blessing to the MFD to pursue a $40000 fire prevention safety grant from the ..
11. Tweeting about fire safety in the home – UK – FIRE service officials in Lincolnshire have turned to social networking as the latest tool in the fight to make residents safer. Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue has joined Twitter and Facebook as a way of getting in touch with local people and spreading …

Campus fire safety

1. Stetson ‘dorm’ torched for fire safety program – City firefighters deliberately set a fire Wednesday in a mock dorm room at Stetson University to raise awareness and educate students about fire safety. Stetson officials built a model residence hall room in a …
2. Event to teach UI students fire prevention – University of Illinois students will learn about fire prevention in their dormitories, houses and living quarters this weekend. The students will be taking part in an approximate five-hour event on Saturday called Fire Factor XV,
3. Campus fires remain an issue for student safety – For those still in the hunt to find your perfect crash pad for next semester, new information on housing fires may aid your search. Since January of 2000, over 150 fire deaths have occurred in campus-related incidents …
4. Mock fires will be lit to educate OSU students – Oklahoma State University

Inspections / Code enforcement

1. Measuring mulch piles; fire codes vary significantly – Before 2006, Knoxville did not have a fire code specifically for mulch piles. The Fire Marshal’s office says mulch was regulated under a code that applied to the storage of any kind of combustible material. That pre-2006 code stated combustible …
2. Deadly fire spurs call for stricter penalties – The Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections had cited the Lichtensteins for problems at multiple properties, including fire-code violations and trash on the porch. In some cases, the Lichtensteins complied. In others, cases were dismissed.
3. Coopersburg Fire Chief: We Need Commercial Building Inspections, Permits – An international fire code , adopted by Coopersburg in 2009, sets guidelines on inspecting and permits for commercial buildings through the borough, making it hard to access by the fire company. Coopersburg and the fire company are separate entities, …

Smoke Alarms

1. Will Philadelphia demand longer lasting smoke detectors? – A Philadelphia City Councilman wants to mandate extended-life smoke detectors in multi-family dwellings. Councilman Curtis Jones says by adding a lithium battery, a smoke detector can work for 10 years, which could save lives.
2. Shenandoah Fatal Fire Still Having Effects – Now steps are being taken to expand the fire departments smoke alarm program. Two hundred and fifty smoke alarms were delivered by WNEP to the Shenandoah Fire Department. The devices are part of WNEP’s Save a Life program.
3. Auburn woman urges closer look at smoke detectors after deadly fire – The aunt of a little girl killed in a fire last month wants people to know about the differences in smoke detectors, and the kind she believes could have been able to save the lives of her niece and godmother.
4. Mother of boy killed in fire working to distribute detectors
5. Ayers: Lack of smoke detectors ‘frustrating’ – According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a working smoke alarm reduces risk of death by residential fire by 50%. Still, only about 3/4 of US households report having one that functions. “It’s frustrating to know that you have this ..
6. Smoke Dectectors For Every Residence – West Virginia And they’re applying for smoke detectors approved by both FEMA and the US Fire Administration. “We’re opting for [smoke detectors with] 10-year batteries. That way when we put a smoke alarm in, it’s going to be good for 10-years,” Sigman said.
7. Mitchell Fire Marshal stresses importance of smoke detectors – After further investigation on Friday night’s house fire, Mitchell Fire Department tells KSFY they found no smoke detectors in the home. We did hear from a member of the Sehnert family who says there was one in the home. Fire crews say it is important …

Sprinklers

1. Naples will review possible sprinkler system requirements for certain homes – It’s impractical to improve water flow to hydrants in parts of Naples that don’t meet newly adopted Florida fire codes , council members decided. Instead, a majority of council members agreed city staff should look at requiring homes of …
2. Requiring fire sprinklers in new Gurnee homes doused – However, both the village planning staff and Fire Marshal Tom Keefe supported its inclusion in village ordinances, maintaining fire sprinklers save lives and could reduce overall property insurance rates slightly within the village.
3. “We are in this for the long haul” – NFPA President Jim Shannon kicks off home fire sprinkler summit in Chicago – National Fire Protection Association Blog
4. Oklahoma City Council votes against fire sprinkler requirement – The Oklahoma City Council voted Tuesday to adopt a version of the state building code that doesn’t require installation of automatic fire sprinklers in new housing construction.
5. Chief Bruce Kline says South Carolina is gearing up for home fire sprinkler requirements in 2014 Chief Bruce Kline of the Lady’s Island Saint Helena’s Fire District spoke at today’s home fire sprinkler summit about the status of requirements for home sprinklers in South Carolina. The South Carolina Building Code Council had adopted the 2009 IRC with an effective date of January 1, 2011, but that requirement was subsequently delayed until 2014 by legislative action. Chief Kline says that in hindsight, the delay was beneficial to his state’s sprinkler efforts.
6. Tonya Hoover talks about the California home fire sprinkler experience State Fire Marshal Tonya Hoover talked about the home fire sprinkler issue in California during NFPA’s home fire sprinkler summit in Chicaog. The California Building Standards Commission adopted the 2009 International Residential Code, including its requirements for automatic fire sprinkler systems in new one- and two- family dwellings. The legislation became effective on January 1, 2011. In her presentation at NFPA’s home fire sprinkler summit today in Chicago, Chief Hoover stressed the importance…
7. MA fire marshal says without sprinklers, the state is allowing the construction of substandard housing Massachusetts State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan, who is marking his 34th year in the fire service, provided an overview of the home fire sprinkler fight in the Commonwealth. He said that with the adoption of the International Residential Code (IRC), which establishes minimum regulations for one- and two-family dwellings and includes sprinkler requirements, “we all thought that the battle for sprinklers was won”. However, the Massachusetts Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS) promulgated the…
8. Chief Bruce Kline says South Carolina is gearing up for home fire sprinkler requirements in 2014 Chief Bruce Kline of the Lady’s Island Saint Helena’s Fire District spoke at today’s home fire sprinkler summit about the status of requirements for home sprinklers in South Carolina. The South Carolina Building Code Council had adopted the 2009 IRC with an effective date of January 1, 2011, but that requirement was subsequently delayed until 2014 by legislative action. Chief Kline says that in hindsight, the delay was beneficial to his state’s sprinkler efforts.
9. Side-by-side burn demonstration in Sanford, Maine highlights the importance of home fire sprinklers On February 10th, the Sanford Fire Department conducted a side-by-side burn demonstration at Sanford Regional Technical Center, Sanford High School, with NFPA’s support and representatives in attendance. Sanford Fire Marshal Peter Cutrer narrates the demonstration, which highlighted the life safety benefits of home fire sprinkler systems.

Wildland Fire Safety

1. City launches wildland fire prevention program – The Wildland Fire Prevention Program works to identify properties at higher risk for wildland fires, and to provide their owners with recommendations on ways to prevent wildland fires from starting and spreading to nearby areas. ‘Remembering When’ program designed to prevent fires,
2. A checklist for wildfire season – th e following is based on FEMA, Firewise and the Ready, Set, Go program. • Clean out leaves and debris from gutters and downspouts. • Remove all brush, weeds and dead limbs within 30 to 200 feet of the house, depending on slope. The steeper the slope, …
3. Florida Wildlife Awareness: Clear As Smoke – “Because of this continual threat, we urge all Floridians to become ‘ Firewise ,’ and build a family disaster plan to prepare for wildfires.” These days have been both dryer and hotter than usual, and thus, Florida is especially vulnerable to wildfires.
4. Tips For Keeping Your House Fire Safe – When getting ready for the upcoming fire season here are some tips to be sure that your house has the best possible chance of surviving a wildfire. Plan your evacuation route out of the area in the event of an emergency.
5. Cal Fire-Riverside County to Enforce Hazard Reduction Ordinance – Property owners who have not cleared their land of overgrown weeds, dry grasses and other flammable vegetation will receive Notices of Violation and Order to Abate from the Riverside County Fire Hazard Reduction Office, according to Cal Fire. Riverside County Fire Department issues fire hazard warnings to property owners
6. Mulch Can Be A Serious Fire Threat – File Photo It may not be something you think of as a hazard, but mulch can spark significant fires, according to the state fire marshal’s office. Mulch is a decaying natural material that is easily ignited. In the past five years, 198 fires started …

Safety tips and reminders

1. How to teach your kids fire safety – Andra McGowan knows the basics about fire safety . The 4-year-old helped his family escape a fire that destroyed their home . But Indianapolis Fire Department Capt. Aleatha Henderson said most children are clueless about fire safety .
2. How would your family respond in a house fire? – It comes without warning and can be deadly. But there are things you can do to be prepared in case of a fire in your home . You’ve heard you need to check your smoke detector twice a year, but what you might be missing is a family fire safety plan.
3. What fire safety lessons have you learned so far?
4. Tips For Keeping Your House Fire Safe – When getting ready for the upcoming fire season here are some tips to be sure that your house has the best possible chance of surviving a wildfire. Plan your evacuation route out of the area in the event of an emergency.
5. Fire Safety Tips: Get to Know E.D.I.T.H. – Garden City, NY
6. Have a safe and sound home in seven days

Other Safety News

1. Prevention key to farm fire safety
2. Newark Mayor Cory Booker’s heroic actions give boost to fire safety videos - Field’s DVD on fire safety received a publicity boost when it was put into Newark Mayor Cory Booker’s bandaged hands during a press conference after he saved a neighbor from a house fire.
3. Mooresville looks to improve fire safety of older homes – The Mooresville Fire Department will seek a federal grant that it hopes will improve fire safety in some of the town’s older homes. Town commissioners on Monday gave their blessing to the MFD to pursue a $40000 fire prevention safety grant from the ..
4. HUD Revamps Fire Safety Loan Program, Warns Senior Care Providers: Don’t Get Burned
5. The Golden Hotel Fire: Fifty Years Later - Maintenance workers tried to put it out with fire extinguishers, but soon it was into the ground floor where a new car was parked as a jackpot prize. It caught fire , soon the flames were racing through three floors of the hotel. There were no sprinkler …
6. Fire Safety Lower on Americans’ List
7. Smoking Materials Fire Deaths Drop to 30-Year Low – Firehouse
8. Official frustrated by state’s fire history State officials also have recognized the need for more public fire safety education. A January report by the Legislative Auditor’s Office found that the …
9. Former fire marshall who ushered in safety laws after MGM Grand Hotel fire dies – – Thomas J. Huddleston, a former Nevada’s state fire marshal who pushed through tough safety laws after the 1980 MGM Grand Hotel blaze in Las Vegas that claimed 87 lives, has died in Poulsbo, Wash., after a lengthy ..
10. New City Fire Death Brings Back Memories Of Dark Days For Rockland County – New City Fire Death Brings Back Memories Of Dark Days For Rockland County Patch.com Fire safety efforts are credited for saving lives, along with improvements in the local volunteer fire service.
11. Rita Smith, Fire Safety Education Specialist - The end of an era has come at the Rome-Floyd Fire Department as Fire Safety Education Specialist Rita Smith has decided finally to hang up her helmet for the last time. Smith said she signed the paperwork Thursday to officially end her nearly 37-year …

Smoke Alarm Saves

1. Fire victims credit smoke detectors for rescue - Three people had to be rescued from an apartment after a fire broke out in a restaurant below, and they credit recently purchased smoke detectors for saving their lives.
2. Smoke detectors allow mother and kids to escape house fire – Tucson – A mother is thanking a working smoke detector for saving her and her three kids from a fire Thursday afternoon. Melissa Thrall and her newborn were asleep in the master bedroom while two other children were in their bedrooms, when the fire
3. Smoke alarm saved lives in Rome Township fire – Three men inside the house were able to get out after one of them was alerted by the smoke alarms , according to a news release from the Ohio Department of Commerce.

Sprinkler Saves

1. Sprinklers help save two Charleston apartments
2. Boarding House Fire Stopped By Sprinkler System – A small fire at a local boarding house Sunday could have been much worse if not for the automatic sprinkler system, which alerted residents and fire officials to the fire. Nashua Fire responded to the Temple Street.
3. Fire at South Spokane shelter started by children Automatic fire sprinklers, activated by the fire, kept it from spreading in the … Firefighter said until the sprinkler and alarm system can be returned to …

Fire Prevention News: International

1. Flash for home fire safety – Australia CFA volunteers from across the Ballarat district converged on the Bridge Mall yesterday during lunchtime as a flash mob. The group was led by Dianne Lawson from Gordon who says they are highlighting some key fire safety messages for winter but in a fun .
2. Sprinkler systems should be mandatory in seniors’ facilities: fire chiefs – Residents of many seniors’ homes in Ontario would die if a fire broke out because their buildings are short-staffed and lack sprinkler systems, according to a preliminary study by top provincial fire chiefs.
3. Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Fit More than 3000 Smoke Detectors in Homes in …Latest figures from Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) show the service has taken the fire safety message into almost 4000 homes and fitted more than 3000 smoke detectors over the last 12 months. The statistics also reveal that there have been no …
4. Sunderland home fire safety drive – THOUSANDS of homes are to be made safer as Gentoo staff are trained to be the eyes and ears of the fire service. A partnership with Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service will see firefighters hand down basic fire safety training to Sunderland housing ..