Fire Industry News

FDNY Reports No Fire-Related Deaths in June

New York City fire officials reported that June was the first month in 150 years that there wasn’t a fire-related death in the city, according to the Associated Press. June marked the first month without a death since the department began keeping track of fatalities in 1916.

FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro credited stepped up prevention efforts and said it is a testament to the work firefighters and paramedics perform every day.

So far, there have been 29 reported fire-related fatalities in 2015. The highest number of deaths from fires in New York City occurred in 1970 when 310 people were killed.

Miss SC Joins C3FAC in Fight Against Cancer

Those attending this year’s Fire Rescue Conference in Myrtle Beach, SC, had the opportunity to meet Miss South Carolina USA, Sarah Weishuhn, who joined the CODE 3 FOR A CURE (C3FAC) cause in its ongoing efforts to fight the war on firefighter cancer.

“I am so honored to stand behind and give my full support to Code 3 For A Cure,” Weishuhn said in a statement. “As a daughter of a throat cancer survivor, as well as a daughter of a past firefighter, this organization is incredibly close to my heart. These men and women risk their lives on a moment’s notice, and I am in awe of their unfailing strength. I wish all the best to these firefighters and this incredible organization on their mission to assist firefighters across the nation who are battling cancer.”

“We are honored to welcome Miss South Carolina USA to the team,” said Lorenzo Abundiz, president & founder of C3FAC. “She is a true Fire Warrior of hope and honor because she is working to call attention to the alarming rate of cancer among firefighters, as well as the C3FAC cause to support firefighters who are battling the disease.”

Grill Safety Tips

With summer in full swing, it is not too late to pass along some outdoor cooking safety tips. The USFA has released a Topical Fire Report titled Grill Fires on Residential Properties. Here are some statistics and safety tips from that report to share with community members about grill fires and outdoor cooking fire safety.

Did You Know?

Grill fires cause an estimated $37 million in property loss each year.
Almost half of home grill fires happen between 5 and 8 p.m.
Patios, terraces, screened-in porches and courtyards are leading home locations for grill fires.
79 percent of all home grill fires involve gas grills.
“Mechanical failure, malfunction” is the leading factor in the start of grill fires. Leaks or breaks of containers or pipes are often to blame.

Safety Tips:

Only use grills outdoors, away from siding and deck railings.
Clean grills often and remove grease or fat build-up.
Make sure your gas grill lid is open before lighting.
Have a three-foot safe-zone around grills and campfires. Keep kids and pets clear of the area.
Dispose of coals after they have cooled in a metal can.
Never leave grills, fire pits and patio torches unattended.

The report can be found at usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/statistics/v11i1.pdf.

Pet Protection

The Pet Alert Emergency Information System is a specially designed kit to help pet lovers protect their pets’ safety and aid in their rescue, while also safeguarding first responders by providing proper information regarding the pets in a simple and universal format.

The founder of Pet Alert, Camy Thumwood, developed the Pet Alert Emergency Information System to provide the resources needed to prevent pets from becoming overlooked during an emergency situation. The kit includes many specially designed items, including a safety orange doorknob hanger, an automobile mirror tag, an RV Dashboard Placard, plus a vital information card to cover pets’ handicap/medical needs. The kit comes with notification cards to advise the pet owner’s local fire stations, police station, animal shelter and animal hospital that they use the Pet Alert System for their database.

“Every day, hundreds of pets are killed or injured because no information is readily available regarding the pet and proper preparations were not made,” Thumwood said. “I have always been an animal lover and developed the first Pet Alert System in California 20 ago, which was much more basic. But with the encouragement from Fire Chiefs around the county, I was inspired to develop an expanded version of the first Pet Alert Emergency Information System and bring it back for pet owner’s use to provide proper information to first responders in the event an emergency happens to safeguard all pets that could be in danger and became a victim from smoke inhalation, injury or death.”

For more information, visit www.petalert.com.