Below are steps to Creating Defensible Space:

1).  Remove any and all dead vegetation.

2). Limb up your trees by removing branches and foliage a minimum of 4'-6' off the ground.

3). Prune and think overgrown shrubs.

4). Selectively thin or remove live foliage to create defined clear space between remaining vegetation.  Clear space width should be three times the height of the vegetation selected to remain.

5). Remove accumulated pine needles and leave from underneath bushes and wood decks, then look up and remove the same from roof tops.

6). Their chipper cannot accept root balls, branches or trees greater than 8" in diameter.  If you have material such as this, call them for additional information.

7). No construction materials; tree-brush type vegetation only.

People are used to seeing news reports about home fires in Smithtown and our surrounding communities. They tell where and when the fire occurred, whether anyone was injured or killed, maybe the cause of the fire. Sometimes, a follow-up report tells about the status of victims, notes investigation findings, or describes the community's response to the fire. These reports tell the story of one fire, in one particular home, at one particular time. Most people probably think, "That unfortunate family." But they probably don't think, "That could happen to me." Or, "How can I prevent a fire in my home?"

Home fires, and the injuries and deaths that result, are not rare and isolated events. Home fires happen in communities all over the country, every day. They're deadly, and they're costly. And they can change the lives of families forever. But they're not unavoidable. Home fires and fire deaths can be prevented.

Fires are deadly.

• In the United States, a home fire claims a life every 3 hours.
• Every half-hour, someone is injured in a home fire.

Fires are costly.

• Residential fires cost nearly $7 billion in property damage.
• Injuries related to fires and burns cost $1.3 billion.
• Fatal fire injuries cost $66 million.
• Fires and burns cause $6.2 billion in lost productivity.
• The sentimental value of lost personal items and keepsakes cannot be estimated.

Fires are devastating.

• A fire can destroy a home and everything in it in a matter of minutes.
• Recovering from a fire can be physically and mentally draining.
• The loss of personal belongings and keepsakes can be traumatic.
• The loss of a home to fire can be particularly difficult for the elderly, who may have lived in a home for decades, or for young children, who have lost the safe familiarity of toys, clothes, and rooms and may be confused by the distraught adults around them.

Fires deaths can happen to anyone, but some groups are at greater risk.

Young children:

Children younger than 5 have a higher risk of fire injury and death than older children.

Older adults:

Adults 65 and older are twice as likely as any other age group to die in a home fire. The death rate for those 85 and older is five times the national average.

Fires and resulting deaths can be prevented.

People need to know they can help prevent home fires and survive them if they happen:

• By installing smoke alarms on every floor, outside every sleeping area (ideally, in every sleeping area, too).
• By having an escape plan and practicing it with the whole family.
• By practicing fire safety when cooking, smoking, using space heaters, or lighting candles.

Barriers make fire prevention more difficult.

The biggest barrier to preventing fire deaths is lack of access to smoke alarms. The homes at greatest risk of deadly fires are also those least likely to have working smoke alarms. Another barrier is lack of information-people can't prevent fire deaths if they don't know what to do.

Fire Prevention Week will be here before we know it and if we need things to commemorate this event, now would be the time to start looking into the way to order fire prevention week stuff.

About Fire Prevention Week

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.  -- Reproduced from NFPA's Fire Prevention Week Web site, www.firepreventionweek.org. ©2008 NFPA.

October 9th, 1920 marked the 49th anniversary to the Great Chicago Fire, one of the most destructive fires in the last few hundred years.  This year's observation of Fire Prevention Week will mark the 137th anniversary to the fire and the 88th observance of Fire Prevention Week. If you need items to help kids learn about fire prevention, check out the promotional products available. You could use fire prevention coloring books, or fire ladder growth charts, etc. to assist kids in retaining these lifelong lessons about fire safety and prevention.

Of course I wanted a safe place for her as well. In my mind, safe mostly meant from abuse, sexual or otherwise. I have to admit that fire safety in her daycare never crossed my mind. Not once.

I did not ask - ever - if they:

• tested their smoke alarms?
• regularly changed batteries in the smoke alarm?
• had regular fire drills?
• had fire extinguishers and knew how to use them?
• had a system to account for everyone?
• promised they could get my Sarah out in an emergency?

I am probably not much different from most other parents. Today in Tallahassee, Florida, a family is mourning the death of their 4-year-old because of a fire at her daycare yesterday.

I believe as a mom I can imagine their anguish. I think about an E.R. doctor telling me, "I'm sorry, your baby is gone," and my stomach clenches, my throat goes dry. My knees weaken and I know I would collapse if this was happening in my real world.

I am so very sorry for this family. The daycare's staff surely is ill with guilt and grief...something you probably never really get over.

For other parents out there, ask those questions. And make sure your home environment is safe, too. Check your smoke detectors, practice your escape plan, teach your children, "Stop, Drop and Roll." This Web site has good info for all stages of life: http://www.firesafety.gov/

Hospital Fire Safety Training Program (NHS and Private Health Care)

Hospital Fire Safety Lectures

Resources of Fire, Reasons of ignition, What to do in case of fire, How to raise the alarm quickly, What to in case of alarm sounds, Fire extinguishers colour coding , Fire safety including fire doors, fire alarms, smoke detectors and others.

Concern Home Fire Safety Training

Nursing Home - Fire Safety Lectures

Resources of Fire, Reasons of ignition, What to do in case of fire, How to raise the alarm quickly, What to in case of alarm sounds, Fire extinguishers colour coding , Fire safety including fire doors, fire alarms, smoke detectors and others.

Residential Care Staff - Fire Safety Lectures

Resources of Fire, Reasons of ignition, What to do in case of fire, How to raise the alarm quickly, What to in case of alarm sounds, Fire extinguishers colour coding , Fire safety including fire doors, fire alarms, smoke detectors and others.
General Fire Safety Training including Hotel Fire Safety Training, Industrial Fire Safety Training, Office Fire Safety Training, Night Club Fire Safety Training, Student Accommodation Fire Safety Training, Hospital and Care Home Fire Safety Training

Fire Awareness Training Course

How to raise the alarm quickly, What to do in the cease of a fire, Fire extinguishers colour coding, Combustion, Resources of Fire, Reasons of ignition, & Spread of fire, Fire safety in the workplace, Fire procedures, The contact of legislation, pictogram fire exit and other safety signs and signals.

Fire Warden or Fire Marshal Training Courses

How to raise the alarm fast, What to do in the cease of a fire, Information on fire extinguishers including BS EN3 colour coding, The basics of fire, Resources of ignition, Spread of fire, General and advance fire safety advice in the workplace, The continuation and monitoring of daily fire safety in the workplace and the particular duties of a Fire Warden

Senior Managers Fire Safety Seminar

Information of fire precautions legislation as applicable to senior managers, Prologue to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Regulations 2005, Risk assessment & Safety, Fire avoidance and safety measures, Human behavior, Firefighting tools including the impact of BSEN3 as it related to colour coding of fire extinguishers, Fire process and rule including the impact of the Health and Safety (Fire Safety Symbols & Signals) Regs 1996 as it applies to pictogram fire exit symbols.

COCOMS is working in partnership with the British Hospitality Association and has developed their approved Fire Safety Toolkit and Training

Cocoms is your best online source for:

Fire Safety Training
Fire Awareness Training
Fire Safety Awareness
Fire Safety Product
Fire Safety Training UK
Fire Safety Law
Hotel Fire Safety
Industrial Fire Safety
Fire Safety Guides
Online Fire Risk Assessment
Fire Risk Assessment
Fire Safety Solutions
Fire Safety Compliance
Fire Safety Toolkit
Fire Safety
Compliance Solutions
Fire Awareness Training

Further information on specific fire safety training courses can be found on our website.

Fire blankets are not just for use in the kitchen, however. Consider keeping one near your electrical equipment or in the garage or any oil storeroom place. Grease and oil fires can be a major problem. Modern types are improved than old style wool fire blankets, since there's no risk of scorching. Some large laboratory fire blankets are still made from treated wool. In decommissioning old buildings and tools, you may encounter very old fire blankets made from asbestos. These will not flame, but pose a health hazard to workers and should be treated very cautiously during disposal.

Modern household fire blankets are usually made from aramid fibers, fiberglass, or similar supplies. Even though they're produced from synthetics, there's no hazard of melting or dripping, and they don't burn. They don't glue to skin, even if that skin has been injured by fire. Many fire blankets still work up to as high a temperature as 900 degrees Celsius. That makes them one of the easiest and safest alternatives for putting out a small fire.

A fire blanket works by eliminate the fire's oxygen supply - a vital part of combustion. By wrapping a burning object in a blanket totally, you remove its capacity to burn. Keep your fire blankets close at hand to make sure you can get at them in the incident of a fire. Remember that you must use yours correctly in order to get the full benefit of it. That means understanding the instructions and following them with care.

When you use a fire blanket, it's vital to guard your hands from damage by the fire. That requires covering them in the top edge of the blanket as you apply it to the basis of the flame, or wearing fire anti gloves to handle the blanket. Remember that not each fire can be put out by a fire blanket. If you use one of these devices and aren't able to extinguish the fire, call your local fire department without delay.

Fire Safety Products : Fire blankets must be allowed to cool after use for at least half an hour. Other than this, they need no servicing or repairs, unlike a chemical fire extinguisher. They're always ready to use, and don't expire or go out of date. Any fire blanket you buy will have been tested before being sold, so it'll work well when you require it. Remain a number of these simple, cheap fire prevention devices around your home, in any problem area. They're folded up into a small container, so they won't take up much space. However, that container has been planned to release the blanket speedily. There's no require to fuss with it when you need to deal with a fire.

Every home or workplace, particularly locations where there's a danger of grease or electrical fire, must have fire blankets on hand and set to use. They're one of the simplest ways to avoid a small fire from getting larger, and to minimize the amount of damage caused. Less messy and hard to use than an extinguisher, and always prepared for duty, fire blankets are best choice when dealing with small fires, particularly those which can't be put out by water.

For more fire safety products please visit on our website

On a typical 4th of July, fireworks cause more reported outdoor fires in the United States than all other causes of outdoor fire combined, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).  While highly vegitated areas and mountainous areas are most prone to wildfire, any fire can become out of control in the current conditions.  If you live in a highly populated area, you are not free of fire danger.

This Fourth of July, please think twice before you set off any fireworks.  One year without fireworks can make a huge difference in Santa Cruz County.

Alternatives to Fireworks:

• Scotts Valley will still be having the 4th of July Parade and concert by the Govenor's Marching Band at Skypark. The parade will begin at 3 p.m. at Civic Center and Scotts Valley drives. The concert will start at 5 p.m.
• Join the 4th festivities in Aptos, including the "Worlds Shortest Parade" and Picnic.
• If you have children, consider these fun ideas from HGTV.com: http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/ah_entertaining_occasions/article/0,,HGTV_3115_1390110,00.html
• Go to a movie - see one with plenty of explosions.
• Go on a road trip to a location that has a professional fireworks show.
• Check out the Boardwalk - an original piece of Americana.
• Get a Pinata!  Explodes like fireworks, but with no fire - and the added bonus of candy.

While fireworks can provide fun and entertainment, they can also be dangerous. More fires are reported in the U.S. on the Fourth of July than any other day all year. Over 9,000 people a year are treated by emergency rooms for fireworks-related injuries, with a 1/3 of those people being under the age of 15. Even something as simple as a sparkler can cause burns or fires.

Here are some useful tips from your local Red Cross to help keep safe this Fourth of July and all summer long!

-If possible, avoid using consumer fireworks and instead, enjoy public firework displays.
-If you plan on using your own, only use legal fireworks bought from a reliable seller. Make sure to read the warning labels and check local and state guidelines for use.
-Do not let children use or light fireworks.
-Light fireworks on a solid surface and away from people.
-Light only one at a time and do not try re-lighting a firework if it fails to work the first time. If a firework is a "dud," wait 15 to 20 minutes and soak it in a bucket of water before disposing of it.
-Only light fireworks outside and away from people, animals, dry grass and buildings.
-Always keep water handy, in a bucket or garden hose.

Thank you and have a safe and happy summer!

]]> http://fivecat.wordpress.com/?p=547 Sun, 29 Jun 2008 03:03:45 +0000 Mark R. LePage, AIA, LEED AP http://fivecat.wordpress.com/?p=547

Coffers are a nice way to break-up a large ceiling. This Fivecat Studio project has 10+ foot ceilings and this room is about 30'X30'. It's a very big space. It will be used daily as a family room, but will also be a great place for entertaining friends and business associates.

In order to reduce the scale of the room and add some texture to the ceiling, we designed a coffered ceiling with stained mahogany beams and painted drywall coffer panels.

The town requires us to provide a fire sprinkler system for this project and since the beams are not structural, they make a convenient place to hide the CPVC piping. Located at beam intersections, the sprinkler heads will almost be invisible once the flush covers are installed.

Check out the craftsmanship on that mitered joint. Its nice to see a finish carpenter with passion and pride in his work.

Tip: Click the images for high-resolution.

I a not sure whether this was a set-up or a genuine case of someone being wreck less with their barbeque and fire.

I cnnot say that I have ever had the problems with fire the guy had; every time I use a BBQ I normally have no problems at all, I am more of a disposable bbq man as I like to have random barbeque's at the beach, on a walk, you know the sort of thing, it's summer time, it's bbq time!

As with anything you pay for what you get, yes you can get cheap disposable bbq's, but in my experience they tend not to last, but then I discovered the world of Zip which I found to be better built and last longer and cook more food. So while the Zip bbq's may cost a few pennies more, in real terms they cost less over the course of a summer as you will not to buy as many.

Getting back to Mr Pyromaniac, the guy in the video should really learn how to bbq safely without harming the environment too and if he ever finds me mocking him then I ask him to look at how to use a BBQ safely!

Have a look at the following sites, for safer barbequeing and don't end up looking like a burnt burger!

www.zipfirelighters.ie
www.owensoundfireems.com

These changes don't come cheap. According to a McKnight's Long-Term Care News article, retrofitting the thousands of homes that to install or improve their sprinkler systems will cost approximately $850 million. And CMS wants each facility to foot their own bill.

There's no question that making sprinkler systems in nursing homes mandatory in nursing homes is the right thing to do. But the government provide grants or loans that can help nursing homes pay for these expensive systems. The Nursing Facility Fire Safety Act of 2007 proposes a framework for providing low-interest loans to nursing homes that needed financial assistance with this expense. When it comes to fire safety in nursing homes, we at AAHSA believe that the best thing policy makers could do is encourage passage of this bill or other legislation to promote fire safety in nursing homes.

Today, there are a stack of Cisco boxes there. The person who cleared the area and put up the sign asked the Cisco bloke what they were doing there, and apparently the move was sanctioned by a Director.

Fire safety: here today, gone tomorrow.

Wild camping and the freedom to light camp fires is one of the great joys of any outdoor experience in Sweden, and one of the many things which attracts visitors to this vast and beautiful country. But with this freedom comes important responsibilities – the responsibility to guard effectively against the risk of your camp fire spreading out of control, and the responsibility to take only what you need and in the least damaging way from the local environment. Sweden’s forest resources may seem endless, but their ecology is fragile. In northern and mountainous regions where temperatures are low for much of the year and available daylight limits the growing season, trees just a few centimetres high may be surprisingly old and ecosystems can take a very long time to regenerate after any damage.

Potential for the most dramatic problems comes from the risk of forest fire. While natural fires are vital to the fertilisation and regeneration of some forest ecosystems, as with everything in nature, it is maintaining a balance which is important. Large fires can have an enormously damaging impact on local wildlife, in some cases destroying whole populations of threatened species, and the ecology of the area can take decades to recover. In addition, of course, they can pose an enormous risk to human life and property.

While the UK has had a rather damp start to the 2008 summer season, Sweden by contrast has been basking in the sunshine, with above average temperatures and an extended dry period. This is good news for visitors (our early season canoeists had some truly wonderful weather for their tours in May!), but with the sun and the lack of rain comes the increased risk of forest fire. This has already led to serious problems in some parts of Sweden. As we write, large fires caused by the extended dry spell are raging in the northern province of Hälsningland.

The potential for forest fires was illustrated dramatically recently when one of our clients was unfortunate enough to have a problem with his camp fire during a canoe tour, resulting in the complete destruction of his sleeping bag, rucksack, camera and clothes and melting the paddle for their canoe. He and his travelling companion acted quickly to bring the fire under control, narrowly avoiding a much more serious incident, and to their great credit then spent what must have been a most uncomfortable night at the spot to ensure that the fire was completely out before returning to base the following day. Fortunately, the key to their hire car, which had also almost completely melted, was still functioning!

With this in mind, here are a few hints and tips for enjoying the warmth and comfort of your camp fire safely and limiting your impact on the local environment during your experience in Sweden:

When not to light a fire

Observe any local or temporary restrictions regarding the lighting of fires. During particularly dry conditions when there is a high risk of forest fires, local restrictions may be imposed prohibiting the lighting of fires. Check notices and local information for the latest situation. Certain protected areas such as national parks and nature reserves may also have their own rules regarding the lighting of fires and use of forest resources.

How to make a fire

When lighting your fire, please make sure you observe the following guidelines:

1. Choose a suitable place for your fire, with a base of gravel or sand. It should also have easy access to water in case you need to put the fire out quickly. Check the wind strength and direction – sparks can carry some way and ignite the surrounding forest or grassland.

2. You should not light your fire on a bed of peat or moss, which burn very easily. Peat fires can smoulder and burn underground for a very long time, and may still be burning below ground level even when the fire seems to be out from above. Similarly, you should avoid lighting your fire in any earthy, forested area. You should also avoid lighting your fire near to anthills or old tree stumps, both of which may catch fire very easily.

3. Do not build large bonfires – this is a waste of resources and extremely dangerous. Keep your fire small, focused and controlled (this also makes it much better for cooking on if you are planning to make food on your fire). Dig a shallow hole in which to make your fire or make a circle of stones around the fire to contain it. Do not use wet stones, which can crack and explode when heated. Also, do not light your fire on or next to flat rocks. This chars and may crack the rock and looks very unsightly, and the marks will remain for a very long time.

4. If there is a strong wind, do not light a camp fire.

5. Do not burn rubbish of any kind on your fire. Even cardboard and paper is difficult to burn completely and will leave an unsightly residue. Burning paper can be carried into the surrounding trees by small gusts of wind. Do not try to burn plastic or food waste. Please take everything with you and dispose of it correctly.

6. When collecting fuel for your fire, it is permitted to use small branches, twigs and pine cones which are lying on the ground. Bear in mind that dead wood provides an extremely valuable habitat for a wide range of species – more species of insect can be supported by dead wood than live wood – so avoid larger branches and stumps. Just because they are no longer on the tree, doesn’t mean that they are not still extremely important to the local ecology!

7. You must not take any material from live trees or damage them in any way.

How to put out your camp fire

Do not leave the campsite before the fire is completely extinguished – it must burn down completely before you leave. Use water to put the fire out, then poke it to extinguish any embers. Use a small trowel to dig up the earth under the fire to ensure there are no embers or smoke remaining.

What to do if your fire gets out of control

If you can, call the fire brigade immediately. In Sweden, the number is 112. It is important to stop the fire spreading in the direction of the wind. Take some bunches of branches from pine or juniper trees (these are better than leafy branches). Wet the branches if possible. Use the branches to sweep the burning pieces towards the fire while pressing the branches against the ground to put out the flames. Clear brushwood and twigs out of the way and remove moss from the path of the fire. DO NOT beat at the fire with large strokes, as this will spread sparks.

What to do if your clothes catch fire

Get down on the ground and roll over and over. If someone else’s clothes catch fire, lay the person on the ground and smother the flames with a blanket or jacket. Protect their face by covering from the head downwards. Bear in mind that some fabrics, e.g. nylon, can catch fire and melt and may increase the risk of injury.

Use cold water to cool burning clothes and soothe burn injuries. If clothes are stuck to the skin, do not try to remove them. You should keep affected skin in cold water for at least 10 minutes.

General camp safety

You should never have an open fire or any glowing coals inside or near your tent. Have a knife to hand to cut your way out in case of emergency.

If using a camping stove, wait until any unused fuel and utensils are cool before packing the stove away or pouring the fuel back into the bottle.

A last word...

A camp fire on a long Swedish summer evening (or a short winter one if you’re winter camping!) is a wonderful experience. If you follow the simple guidelines above when collecting your fuel and lighting your fires, you will be able to enjoy your fire safely and ensure a supply of fuel and a pristine environment for those who come after you.

Happy camping!

Best regards
The Nature Travels Team

Nature Travels offers a wide range of outdoor experiences in Sweden, most of which offer wild camping. In the summer, we offer a range of self-guided canoeing holidays and guided sea kayaking expeditions, all of which include wild camping. In winter, it is possible to experience the joy and challenge of winter camping on our Go Camping by Dogsled, Winter Mountaincraft in Jämtland, Snowshoeing in Wolverine Country and Dog Sledding and Winter Bushcraft experiences. For information, please see our website at www.naturetravels.co.uk

Driver parks in front of a dollar store but does not care that she has parked on a fire hydrant in Queens Village, New York.