Fire Safety Plans & Technical Guidelines

Public Education

Home Safety Checklist

Safety Never Hurts Bulletin

Community Programs

Bay City Fire Department Safety Educators carry out a number of community fire safety programs for various groups, agencies and associations throughout Bay City. Emergency planning, fire extinguisher training and fire safety lectures are some of the programs offered. The educators are also available for safety presentations and/or displays at local businesses, conferences and at special community events. The educators work closely with local school boards.

Home Smoke Alarms

Choosing an Alarm

Be sure the smoke alarms you buy carry the label of an independent testing laboratory such as ULC or CSA.

Several types of alarms are available. Some run on batteries, others on household electric current. Some detect smoke using an "ionization" sensor, others use a "photoelectric" detection system. All approved smoke alarms, regardless of the type, will offer adequate protection provided they are installed and maintained properly.

Is One Enough?

Every home should have a smoke alarm outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement. On floors without bedrooms, alarms should be installed in or near living areas, such as dens, living rooms, or family rooms.

Be sure everyone sleeping in your home can hear your smoke alarms' alarms. If any residents are hearing-impaired or sleep with bedroom door closed, install additional alarms inside sleeping areas as well. There are special smoke alarms for the hearing impaired; these flash a light in addition to sounding an audible alarm.

For extra protection, fire departments suggest installing alarms in dining rooms, furnace rooms, utility rooms and hallways. Smoke alarms are not recommended for kitchens, bathrooms or garages - where cooking fumes, steam or exhaust fumes could set off false alarms - or for attics and other unheated spaces where humidity and temperature changes might affect an alarm's operation.

Where to Install

Because smoke rises, mount alarms high on a wall or on the ceiling. Wall-mounted units should be mounted so the top of the alarm is 4 to 12 inches from the ceiling. A ceiling-mounted alarm should be attached at least 4 inches (10 cm) from the nearest wall. In a room with a pitched ceiling, mount the alarm at or near the ceiling's highest point.

In stairways with no doors at the top or bottom, position smoke alarms anywhere in the path of smoke moving up the stairs. But always position smoke alarms at the bottom of closed stairways, such a those leading to the basement, because dead air trapped near the door at the top of a stairway could prevent smoke from reaching an alarm located at the top.

Do not install a smoke alarm too near a window, door, or forced-air register where drafts could interfere with the alarm's operation.

Installation

Most battery-powered smoke alarms and alarms that plug into wall outlets can be installed using only a drill and a screwdriver by following the manufacturer's instructions. Plug-in alarms must have restraining devices so they cannot be unplugged by accident. Alarms can also be hard-wired into a building's electrical system. Hard-wired alarms should be installed by a qualified electrician. Never connect a smoke alarm to a circuit that can be turned off by a wall switch.

False Alarms

Cooking vapors and steam sometimes set off a smoke alarm. To correct this, try moving the alarm away from the kitchen or bathroom or install an exhaust fan. Cleaning your alarm regularly, according to the manufacturer's instructions, may also help.

If "nuisance alarms" persist, do not disable the alarm. Replace it!

Maintenance

Only a functioning smoke alarm can protect you.
Never disable an alarm by borrowing its battery for another use.
Following the manufacturer's instructions, test all your smoke alarms monthly and install new batteries at least once a year. A good reminder is when you change your clocks in the spring or fall: change your clock, change your battery.
Clean your smoke alarms using a vacuum cleaner without removing the alarm's cover.
Never paint a smoke alarm.
Smoke alarms do not last forever. Replace any smoke alarm that is more than 10 years old.

Plan and Practice

Make sure everyone is familiar with the sound of the alarm.
Plan escape routes. Know at least two ways out of each room. Agree on a meeting place outside your home where all residents will gather after they escape. Practice your escape plan at least twice a year.
Remove obstructions from doors and windows needed for escape.
Make sure everyone in the household can unlock doors and windows quickly, even in the dark. Windows or doors with security bars should be equipped with quick-release devices and everyone in the household should know how to use them.
When an alarm sounds, leave immediately. Go directly to your outside meeting place and call the fire department.
Once you're out, stay out. Never return to a burning building.

Carbon Monoxide
Q & A

What is the source of carbon monoxide?

CO is produced by the incomplete combustion of fuels such as natural gas, propane, heating oil, kerosene, coal, charcoal, gasoline and wood. This problem can occur in any device which depends on burning for heat or energy. For example, furnaces, boilers, room heaters, hot water heaters, stoves, grills and any gasoline engine (i.e. lawn mower) are included in this list of devices.

What makes carbon monoxide so dangerous?

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas which is very toxic. When carbon monoxide is inhaled, it produces an effect known as chemical asphyxiation. Injury is due to the combining of CO with hemoglobin in the blood, lowering the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity. Even at very low parts per million levels, the body is quickly affected by oxygen starvation. Exposure during sleep is particularly dangerous because the victim usually does not awaken.

Why is CO a problem now?

CO has been with us for many years. Fifteen years ago our homes were built in a manner that encouraged air leakage, therefore air exchange occurred within the home on a regular basis. Today's homes are super-insulated, sealed and wrapped in plastic. This "sealing" of the home creates an environment that not only captures and holds pollutants but often results in a "negative indoor pressure" that can and does draw toxic fumes back into the home.

How much of a problem is carbon monoxide poisoning?

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), has stated that CO is the largest cause of accidental poisoning in the American Home. At least 250 people die in the US each year from CO poisoning and many more are hospitalized. However, the Mayo Clinic published a report in 1984 that indicated much higher numbers. That report suggests that more than 1,500 people die from accidental CO poisoning annually and that 10,000 or more receive hospital or medical treatment. It goes on to say the numbers are likely much higher because reporting and recording procedures for CO incidents are not reliable.

Why should I be concerned about carbon monoxide gas?

Carbon monoxide or CO is a poisonous gas which is especially dangerous due to its physical characteristics and effect on the body. It is often referred to as the "Silent Killer". There are many potential sources and combinations of conditions that may produce carbon monoxide. In any enclosed space (home, recreational vehicle, boat, etc.), even a small accumulation of CO can be dangerous.

What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning?

Carbon monoxide poisoning can strike quickly or build up over time. The initial symptoms of CO poisoning are similar to flu symptoms; headache, nausea, and fatigue. With increased exposure time or CO concentration, the symptoms become more severe, taking the form of drowsiness and confusion. Continued exposure can lead to brain damage and death.

What are some common sources of carbon monoxide in a residence?

The most common causes of CO accumulation in homes include; a blocked or poorly ventilated fireplace chimney or furnace flue, faulty or damaged heating equipment (especially cracked furnace heat exchanges), malfunctioning space heater, automobile or lawn mower exhaust in garages with poor ventilation.

Is natural gas more likely to be a source of dangerous carbon monoxide than other fuels?

When properly installed and maintained, your natural gas furnace and hot water heater do not emit carbon monoxide. Natural gas is known as a "clean burning" fuel, because under correct operating conditions the combustion byproducts are water vapor and carbon dioxide, which are not toxic. The exhaust from furnaces and water heaters is vented outside through a flue duct or chimney.

Where should the carbon monoxide detector be placed in the home?

Detectors should be placed in close proximity to bedrooms. They may also be placed in the furnace room or other areas of the residence where carbon monoxide might accumulate.

What CO levels will harm me?

It can vary, depending on length of exposure and the individual's health. Most people will not experience symptoms with levels of 1 to 70 parts per million (PPM). People with a heart condition might experience chest pains though. When CO levels remain above 70 PPM, symptoms may become noticeable. When levels top 150 PPM to 200 PPM, the CO can cause disorientation, unconsciousness and even death, if the victim is not given fresh air.