Good evening everyone! I hate to report that as of today, 239 people have died in fires across the United States so far this year; of which 10 fire-related deaths occurred in New York State. We are not even out of the first month of 2021 and are already into double digit fatalities in New York State and triple digits across the country. Why are these facts not a nationwide headline? Why is there little to no focus on the lives lost and the families and communities affected by these PREVENTABLE tragedies? WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE?!!! Let us move forward, collectively educating and empowering our customers with accurate and pertinent information so they can practice effective fire and life safety strategies TODAY & EVERYDAY!!! Here are some relevant fire and life safety messages to promote this February:

Relevant messages in February: 

Smoke Alarms:

The first battery powered smoke alarm to receive a UL Listing was designed by BRK Electronics (later to become the First Alert® brand) in 1969. Since that time, there have been multiple advances in technology to make smoke alarms more readily available and affordable for the public. However, 52 years later, we still find many fire-related injuries and deaths occur in private homes without properly placed and maintained smoke alarms. Because we have limited access for enforcement in private dwellings, it is more important than ever that we educate our customers about how to obtain, place, and maintain this basic fire protection feature in their homes. Check out these resources from NFPA & USFA regarding smoke alarms:

https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/outreach/smoke_alarms.html

https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Staying-safe/Safety-equipment/Smoke-alarms/For-fire-and-life-safety-educators

Carbon Monoxide Awareness: 

Check out these resources from NFPA & USFA, including informational pamphlets in multiple languages, PSAs, and resources for use with various social media platforms! 

https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Teaching-tools/Community-tool-kits/Keeping-Your-Community-Safe-with-Carbon-Monoxide-Alarms

https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/outreach/carbon_monoxide.html

Home Heating Safety:

Check out these resources from USFA, as well as the informational pamphlet from OFPC, on ways to practice home heating safety:

https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/outreach/heating.html

Hand Sanitizer:

Here is a link to a news story discussing the flammable properties of hand sanitizer:

https://www.whec.com/coronavirus/why-hand-sanitizer-should-never-be-in-your-kitchen/5980158/ 

Lesson Plans: 

These lesson plans, developed by NFPA, can be used by fire & life safety educators OR teachers to discuss or emphasize the topics mentioned above. Consider recording a video to post to your agency’s website or various social media outlets, such as Youtube, with your members delivering these important life safety messages and send out the link to your customers in order to deliver the lesson virtually. 

https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Teaching-tools/Lesson-plans

Also, check out the information pamphlets attached to this email. They include a baseline home fire safety checklist for homeowners and renters, as well as an informational pamphlet to better assist our customers living in multi-generational homes. 

Stay safe! Stay well! 

Michael Stevens

NYS Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services 

Office of Fire Prevention & Control

Public Education Committee

10 Ross Circle, Suite 1S

Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 

E-mail: nyspubliced@dhses.ny.gov

Chittenango Vol. Fire Department 2021 Officers

Chief: Jason Baker

1st Assistant Chief Terry Mann

2nd Assistant Chief Jason Ferguson

Fire Captain Matt Lyman

Fire Lieutenant Rob Smith

Truck Captain Kevin Seltzer

Rescue Captain Rob Ramos

Rescue Lieutenant Erick Hass

Fire Police Captain Dan Welker

President Rob Ramos

Vice President George Baker

Treasurer Bob Freunscht

EMS Director Erick Haas

Secretary Kelly Boyer

Chaplain Mark Farsaci

Board of Directors Jim House, Dick Wilcox and Todd Ferguson

IS THERE A FIRE IN YOU?Check out www.FireInYou.org