HOOK AND LADDER COMPANY
- Tower Ladder 40 -
We need a number of men and women to assist in answering alarms and helping with equipment maintenance.
Any amount of time that you can give will be greatly appreciated. AND be assured there is a job for everybody.
Ironically, while the population of Briarcliff Manor has been steadily increasing, the number of volunteers in the Briarcliff Manor Hook & Ladder Company has unfortunately decreased in recent years.
Do you ever wonder who it is that answers the alarm when you hear it blast in the Village? Did you know that there are NO paid firefighters in Briarcliff Manor? Your neighbors have been answering alarms since 1901.
JUST WHO ARE THESE VOLUNTEERS?
They are your neighbors and friends, young and old, men and women; they are teachers and plumbers, business people and craftsmen, local merchants and commuters. They are volunteer firefighters and you can be one of them.
We are asking you to take time out of your already busy lives to help us continue the 250-year tradition of American volunteer firefighting. We need you now. We are one of the several companies that make up your Fire Department. We require a number of people to assist in answering alarms and maintain our equipment. More info at bottom of page!!
Use this handy home fire prevention and safety checklist to do a room-by-room search for fire hazards in your home. Correct any hazards you find.
The Briarcliff Manor Hook & Ladder Company is pleased to provide the following information to you and your family.
Install smoke detectors on every level of the home in rooms, stair landings, and passageways. Test them monthly. Change batteries twice a year. Consider installing automatic fire sprinklers to spray water on fire in its early stages to reduce or stop damage. Put out cigarettes in an ashtray. Never throw them in the trash. Make sure they are completely out. Keep all lighters and matches in locked or high cabinets away from children.
Use light bulbs with the correct wattage for the fixture. Replace all frayed, cracked or broken electrical cords. Check for independent testing lab safety labels (i.e., UL, FM) on all appliances and portable heaters. Use outlets safely. Don't plug too many large appliances into one outlet, overload an extension cord, or plug more than one extension cord into an outlet.
Make sure there are two escape routes from every room, including basement bedrooms. Store and use all cleaning products and aerosol cans away from heat. Don't burn the containers or throw in trash that will be burned. Do not use electrical appliances or tools when the cord is in or near water.
Kitchen
Have stovetop and oven checked annually to be sure they are working properly.
Keep the stovetop and oven clean to avoid grease fires. Remove towels, potholders, plastic bags, newspapers and other flammable materials around the stovetop. Do not hang curtains or other flammable materials above the stove. Replace or have a professional fix any appliance with frayed or loose cords or wires, or cords that get hot while appliance is in use. Do not use or store appliances and cords near water where they can get wet.
Hang paper towel racks, curtains and towels away from the toaster, toaster oven, and any other heat producing appliances. Turn pot handles toward the back of the stovetop. Use only microwave safe dishes in the microwave. Wear tight fitting sleeves or roll them up when cooking. Unplug appliances when not in use.
Clean wood or coal stoves and fireplace chimneys before each heating
Burn only dry, seasoned wood in the fireplace or wood stove to reduce the build up of creosote - which is flammable - in the chimney. Close the screen or heat-tempered glass door when the fireplace is in use to prevent sparks from igniting furniture, draperies or other items.
Avoid running cords or wires under rugs and carpets or near a heat source where they can overheat. Don't run them across doorways where they can become worn. Stack newspapers, wood, matches, and other items that might catch fire away from fireplace or wood or coal stoves. Install approved stove board under wood and coal stoves and place these stoves at least 3 feet away from any wall. Follow local building and fire codes.
Place large, clean, deep, non-lip ashtrays in the living room and other rooms where smokers are likely to be. Douse ashtrays with water before emptying to put out embers.
Bathrooms
Run appliance cords away from sinks or tubs where they can get wet. Install Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI's) in the bathroom, kitchen, and other rooms with water or moisture. These shut off the current when there is a danger of shock. Use hair dryers and curling irons away from items that might burn. Disconnect after use. Don't fold or crimp cords when storing.
Bedrooms
Install a smoke detector in the hallway near each bedroom. Sleep with bedroom doors closed. Buy portable heaters with automatic shut-off features. Keep them clean and at least 3 feet away from draperies, furniture, clothes, bedding or walls. Never smoke cigarettes in bed or any time you are sleepy. Use a heating pad for no more than 30 minutes. Unplug when finished. Unplug your electric blanket when not in use and store flat. Never fold or roll it.
Have your furnace checked before each heating season to be sure it is in proper working condition. Change furnace filters frequently. If you use the basement as a bedroom, make sure windows are large enough to crawl through in case of fire.
Do not store trash and anything that could catch fire near the furnace. Become familiar with your main electric panel. Check for proper wiring and fuses. Clean lint from dryer screen before each use. Plug dryer into a separate outlet and vent to the outside. Keep the area clear. Follow manufactuerrs' recommended time for drying synthetic fabrics, rubber, plastics or foam.
Garage/Shop
Use proper gauge extension cords with any power tool orhigh-wattage equipment. Store gasoline in approved, tightly sealed containers and use only as a motor fuel. Keep paints and other flammable liquids and chemicals in their original, labeled containers with tight-fitting lids. Use and store flammables (e.g., pesticides, fertilizers, pain, gasoline) away from any source of heat or flame. Never smoke near flammable liquids. Dispose of oil-soaked rags after use or store in a tightly-closed metal container. Never burn them or throw them in trash that will be burned. Place unused charcoal in a metal container with tight-fitting lid in a cool, dry place. Damp charcoal can ignite itself. Use cordless tools when working around water or on grounded components such as plumbing and heating systems.
When there are icicles outside our windowpanes, some of us like to use space heaters to keep nice and warm. But it is important to follow these rules:
DON'T FALL ASLEEP! Never leave space heaters operating while sleeping
WATCH 'EM! Don't leave children or pets unattended with space heaters
WIRE CHECK! Check the space heater for fraying wires and overheating
THREE FEET! Keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from objects that can burn
Voila! Add the basil, pour a shot of olive oil and simmer. Cooking in the kitchen is a lot of fun when you follow these two rules.
1. Never have more than two cooks in the kitchen, otherwise it's a fiasco.
2. Don't be selfish. Memorize and share your safe cooking tips with others!
Watch your threads. Cooking is not the time to wear your new fancy shirt with the bell-bottom sleeves. Loose clothing can catch fire if exposed to heat sources.
Children and kitchens. You get the drift. Prepare for safety. Keep children away from the cooking area. They are simply curious. Turn pot and pan handles inward so they won't be pulled from the stove.
Clean it up. Really. It only takes a minute, but it can prevent a scorcher! Keep surfaces clean of grease and place combustibles away from heat sources.
We depend on electricity to watch television, run our computers, make our coffee and listen to our stereos. These simple tips can reduce the chance of a killer fire:
Power overload! Don't overload extension cords or run them under rugs.
Replace it! It's easier to replace frayed cords than everything you own in case of fire.
Fuse box! Use proper size fused in your fuse box.
Matches and lighters can be deadly in the hands of a child. Use child-resistant lightsers. Store all matches and lighters up high, preferably in a locked cabinet.
These lifesaving devices require a little attention to keep 'em running smoothly and efficiently. Quite simply, they gotta work.
Install on each level! and outside each sleeping area.
Testing, testing! Test them monthly and install new batteries once a year.
The Ten Year Rule! Replace smoke detectors over 10 years old.
If your clothes catch fire...stop where you are, drop to the ground, cover your face with your hands and roll over and over. This will smother the flames.
It was an accident. You didn't think the coals would catch that quickly. So you burned your hand trying to start the barbeque. It hurts! What do you do?
The Cool Water Treatment! Place the wound in cool water for 10-15 minutes. If the burn blisters or chars, see a doctor immediately.
Hot Water Watch! Set the temperature of your hot water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celsius) or below.
Has your family agreed on a meeting place, outside your home, in case of fire?
Do you keep potential escape routes in your home clear of clutter?
Do you know your local emergency numbers for fire-police-ambulance, and do you have them posted near your phones?
Do you have a functioning smoke detector on at least every floor in your home?
Do you have a fire extinguisher on every floor in your home?
Do you keep flammable liquids in only approved containers, and out of your home in a separate outbuilding?
Are you sure all smoking materials are extinguished before bedtime?
Are matches and lighters kept out of reach of small children?
Are portable spacde heaters properly maintained and used only in compliance with the manufacturers' recommendations?
Is the central heating system in your home inspected annually by a qualified technician?
Do you have a fire extinguisher in your kitchen and do you know how to properly extinguish a stove-top fire?
To prevent burns or scald injuries to children, do you ensure that pot and pan handles are turned inward when on the stove-top?
Do you see that only the right fuse is used in the right socket in the fuse box?
Are all electrical appliances installed according to manufacturers' recommendations, including ventillation and minimum space requirements?
GET EVERYBODY OUT OF THE HOME - DO NOT GO BACK IN!
Do you never leave small children unattended?
The symptoms vary greatly from person to person, depending on age and general health, the concentration of exposure, and the length of exposure. HIGH CONCENTRATIONS ARE DANGEROUS FOR EVEN BRIEF PERIODS.
Initial symptoms can include lethargy, nausea, and headaches, but these can vary widely.
According to the NFPA, there were 242 CO-related non-fire deaths, attributed to heating and cooking equipment in 1991. The leading specific types of equipment were:
-gas fueled space heaters (69 deaths)
-gas fueled furnaces (52 deaths)
-charcoal grills (36 deaths)
-gas fueled ranges (23 deaths)
-portable kerosene heaters (23 deaths)
-wood stoves (13 deaths)
As with fire deaths, the risk of unintentional CO death is highest for the very young (ages 4 or under) and the old (ages 75 or above).
The best protection is prevention. Ensure that heating and cooking equipment is properly installed and maintained. Vehicles and lawn and garden equipment should not be operated in attached garages. A carbon monoxide detector installed in your home can provide an early warning of accumulating carbon monoxide, but is no substitute for proper maintenance of heating and cooking equipment.
If you need to warm up a vehicle, remove it from the garage immediately after starting the ignition. DO NO RUN a vehicle or other fueled engine or motor indoors, even if the garage doors are open.
Have your vehicle inspected for exhaust leaks, if you have any symptoms of CO poisoning.
Have fuel burning household heating equipment (fireplaces, furnaces, water heaters, wood stoves, and space or portable heaters) checked every year before cold weather sets in.
All chimneys and chimney connectors should be evaluated for proper installation, cracls. blockages or leaks. Make needed repairs before using the equipment.
Before enclosing cdentral heating equipment in a smaller room, check with your fuel supplier to ensure that air for proper combustion is provided.
When using a fireplace, open the flue for adequate ventilation.
Kerosene heaters are illegal in many states. Always check with local authorities before buying or using one. Open a window slightly whenever using a kerosene heater. REFUEL outside, after the device has cooled.
Always use barbecue grills, which can produce carbon monoxide, outside. Never use them in the home or garage.
When purchasing new heating and cooking equipment, select factory build products approved by an independent testing laboratory. Do not accept damaged equipment. Hire a qualified technician (usually employed by a local oil or gas company) to install the equipment. Ask about and insist that the technician follow applicable fire safety and local building codes.
If you purchase an existing home have a qualified technician evaluate the integrity of the heating and cooking systems, as well as the sealed spaces between the garage and house.
-Select detector(s) listed by a qualified, independent testing laboratory.
-CO detectors do NOT function as smoke detectors, nor do smoke detectors work as CO detectors.
-Follow manufacturer's recommendations for placement in your home.
-Treat all activations as real, and evacuate your home immediately leaving the door open for ventilation on your way out.
-Notify the fire department from a neighbors' home.
-Test CO detectors at least once a month, following the manufacturer's instructions.
-Replace CO detectors according to the manufacturer's instructions, usually about every two years.
-Replace batteries as needed and according to manufacturers' recommendations.
DID YOU EVER WANT TO GROW UP TO BE A FIREFIGHTER?
The BRIARCLIFF MANOR HOOK & LADDER COMPANY invites you to join our ranks.
We are all busy, yet we all do what we can to help. Any amount of time you can give will be greatly appreciated. Do you have what it takes? If you have a little time, you have what it takes.
We are talking about a small time commitment to train (paid for by the State of New York) and to answer alarms when you are able. Come down to the firehouse at 7:30 P.M. on any first Monday of the month and sit in on a meeting.
Meet us. Ask us questions. Pick up an application. Be part of a vital community within this community.
WE THANK YOU AND YOUR NEIGHBORS WILL THANK YOU.
And you'll finally get to be a firefighter!
