Just over a month ago, contractors working at the Highland Nanuet Apartments began to
smell gas. Authorities were quickly alerted and firefighters were on the scene within
minutes, but a massive fire had already erupted in one of the buildings by the time they
arrived. Efforts to get the already advanced fire under control were further hindered by
the lightweight construction of the building, preventing the firefighters from being able to
operate inside the structure. Within minutes, seven families had lost their homes and
nearly everything they owned. It was an extremely tragic and disturbing sight to see.
Unfortunately, it was far from the first time I have been on the scene of a devastating
residential fire in my years as Town Supervisor.
With that tragedy only weeks behind us, I am reminded even more strongly than usual of
the importance of promoting National Fire Prevention Week as a method to help educate
our residents on the steps they can take to help protect their lives and their homes.
Running from October 6-12, this year’s main theme for the week is the importance of
having smoke alarms in our homes. These simple devices, when placed and maintained
properly, can be the most effective way to protect our lives and most important assets.
Yet many of us still don’t have the proper amount of these devices in the proper
placements, and in many cases fire victims are found to have had detectors which were
outdated or not in working order.
There are three basic rules to know regarding smoke alarms. The first is simply to
INSTALL them. One should be placed inside each bedroom with another outside any
bedroom areas in the hallway. At a minimum, each floor (including the basement)
without a sleeping area should have one smoke detector installed. Avoid placing the
detectors next to windows or doors where drafts might reduce their effectiveness, and
avoid placing them within ten feet of cooking appliances to reduce false alarms. There
are many different types of alarms out on the market, so make sure you buy ones that are
tested and labeled by an independent laboratory agency such as Underwriters
Laboratories (UL) or Intertek.
Once installed in the proper locations, the next important step is to make sure that
periodically TEST the alarm to confirm that it is working properly. This is both the
easiest step in the process to complete and the easiest to forget to do. A common best
practice is to pick one day each month that corresponds with another action such as
making a mortgage or car payment and making that the day you test your smoke alarm as
well. Testing the alarm should be done at least monthly and is as simple as pushing the
test button to make sure the alarm sounds as it should.
And finally, it is important to REPLACE smoke alarms on a regular basis in accordance
with their published operating lifespan, which is most commonly listed at 10 years for
alarms being sold today. However, any alarm that fails to respond during testing. Once it
is time to replace an alarm, do some basic due diligence to see what technology changes
have taken place and which types of alarms are the best fit for your needs.
This simple 3 step process regarding smoke alarm use can reduce your chances of
surviving a house fire by 55%. When you consider that there are approximately 350,000
reported fires in residential homes each year, representing one taking place every 87
seconds, it is easy to see just how important it is to have these devices properly installed
and maintained in a home.
In addition to smoke alarms, the National Fire Prevention Association also suggests many
other tips including the following:
Key Fire Safety Tips
1. Create and Practice an Escape Plan:
○ Develop a floor plan that includes two exits from each room.
○ Identify a safe meeting place outside.
○ Practice the escape plan with your family at least twice a year.
2. Use Cooking Equipment Safely:
○ Stay in the kitchen while cooking and keep flammable items away from the stove.
○ Have a fire extinguisher handy and know how to use it.
3. Be Cautious with Heating Sources:
○ Keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn.
○ Never use an extension cord with a space heater.
4. Electrical Safety:
○ Inspect cords for frays or damage and replace them if necessary.
○ Avoid overloading outlets.
5. Educate Children:
○ Teach children about fire safety and the importance of staying calm during
emergencies.
○ Discuss the dangers of playing with fire.
Fire Prevention Week 2024 is an essential reminder that fire safety is something we all need to
take seriously. House fires are a very common and deadly problem and it’s important to
remember every second matters—be prepared!
I also want to take this time to thank all our volunteer firefighters, for their dedication and
commitment in serving our community. If you are interested, or know someone who may be,
please consider joining one of our local volunteer fire departments.
