Safety Alerts
Area Of Origin Tip
WITH NEW ADVANCES AND TECHNOLOGY come new problems for fire and rescue people. We all remember the crash-course (sorry for the pun) training on the new automobile bumper shock absorbers and their propensity to hurl deadly debris into the nearest firefighter. These sorts of discoveries are always a surprise because nobody who makes these things ever thinks about letting us know first. We have to find out about it ourselves and then spread the word. Such is the case with these new, screwy light bulbs that are showing up in homes all over the country.
One of our readers from Local-3272 passed along to us a training memo from his department that we all can file away into the cranial databank for future “smell of smoke” calls. This bulletin tells us:
On June 18, 2008, BC602 ran a house fire where the occupant reported a haze of smoke in the structure. The first Engine reported an electrical odor at the top of the basement steps that had the distinct odor of light ballast. Initial investigation both visually and with a Thermal Image Camera revealed no unusual hazards. The house contained no “traditional” fluorescent light fixtures. The occupant informed us that they had installed CFL bulbs in numerous fixtures and lamps throughout the house.
We began the process of checking each bulb and found one in a ceiling fixture that had a ballast failure much like we are accustomed to finding in traditional overhead tube lighting fixtures in commercial buildings.
A CFL bulb contains a ballast at the base of the unit between the spiral tube and (Edison) screw. This ballast, encased in a plastic shell, may or may not have visible vent holes or slots.
The ballast contains a Voltage Dependent Resister that, when failure occurs, opens like a fuse to protect the device and associated electrical equipment. The resultant heat and smoke should escape from the vents in the housing. Light smoke may be visible and one will smell that distinct electrical ballast odor. As in the case the other night, there were visible smoke marks and a small, brown oily/gooey residue at the vent holes. These signs were not visible with the bulb in its socket.
Since more CFL bulbs are finding their way into the home, don’t overlook these items when investigating a smoke odor.
Thanks to the FF’s from Bloomington for sharing with us.
Dave Statter (STATter911) sent us this photo of one of these lightbulbs that had a similar problem. It was brought in by one of the photographers at Channel 9 from his house and you can see that in this instance the discoloration and charring is visible on the outside.
CONGRESS SEEKS BAN ON DANGEROUS NOVELTY LIGHTERS
August 2008
Toy look-a-likes cause severe injuries and death to children
Responding to calls from fire prevention and child safety groups across the country, legislation has been introduced
on Capitol Hill to ban cigarette lighters constructed to look like toys or regular household items.
The Protect Children from Dangerous Lighters Act of 2008 (H.R. 6488 / S. 3375) would require the Consumer
Product Safety Commission to treat novelty lighters as a banned hazardous substance which would prohibit the
manufacture, importation, or sale of the lighters anywhere in the country.
Currently the lighters are easily purchased in convenience stores in many states, though Maine and Tennessee have
already passed novelty lighter bans, and a similar law is being introduced in Oregon. Here at home in New York, I
too, will be seeking similar legislation to help ensure our children never suffer a tragedy due to novelty lighters.
Commonly referred to as “novelty lighters,” the toy-like devices naturally appeal to small children. Appearing to
be harmless toys, novelty lighters have proven to be incredibly dangerous to young children and a nationwide ban,
which is supported by firefighting, consumer and child safety groups alike, is the best way to keep these dangerous
products out of the hands of youngsters.
The federal ban is supported by: the National Association of State Fire Marshals, the Congressional Fire Service
Institute, Safe Kids USA, the Consumer’s Union, and the Consumer Federation of America. In addition, the ban is
supported by the cigarette lighter industry, as represented by the Lighter Association.
I urge the members of New York State’s fire service and our emergency medical community to contact their elected
representatives in Washington and voice their support for this important legislation.
Floyd A. Madison
State Fire Administrator
Bulletin in pdf format:
Novelty Lighters
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS FORWARDED BY THE NEW YORK STATE ASSOCIATION OF FIRE CHIEFS PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE FOR YOUR INFORMATION.
July 18, 2008
Scott Technical Advisory Bulletin and claim Form BELOW in pdf format
TECHNICAL BULLETIN
TO: Owners of SCOTT® SCBA Equipped with Heads-Up Display
FROM: Rick Hofmeister
SUBJECT: Addition of Anti-Rotation Clamp
DATE: May 8, 2008
TB: 20080805
SCOTT has determined through examination of warranty returns, that the electrical connection found on the low pressure hoses used on the Air-Pak® Fifty SCBA and 2.2/3.0/4.5 Air-Pak® SCBA equipped with a Heads-up Display (HUD) may wear prematurely under heavy use conditions. SCOTT Engineers have reviewed this condition and determined that repeated rotation of the regulator and low pressure hose at the HUD connection
contributes to such premature wear of the electrical connector. As a result, SCOTT is releasing an Anti-Rotation Clamp which will eliminate the repeated twisting of the low pressure hose.
Two Attachments in pdf format:
Scott Technical Advisory Bulletin
Scott Anti-Rotation Clamp Claim Form
AN URGENT WARNING FROM THE STATE FIRE ADMINISTRATOR: SMOKE ALARMS
May 27, 2008
There have been multiple fatal fires across New York State recently, and unfortunately they share a thread all too
common-- the evidence of nonworking smoke alarms.
The Office of Fire Prevention and Control urges all New Yorkers to clean and test their smoke alarms regularly. Working smoke alarms can dramatically increase a person’s chance of surviving a fire. Smoke alarms provide an
early warning to a fire, allowing occupants vital minutes to escape to safety.
When purchasing a smoke alarm, look for smoke alarms with a loud siren or horn, a hush feature, a ten-year battery, a malfunction signal and a UL listing. “Most hardware stores, home stores and other retail outlets have excellent smoke alarms at reasonable prices,” says State Fire Administrator Floyd A. Madison.
Most fire deaths are caused by smoke, not flames. The majority of fire deaths and injuries occur at night while victims are asleep. The earlier you are alerted to a fire, the more likely it is that you will get out in time. Smoke alarms will not prevent fires, but they will increase your chances of getting out alive. “The key is to make sure your smoke alarms are working,” said Madison. “Many people forget that smoke alarms need to be maintained in order to be in proper working condition.”
State Fire Administrator Madison encourages all New Yorkers to take an active role in fire prevention and offers the following fire safety tips:
- Place smoke alarms on every level of your home, outside each sleeping area and in every bedroom.
- Test smoke alarms monthly.
- Vacuum alarms monthly to remove dust and cobwebs.
- Replace old alarms. Smoke alarms ten years old and older need to be replaced.
- Alarms should never be disconnected and batteries should never be removed for other uses.
Research by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) indicates that while 94% of American homes have at least one smoke alarm, more than 1/3 are inoperable because of dead or missing batteries. Nearly 1/2 of our nation’s fire deaths occur in the 6% of homes with no smoke alarms at all. Far too many fire departments in New York State report they continue to respond to calls in homes and apartments each year where there is no working smoke alarm present.
The Office of Fire Prevention and Control wants to reaffirm the value that working smoke alarms have in protecting people from the tragedy of a home fire death and emphasize the need to continue planning and practicing home fire escape plans.
In light of these latest tragic fires, State Fire Administrator Madison also urges all fire departments to redouble their efforts related to raising the public consciousness of importance of working smoke alarms. “Whether it is trough smoke detector installation programs, neighborhood canvass, signs in front of the station or local public awareness announcements on the radio and TV, the fire service must use every tool at its disposal to help ensure the public clearly understands this vital message…” Madison says. “…smoke alarms can not save you if they aren’t working.”