Safety a priority when dealing with fire

By Vanessa Overholser - Staff Writer

Every 22 seconds a fire department responds to a fire. Every 61 seconds a structure fire is reported.

Every 82 seconds a home structure fire is reported. Every two hours and 38 minutes a person dies as a result of a fire.

A local fire department official said safety is priority when dealing with fire.

“People don’t think about fire safety and fire hazards,” said Morehead Fire Chief Jeff Anderson. “Safety is most important. Don’t underestimate a fire. Get out and stay out.”

There are different elements that cause a fire, according to Anderson.

“In order for a fire to occur, a fuel source, oxygen, a heat source and a chemical reaction must be present,” Anderson said.

There are different classifications of fires.

“I call the first class of fire a Class A fire,” he said. “That involves wood products or paper inside or outside. If I am talking to a residential group whose fire may be outside, it would involve mulch.”

A fire caused by wood products such as limbs, paper or mulch, can be put out by using a water hose.

There are different extinguishers used to put out certain fires. The types of fire extinguishers are the ABC, D and K.

“If we were talking to a residential group, I’d recommend that they use a fire extinguisher that covers all classes of fires which would be the ABC fire extinguisher,” he said.

Type D is for metal and magnesium fires. This extinguisher has a dry powder in it and is commonly used in factories and airports. Type K is found in kitchen areas. Usually one would see this type of extinguisher near fryers and cooking areas, Anderson said.

“Fires can be prevented if folks would adhere to safety precautions such as keeping clutter out of a home, oily rags away from heat sources and trash away from a fireplace or wood burning stove,” Anderson said. “Also it is important that people keep paper products away from the stove and be careful when using oils while cooking.”

Pre-maintenance on heating sources such as electric heaters, gas heaters and chimneys is important.

“All heating sources should be inspected at least once a year,” he said.

When it comes to automobile fires, Anderson said water can be used to put out the flames. He said people need to extinguish the fire with extreme caution.

“After a certain point, it is a loss anyway,” he said. “You can replace things. You can’t replace a limb or a life. That is what you have car insurance for.”

The ABC fire extinguisher may be a safer alternative especially if there is a chemical leak or an electrical problem present that sparked the fire.

While waiting for the fire department to arrive, Anderson suggests that if the individual wanted to attempt to put out the fire they should use the type ABC fire extinguisher.

Folks need to be safe while burning trash and other types of debris outside.

“During the fall season, a person can burn trash and wood products from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.,” he said. “It is during that time that it is the safest to set a controlled fire.”

There are some restrictions on burning.

“The only thing that people are allowed to burn is yard waste such as leaves and shrubs,” he said. “Trash, tires and shingles are not to be burned at all. If it is not a wood product or debris from storm damage, it is usually not allowed to be burned.”

Flammable containers are to be filled with kitty litter. The kitty litter will absorb and dissipate any liquid left in the container. If one has a full container of flammable liquid he/she must contact a hazardous material company and pay to have the company dispose of it.

For more information about fire safety, log onto www.nfpa.org.