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State of New Hampshire
Department of Safety
Office of the State Fire Marshal
33 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03305
(603) 223-4289
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
DATE: December 23, 2008
CONTACT: J. William Degnan, State Fire Marshal
John W. Raymond, Assistant Director
State Fire Marshal Warns of Building Collapse Danger
State Fire Marshal J. William Degnan announced today that recent heavy snow with rain in the forecast, there is a greater urgency to clear roofs of snow and ice that has accumulated. A roof may collapse with little or no warning, and one common misconception is that only flat roofs are susceptible to collapse.
Last years investigations have determined that gas service to some buildings have been damaged due to heavy snow loads and snow sliding off of roofs onto gas meters and components. Also snow sliding off of roofs onto outside oil tanks has caused valves and filters to be broken off. The State Fire Marshal urges all citizens to do the following:
· Clear roofs of excessive snow and ice buildup, being careful not to damage gas and oil service to the building.
· Keep all chimneys and vents clear to prevent carbon monoxide from backing up into the building. Some vents, such as pellet stove vents, may exit the building through a wall and are susceptible to being blocked by excessive snow buildup on the outside of the building.
· Keep all exits clear of snow, so that occupants can escape quickly if a fire, or other emergency, should occur. Keep in mind that windows should be cleared to allow a secondary means of escape in case the primary means of escape is blocked by fire. Keeping exits clear also allows emergency workers to access your building.
Specific fire and building safety questions can be answered by local fire and building officials or by contacting the State Fire Marshal’s Office at 223-4289. For information on roof snow load requirements in your community, view the report at the following website link; http://www.senh.org/committee%20reports/tr02-6.pdf
Prevent Child Poisonings
WASHINGTON, D.C. - About 78,000 children under five years old visited U.S.
hospital emergency rooms due to unintentional poisonings in 2003 - about one
every seven minutes, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
reported today. Most of these poisonings included products commonly found
in the home. The data were released today by CPSC, the National Poison
Prevention Week Council, and the American Association of Poison Control
Centers (AAPCC) at a news conference to kick-off National Poison Prevention
Week. CPSC Chairman Hal Stratton said that more than 9 of every 10
suspected poison exposures occur at home with readily-available household
products. About 30 children die from poisonings each year, down from 450 in
the 1960s.
"While our nation has made great progress in reducing poison-related
fatalities, we must build on our commitment to protect children from
unintentional poisonings," urged Stratton.
Parents can do their part, he noted, by keeping harmful products and
medicines out of children's reach, storing items in their original
containers, and properly using child-resistant packaging.
According to AAPCC, poison centers nationwide received more than one
million calls about poison exposures involving children five years and
younger in 2003. Among the potentially toxic household products involved
with calls to the poison centers were:
Personal care products, including baby oil and mouthwash containing
ethanol;
Cleaning substances, including drain openers and oven cleaners;
Over-the-counter pain relievers - including ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and
aspirin - and cough and cold medicines;
Hydrocarbons, such as lamp oil and furniture polish; and
Adult-strength vitamins and supplements containing iron.
Rose Ann Soloway, chair of the Poison Prevention Week Council, noted that
when repackaged at home in non-child-resistant containers, medicines and
potentially hazardous household products become even more accessible and
dangerous for young children. "Grandparents who keep their prescription
drugs in non-child-resistant pill boxes should be especially aware of this
risk," said Soloway. "Child-resistant packaging doesn't work if it's not
used properly."
Many poisoning incidents occur while the products are in use and a parent or
caregiver steps away or is distracted for a moment. Children can get hold
of a product and swallow it during the short time it takes to answer a phone
call or doorbell.
"The alarming number of poison center calls and emergency department visits
proves that children act fast, and so do poisons," said Kathy Wruk,
president of AAPCC. "Parents must act fast as well. If your child swallows
or handles a potentially dangerous product, immediately call the poison
center hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Your call will be answered by experts at
your local poison center."
To get a free packet of poison prevention publications, write to "Poison
Prevention Packet," CPSC, Washington, DC 20207, or visit
www.poisonprevention.org. For additional information about poison
prevention and poison centers, visit www.1-800-222-1222.info.
USFA Releases Investigative Report on Fatal Residential Structure Fires with Operational Smoke Alarms
News Release Date: August 3, 2006
EMMITSBURG, MD. - The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) announces the release of a special report regarding fatal residential structure fires with working smoke alarms. From 2001-2004, 391 fatal residential structure fires with working smoke alarms were reported to the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) resulting in 452 civilian fire fatalities.
"Each year an unacceptable number of American citizens lose their lives in residential structure fires where smoke alarms operated," said Acting USFA Fire Administrator Charlie Dickinson. "USFA has investigated the characteristics of the victims of these fires to better educate the public in taking preventative measures to reduce the risks involved with such fires."
Alarms operated in 34 percent of fatal apartment fires and in 12 percent of fatal one- and two-family dwelling fires. Thirty-seven percent of the victims of fatal residential structure fires with working smoke alarms were sleeping at the time of their death. An additional 29 percent of victims were trying to escape the fire at the time of their fatal injury.
"We know the value that smoke alarms, escape plans, child fire prevention programs, and residential sprinklers can have on saving lives," said Dickinson. "We continue to encourage all residents of this nation to take the steps necessary to ensure their homes are fire safe today."
The report, Investigation of Fatal Residential Structure Fires with Operational Smoke Alarms, was developed by the USFA’s National Fire Data Center as part of its Topical Fire Research Series and is based on data from the NFIRS for 2001-2004. The report examines residential structure fires with fatalities
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