This weekend, March 13 and 14, we will all be setting our clocks to Daylight Saving Time. The time change is a good reminder to check your smoke alarms. According to the National Fire Protection Association, more than 66 percent of home fire deaths that occurred between 2003-2006 were in homes without a working smoke alarm.  A working smoke alarm significantly increases your chances of surviving a deadly home fire.

A properly installed and maintained smoke alarm is the only thing in your home that can alert you and your family to a fire 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Whether you’re awake or asleep, a working smoke alarm is constantly on alert, scanning the air for fire and smoke. Smoke alarms must be maintained! A smoke alarm with a dead or missing battery is the same as having no smoke alarm at all, so test your smoke alarm monthly by pushing the “test” button, if it has one.  

Smoke alarms are powered by either a battery or are hardwired into your home’s electrical system. Hardwired smoke alarms are usually equipped with a backup battery.  If your smoke alarm is powered by battery, the battery needs to be replaced annually unless it is a long-life battery (check the owner’s manual).  All batteries should be maintained and replaced in accordance with manufacturer’s guidance. 

Choose an annual date, such as the time change, when you will remember to maintain your smoke alarm in tip top condition. Check the manufacturer’s expiration date on the label, replace the batteries if needed, and clean dust away from the slots so that smoke can enter freely. All smoke alarms, hard-wired and battery powered, should be replaced every ten years.  These simple steps will help ensure that you and your family will have the best chance of surviving if fire should strike.

USFA has a fire safety campaign called Install. Inspect. Protect. which provides information about home smoke alarms and fire sprinklers. Please visit the campaign Web site at

 www.usfa.dhs.gov/campaigns/smokealarms/.

 
Winners for Fire Escape Plan Drawings

1st Place Cynthia Letting	2nd Place Ashley Mathew	3rd Place  Unknown

Coloring Contest Winners

1st Place Caitlyn Amsden	2nd Place Aidan Link	3rd Place Angelina Gentry

Click the link below to see how fast your tree can burn!!!

Christmas Tree Fire

Before putting up your Christmas tree, check the lights to make sure that there are no cracks or exposed wires.  Remember that a fresh tree needs water, so be sure to check your stand daily.  Always unplug the lights on the tree before retiring for the night, or when no one is home.  As you can see in the video, it does not take long for fire to spread.  In 7 minutes an entire home can be engulfed in flames.  Care and maintenance of a fresh tree is very important.  Check the position of the tree; keep it a safe distance from space heaters, fireplaces, candles, or other generating sources which can dry out a tree fast. 

Please have a special holiday season with family and friends by making safety your holiday priority.
 

 

Perkasie Fire Company’s
Fire Prevention Program

Again in 2006, Safety Officer Angela Kelly led the Department’s fire education efforts.  Here are some of the highlights for the year.

Sparky made a visit to Pennridge’s Robert B. Deibler and Dr. Patricia A. Guth Elementary Schools with firefighter friends and Rescue 26 during Fire Prevention Week. His presentations reached a total of 1300 students and teachers.

Firefighters had the Fire Education Trailer on display at Clemens Markets store in the Glenwood Shopping Center during Fire Prevention Week handing out literature and greeting the public. 

During the pouring rain, Fire Prevention members were at the Landis Supermarkets Perkasie Square Shopping Center store to display fire prevention tips.

The Thursday of Fire Prevention week, teams of firefighters hosted 32 pre-school children from All My Children, JMJ Group, Little Peeps and the Leight House Day Care Centers and 41 home-schooled students at the Borough Station explaining fire safety tips to the children and adults.  At the end of October, TLC Learning Center was at the Station with 40 children to learn fire safety.

The culmination of Department Fire Prevention efforts was held Thursday evening October 12, 2006 at an Open House at the Station at 5^th & Arch Streets in Perkasie Borough.  The local Girl Scout troop cooked and served over 500 hot dogs for the community attendees.  Clemens Markets and Landis Supermarkets donated a portion of the hot dogs and rolls, and Pennridge Beverage donated a half-keg of Root Beer for the activities.  The Tower 26 was delivered the night before and was on display for the first time to the public.  Firefighter’s demonstrated to children how to perform safe home escapes with the use of the Fire Safety Trailer.  A fire hose line accuracy prop was manned by Fire Education Committee members to give area youth the experience on of flowing water.  Tanker 27 (Sellersville FD) provided a portable pond and water for Dive Rescue 63 and Marine 63 (Haycock FD) to demonstrate water safety tips.  St. Luke’s – Quakertown Hospital provided the MCI (mass Casualty Incident) unit to demonstrate their capability to provide service to Upper Bucks County.  State Police Trooper Groman was on location with the Rollover Car to show adults, teenagers and children the benefits of wearing seatbelts during an accident.  Rescue 26 firefighters demonstrated vehicle rescue techniques on a vehicle donated by Thomas Wilcox Salvage.  Special Service 58 (Trumbauersville), Ladder 23 (Dublin) and Engine 27-1 (Sellersville) stood-by at the Station during the event.  It is estimated that over 1000 people attended the well planned Open house efforts by Fire Prevention Committee members.

The Fire Safety Trailer was on display numerous places in the Pennridge Community during the year, such as the Dublin Community Day, Upper Bucks YMCA and Hilltown Plaza Wal-Mart. 

The success of this year’s Fire Prevention efforts is directly due to the dedication and efforts of all the members of the Committee.  The numerous hours of planning for the Open House brought many smiles to the Community while explaining fire safety tips and service that this Department provides as volunteers.