MEDIA CONTACT" Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930
Prince Georges County Firefighters have fought three fires Sunday morning with two possibly caused by heating appliances.
The first fire occurred just before 1:00 am in the 5200 block of Palco Place in College Park. Firefighters were initially dispatched into the
area to investigate “smoke in the area” of the community, including, smoke
crossing over the Capital Beltway located adjacent to the Sunnyside
community. An engine from the
Branchville Fire/EMS Station 811 searched the area and found smokey
conditions with a distinct odor of Class A combustibles. After searching the area, firefighters
located a 2-story single family home with fire showing from the basement. The
fire extended rapidly through the upper floors and eventually burned through
the roof. There were no injuries. The cause is still under investigation,
however, it appears that the initial use of the homes furnace may have led to
the cause of the fire. Fire loss is
estimated at $50,000.
The second fire also involved a single family home and a
basement fire. At around 3:00 am firefighters from the Largo/Upper Marlboro
area responded to the 12800 block of Peachleaf Court in Upper Marlboro, a
2-story single family home.
An alarm company received a signal indicating an activated smoke
alarm in the house. The alarm company
notified Public Safety Communications and an engine from the Kettering/Largo
Fire/EMS Station #846 was dispatched to investigate the alarm. Fire/EMS units arrived to find a working fire
in the basement and immediately requested additional units.
Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire and located an
unconscious adult female during the primary search of the house. The female
occupant was removed by firefighters, treated on the scene by paramedics and
transported to a hospital, she was found not breathing and no pulse, suffering
from burns and smoke inhalation injuries.
She is currently listed in very critical condition.
The cause of the fire is still being investigated, However, Fire
Investigators believe the cause of the fire is “accidental.” Fire loss is estimated at $30,000. No other injuries were reported.
Firefighters fought an apartment fire this morning in Brentwood. At around
8:30 am firefighters responded to the 3500 block of Windom Road. Upon arrival
they encountered a 3-story apartment building with fire showing from the 2nd
and 3rd floors, the fire was extinguished within 15 minutes. Several citizens saw the fire and entered the
apartment building, activated the building alarm bells and started to bang on
apartment doors to alert the residents. Nearly a dozen residents were made aware of the fire in the building and escape safely by the actions of these Good Samaritan citizens. No injuries were reported. Fire
Investigators believe the fire was caused by a space heater in a second floor
unit that ignited nearby combustibles.
Fire loss estimates and the number of residents displaced are not yet available.
Colder temperatures typically equates to firefighters having to battle a higher number of fires. Citizens, visitors and businesses should have heating equipment serviced by a certified HVAC technician prior to the colder weather. Have chimneys and fireplaces cleaned and serviced and give space heaters space - at least 3 feet away from combustibles.
The Prince George's County
Fire/Emergency Medical Services Department is sharing fire safety and injury
prevention advice from our friends at the United State Fire Administration
(USFA). The high cost of home heating fuels and utilities has caused many
Americans to search for alternative home heating sources such as wood burning
stoves, space heaters, and fireplaces. Heating is one of the leading causes of
residential fires. Over one-quarter of these fires result from improper
maintenance of equipment, specifically the failure to clean the equipment.
Carbon monoxide (CO)
poisoning is another danger when using heating equipment fueled by fossil fuel.
It occurs most often when equipment is not vented properly. CO deaths have been
on the rise since 1999. On average there were 181 unintentional non-fire deaths
from CO poisoning associated with consumer products per year from 2004-2006
compared to 123 from 1999-2001 (Source: Consumer Product Safety Commission).
Carbon monoxide poisoning is most fatal to adults age 65 or older.
PREVENTING HOME HEATING FIRES
In 2003-2006, the leading
factor contributing to home heating fires (28%) and deaths (46%) was heating
equipment too close to things that can burn, such as upholstered furniture,
clothing, mattress, or bedding (Source: NFPA). Many heating fires can be
prevented by following basic safety tips when dealing with any heating
equipment:
Keep or maintain a 3 foot
clearance between all heating equipment and anything that can burn.
Inspect and maintain heating
equipment regularly for safety.
Be sure to have fixed space
heaters installed by a qualified technician, according to manufacturer’s
instructions or applicable codes. Or, make sure a qualified technician
checks to see the unit has been properly installed.
When buying a new, portable
space heater, make sure it has the label showing it is listed by a recognized
testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
Space heaters should be
turned off every time you leave the room and before going to bed.
Keep space heaters at least
3 feet away from anything that can burn - including furniture, blankets,
curtains, and paper products.
Choose space heaters that
turn off automatically if they tip over.
Never use a space heater to
dry clothing.
Do not use your oven to heat
your home.
Install smoke alarms in
every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the
home. For the best protection, interconnect all smoke alarms throughout
the home. When one sounds, they all sound.
Test smoke alarms monthly.
Install and maintain carbon
monoxide alarms to avoid risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Be sure the fireplace or
stove is installed properly. Wood stoves should have adequate clearance
(3 feet) from combustible surfaces and proper floor support and protection.
Wood stoves should be of
good quality, solid construction and design, and should be evaluated by a
nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
The stove should be burned
hot twice a day for 15-30 minutes to reduce the amount of creosote buildup.
Have your chimney inspected
annually and cleaned if necessary, especially if it has not been used for some
time.
Don’t use excessive amounts
of paper to build fires in fireplaces. It is possible to ignite creosote
in the chimney by overbuilding the fire.
Make sure your fireplace has
a sturdy screen to prevent sparks from flying into the room.
Keep flammable materials
away from your fireplace mantel. A spark from the fireplace could easily
ignite these materials.
Before you go to sleep, be
sure your fireplace fire is out. NEVER close your damper with hot ashes
in the fireplace. A closed damper will help the fire to heat up again and
will force toxic carbon monoxide into the house.
If synthetic logs are used,
follow the directions on the package. NEVER break a synthetic log apart
to quicken the fire or use more than one log at a time. They often burn
unevenly, releasing higher levels of carbon monoxide.
Do not use flammable liquids
to start or accelerate any fire.
Never burn charcoal
indoors. Burning charcoal can give off lethal amounts of carbon monoxide.
Allow fireplace and wood
stove ashes to cool before disposing in a metal container.
Kerosene Heaters
Read and follow the
procedure in the owner’s manual before you attempt to operate or service the
unit.
Learn the safety and
maintenance procedures necessary to safely operate the heating unit.
Always use water clear K-1
grade kerosene.
Never use gasoline or any
other volatile fuels in the unit.
Never refuel the heater
indoors, when it is hot, or in use.
Do not fill the fuel tank
past the full mark. The space above the full mark is there to allow
expansion of the fuel when it is operated.
Always provide adequate
ventilation for the unit. Burning kerosene consumes oxygen, and produces
carbon monoxide and other dangerous gases which may cause you to suffocate or
have other respiratory problems.
Electric Heaters
Check to ensure the heater
has a thermostat control mechanism.
Choose a heater that will
turn off automatically if it tips over.
Never dry clothes or store
objects on stop of the heater.
Never use extension cords
with electric heaters.
Keep anything that may burn
at least 3 feet away from the heater.
Never allow children to play
with, or around, the heater.
Never place anything inside
the grill on the front of the heater.
CARBON MONOXIDE SAFETY
Each year unintentional
carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning claims hundreds of lives and sends several
thousands of people to the emergency room for treatment. At lower levels
of exposure, CO causes mild effects that are often mistaken for the flu.
These symptoms include headaches, dizziness, disorientation, nausea, and
fatigue. The effects of CO exposure can vary greatly from person to
person depending on age, overall health, and the concentration and length of
exposure.
You can protect yourself and
your family by following a few easy steps:
Carbon
monoxide is an odorless, colorless and toxic gas. Because it is impossible to
see, taste, or smell the toxic fumes, CO can kill before you are aware it is in
your home.
CO can come
from several sources: gas-fired appliances, charcoal grills, wood-burning
furnaces or fireplaces, and motor vehicles.
Install at least one CO detector with an audible warning signal evaluated by a nationally recognized
laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL), near sleeping areas and
outside individual bedrooms. CO alarms measure levels of the gas over
time and are designed to sound an alarm before an average, healthy adult would
experience symptoms.
Have your heating system,
water heater, and any other gas, oil or coal burning appliances serviced by a
qualified technician every year.
Never use your range or oven
to help heat your home and never use a charcoal grill or hibachi in your home
or garage.
Never keep a car running in
a garage. Even if the garage door is open, normal circulation will not
provide enough fresh air to reliably prevent a dangerous buildup of CO.
Having a working
smoke alarm dramatically increases your chances of surviving a fire. And
remember to practice a home escape plan frequently with your family.
County residents can call 301-864-SAFE (7233) and have a working smoke
alarm and carbon monoxide detector installed in your home, free of charge.
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