Care and Feeding of Residential Fire Alarm Systems
Through the sustained efforts of many public and private agencies in O’Fallon, nearly all homes have some sort of fire warning device. These systems need to be cared for occasionally to ensure they are ready to operate properly when the need arises. Smoke alarms are your primary line of defense in the event of a fire in your home.
The City’s current building codes require that every newly constructed home have built-in smoke alarms. These systems are powered by the home’s electrical system with a nine volt battery back-up system. However, they still need some occasional maintenance to ensure proper response in the event of an emergency. First, they should be vacuumed monthly to ensure that no dust or cobwebs have built up inside. You should change the nine volt back-up battery every six months (CHANGE YOUR CLOCK / CHANGE YOUR BATTERY). These systems are designed to be fail safe, so if the battery in one of them reaches the point where it can no longer protect you, it will set off the all the alarms in the house that are attached. This can be quite a shocking experience in the middle of the night. An
intermittent chirp from a detector indicates that the nine volt battery supply is getting low.
For smoke detectors that are not wired to household power supply, the six month scheduled battery change is even more important. These alarms need the same type of care as the built-in systems. Members of the O’Fallon Fire Department will gladly come to your residence and assist you with the above activities. Please feel free to call the Fire Department at 624-4520 for assistance.
Severe Weather Safety
Tornados most often develop in warm, damp air systems that precede cold fronts moving eastward. Dark or greenish skies, wall clouds, and large hail are some of the signs that are associated with tornados. On average, tornados cause around 70 fatalities and thousands of injuries each year. The leading cause of injury during a tornado is flying debris.
What if you’re caught in a tornado?
-Take shelter immediately
-Stay away from windows, exterior doors and the outside walls of your residence
-If you do not have a basement or storm shelter in your home, seek refuge under a heavy object such as a table or large bed
-Remember, do not open the windows to the house prior to the storm
-If you are in a vehicle, do not try to outrun a tornado
-If immediate shelter is not available, leave your vehicle and find a ditch or other low grade area away from vehicles
-Do not try to seek shelter under a highway overpass
-Finally, remember to keep a well stocked emergency supply and food kit in your home and cars
Warning Sirens
Confused about what the warning sirens mean when they are activated?
The City of O’Fallon has two types of warning sirens. The severe weather warning sirens and the fire warning sirens.
The severe weather warning sirens are strategically located throughout the City to inform the residents of the potential of hazardous conditions.~ These devices produce a constant wail in response to a tornado warning issued by the National Weather Service for the area affected by the warning.~
The second type of siren is a Fire Department alert device.~ This is located at 106 E. Washington, at Fire Station #1.~ This siren oscillates to inform volunteer firefighters when there is a needed response for an emergency.~ The siren is only activated between 9am and 8pm, and it is not activated during periods of severe weather.~ Volunteer firefighters have two additional devices to inform them of emergency calls.~ The siren provides a back-up for a triple redundant system.~
Fire Department Calls
The Fire Department responded to 121 calls in the City from February 1 through April 30, 2004
Fire Department Web Site
| 
