FIRE DEPARTMENT
 The fire department recently took delivery of new “Quint” fire truck. This unique design gives this apparatus some of the capabilities of a ladder truck while still being able to operate as a traditional engine company. This truck represents over a year of work by members of the department in designing, specifying, and inspecting the truck through the build process. The truck went into
service in late September. If you are interested in seeing any of your fire equipment, contact a member of the department to arrange for a tour.
The fire department also recently took delivery of a used mobile fire safety house. We were able to obtain this house at a fraction of the cost of a new one and are currently in the process of soliciting support from area businesses and organizations to help with the costs of some minor remodeling. This house has been a major goal of the department for several years, due to the lasting impact that it has on the children that use it. We’ve now expanded our fire prevention arsenal to include “Patches the Robot Fire Truck”, a fire extinguisher simulation trainer, and now the safety house. Our prevention efforts have proven successful over the years and we are constantly striving to find new ways to reach the various members of our community.
The fire department’s Special Operations Team is now fully equipped to respond to unique emergencies in the community. Several members of the department have attended thousands of hours of training in various advanced rescue disciplines including: Water Rescue, Structural Collapse, Trench, Confined Space, High and Low Angle Rope Rescue, and Hazardous Materials. The team responds to calls using special equipment on the department’s heavy rescue squad and a heavy duty pick-up with trailer.
Smoke Detector Maintenance
Residential smoke detectors come in a variety of styles. Battery operated detectors are typically powered by a nine volt battery and electric detectors are wired into the homes electrical system.
Electric with battery back-up are wired into the homes electrical system with a battery back-up supply to power the detector in the event the home loses power. This style is very common in newer homes and is required in all new residential construction in the City.
Smoke detectors that are electric (hard wired), with or without battery back-up, are designed to alarm all devices if any one detector is sensing smoke. For example, a smoke detector in the basement may activate due to smoke or a maintenance issue, causing all detectors throughout the residence to sound. This is the proper operation, as they are designed to provide early warning to all occupants in the event of a fire.
Maintenance
All batteries in smoke detectors should be changed twice a year. The national standard indicates “Change your clock, change your batteries”. At a minimum, smoke detectors should be cleaned at the same time the batteries are changed. This can be accomplished by removing the detector from its mount, using compressed air (such as aerosol cans used on computers) to blow out any dust or debris that may be in the detector. Dust, spider webs, and steam (from cooking or showers), are all common things that may cause a detector to activate. Do not use any type of chemical agents for cleaning and never attempt to open or take apart the detectors. The units are factory sealed and also contain a small amount of radioactive substances inside the device.
Verify that the battery is replaced in the detector properly. Re-install the smoke detector and connect the electrical supply. Push the test button, located on the front to verify operation. If the detectors are hard wired to your homes electrical system, they are working properly if all the detectors in the home sound when you push and hold the test button.
If smoke detectors are sounding in your residence:
If a smoke condition or abnormal smell exists, DIAL 911! Next, have all occupants exit the structure immediately and assemble in a pre-designated meeting place. If available, take a cell phone with you to contact 911 with further information.
If no conditions exist and the detectors continue to sound, quickly and safely walk to each detector and look at the face of the smoke detector. Many models have a light on them to indicate which detector activated the system. For example, a variety of models have a green light indicating that the smoke detector has an electrical supply during normal operation. A solid red light may indicate the detector that is activating the system. THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO ALL MAKES AND MODELS!
Any detector in the system that is indicating a different status than the other detectors could also be the device activating the system. In many models, an intermittent chirping sound will indicate a low battery back-up supply. However, some models will activate the system due to a low battery, and not chirp. In the event that all of the prior troubleshooting procedures fail to identify the problem, the next step is to remove each detector from the system and re-install them one at a time. In order for this technique to work, the detectors must all be sounding when you remove them from their wiring, one at a time.
After the detector is removed, pause for a few seconds. If the detectors stop alarming, you have found the faulty detector. If the detectors continue to alarm, put the detector you removed back into the system and move to the next until you find the faulty device. Remember, this technique will not work unless the detectors are alarming.
Smoke detectors can malfunction internally and activate the system. By the process of elimination, that detector will need to be removed and replaced. The general rule is that smoke detectors will last for five to seven years.
The information in this article does not specifically apply to monitored fire alarm systems. Many residential structures have hard wired smoke detector systems accompanied by detectors that are connected to a monitored fire alarm system.
The above information is provided as basic guidelines for detector maintenance and does not supersede any of the individual manufacturer recommendations
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