Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention

Welcome

Thu, 10 May 2012 17:50:00 +1900

Welcome to the Toms River Fire Prevention Bureau's new home on the world wide web. This page will be regularly updated with relevant fire prevention topics. All of the pages within this site will be kept up to date to help you, help us, prevent fires!

Summer Safety

Tue, 08 May 2012 17:40:00 +1900

As we approach the memorial day week end leading into the summer season, many Toms River residents will begin to barbeque outdoors with family and friends, but this could be one of the most hazardous seasons also if we are not safety conscious.
Grill fires account for an average of 10 fatalities each year in the US in addition to over 100 serious injuries and $ 37 million dollars in property damage. The most common cause of these grill fires is mechanical failure, leaks,breaks in the line followed by grills being placed to close to combustibles or left unattended. The Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention offer the following tips and techniques to ensure you and family enjoy a safe and enjoyable summer season.

Use Barbecue grills safely:

Check the propane cylinder hose for leaks before using it for the first time each year. A light soap and water solution applied to the hose will reveal escaping propane quickly by releasing bubbles
If you determine your grill has a gas leak by smell or the soapy bubbles.Turn off the propane tank and have the grill serviced by a proffessional

Never use or store propane ccylinders indoors or even in the garage.
Always transport and store a cylinder in a secure and upright position so it will not fall, shift ,or roll

What does propane smell like?

Propane smells like rotten eggs, a skunks spray, or a dead animal. Propane manufactures add this smell to alert customers to potential leaks ( simular to the additive in natural gas)
Keep children away from the grill while cooking
Never leave the grill unattended

And most of all have a safe and enjoyable summer season

Steps to Reducing False Alarms

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 05:10:00 +1900

300) this.width=300" />

Whether false alarms are caused by burned popcorn, maliciousness, lack of maintence, poor design, there is nothing amusing about them.
Facilities and individuals who fail to adequately address this issue run the risk of placing emergency responders at risk each time they respond. Additionally, individuals begin to become complacent and stop taking the alarms seriously.
Employers should encourage and implement educational programs that provide risk analysis,
introduction to the workings of fire protection equipment and devices as part of their initial safety orientation.
The Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevntion offers many programs to businesses, homeowners, senior citizens, schools on a wide array of subjects to minimize false alarms and maximize fire safety awareness.
Once smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are installed they require preventive maintenance, that is cleaning and testing. Did you know that the life expectancy of smoke detectors is 10 years, and carbon monoxide detectors 5years ? also that many of the false alarms in the homes are caused by dust in and around the detector.

We ask residents to maintain their devices in an effort to reduce unnecessary false alarm activations. False alarms tax the fire departments operations, impact on the wear and tear of equipment and most importantly, jeopardize the safety of our dedicated responders
We thank you for visiting our web page and for your continuous support in keeping Toms River Township a safer place in which to live and work. Feel free to call the Bureau any time for assistance.

Easter /Passover Observances

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 20:10:00 +1900

Candles cause an estimated 15,000 fires in residential homes, 150 fatalities, and approximately 1300 injuries each year. Additionally, 540 million dollars in property damage

Over 1/2 of those candle fires start because the candle is too close to some combustible material. As we celebrate this holiday season , the Bureau of Fire Prevention reminds residents to observe safety guidelines when using candles

If you are going to use candles (battery operated candles make a great substitute) ensure they are in a sturdy metal,glass, or ceramic holders where they cannot be easily knocked over

Keep candles out of reach of children and pets

NEVER leave the house with candles burning or unattended

By using good comman sense and maintaining our early warning devices we can all enjoy what promises to be a great weekend

Help Prevent Mulch Fires

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 20:00:00 +1900

The Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention would like to remind residents and local businesses of using common sense when it comes to using mulch to enhance landscaping. Each year during spring and summer months, hundreds of mulch fires are reported across the nation. These fires start out small and are sometimes undetected, but eventually grow into a devestating fire, causing major damage to buildings, homes, and businesses.

Typically, mulch that is piled to deeply, more than a few inches, can build up heat and spontaneously ignite. As the fire starts in the landscaping mulch, it quickly spreads into the schrubbery and than into the home or business. However, the most common cause of mulch fire is human carelessness through inappropriate discarding of smoking materials, including matches.

To help prevent mulch fires, the Fire Bureau recommends the following:
Consider using a colored stone instead of mulch
Use approved receptacles for smoking materials
Be aware of weather conditions, hot spells allow mulch fires to start more easily
Keep mulch beds as moist as possible
Maintain at least 18" of clearance between the mulch bed and combustible materials.

Also Toms River residents whose properties abutt to a wooded area must take the threat of fire seriously, and take precautions to prevent a fire from bridgeing it's way to their home. Some examples consist of keeping our gutters clean of leaves and pine needles, removing dead limbs from trees, having spark arrestors or heavy screen wire on our chimneys,stacking firewood at least 30'ft from our home, establishing and maintaining a minimum fire break by establishing a well watered green lawn, It is also a good idea to have garden hoses connected to the exterior of your home to prevent a small fire from becoming a large one. and lastly, make sure everone(including children know how to dial the emergency service phone number.)

Change your clocks, change your batteries

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 19:20:00 +1900

Change your clock, change your batteries300) this.width=300" />

The Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention reminds residents of the importance of changing their smoke and carbon monoxide alarm batteries when changing their clocks forward March 11 th, 2012. This precaution along with monthly testing of these life saving devices cuts the risk of perishing in a fire. Also, Spring is an excellent time to purge our homes of items we are no longer using.

Early Warning Devices

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 18:30:00 +1900

One of the most important safety devices in your home should be a working smoke detector. Smoke detectors have been available to home owners since the late sixties.
Studies have shown time and time again that working smoke detectors and a well rehearsed family escape plan cut your chances of dying in a fire by at least 50%. We read all to frequently of people perishing in fires due to lack of early warning devices, but rarely hear of the thousands of lives that have been saved by them.
The Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention urge our residents to seek assistance if you require help in the installation or have any questions regarding the proper placement of these life saving devices. Help us to Help you

HOARDING AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:38:16 +1900

Fire departments in Toms River as well as Ocean County see all too often the devestation caused by fire.
The loss of human life and personal property are always at stake during this devestation.

One of the major issues confronting our first responders on a nation wide basis is the practice of HOARDING.

HOARDING INVOLVES THE ACQUISTION AND FAILURE TO DISCARD LARGE QUANITIES OF POSSESSIONS WHICH CULMINATES IN THE INTEFERENCE WITH DAILY LIVING ACTIVITIES.

Hoarding poses a fire hazard in many ways. Example: Accumulation of these possessions can greatly increase fuel load to the fire, thereby turning a fire quickly into an Infeno.

FIRE VS INFERNO
The choice is clear;we must purge our homes of unwanted and unused items to reduce the risk of a deadly potential threat.

With Spring just around the corner, let's perform a risk assessment of our homes, and remove items we no longer need.

Help us help you by keeping everyone safe

TOMS RIVER FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU ALONG WITH THE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR LOCAL FIRE COMPANIES

Be A Sweetheart

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:10:00 +1900

300) this.width=300" />The Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention reminds residents to give the gift of love this Valentines day.
Be a Sweetheart and ensure your love ones reside in a safe enviorment.
Check to ensure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are operable and that you have developed and practiced your family escape plans
Continue to participate in your New Years Resolution to "Resolve to be safe"

New Years Resolutions 2012

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 20:00:00 +1900

1. I resolve to maintain Smoke and Carbon300) this.width=300" /> Monoxide detectors in my home

2. I will reduce the chance of fire by performing self inspections of my home and discard items not needed,checking heating systems,electrical cords,spaceheaters.clothes dryers etc

3. I will develop and practice a family escape plan and practice it regularly

4. I will not leave food cooking unattended

5. I will develop a home emergency kit for all types of emergencies and ensure every member of the family is trained

6. I will encourage fire safety amongst family and friends by leading by example

7. I will watch "FIRE IS" on this web site with my family to show the reality of real fire not just hollywood style.

Tragedy frequently strikes in the winter months caused by heating equipment such as space heaters , fireplaces,and improperly disposed of ashes. RESOLVE TO BE SAFE