Originally posted on the Fire Protection Blog

Fire extinguishers don’t last forever. All fire extinguishers will expire at some point but there is not always a strict expiration date. As the first line of defense for a fire, it is important that you make sure your extinguishers are still functional and well maintained.

How Long Do Fire Extinguishers Last?

The lifespan of a fire extinguisher varies based on a few factors including:

• Type of fire extinguisher
• Whether the extinguisher is disposable or rechargeable
• How well the extinguisher is maintained
• The date it was manufactured
• Manufacturer recommendations

According to NFPA standards, disposable fire extinguishers need to be replaced every 12 years and rechargeable fire extinguishers must be recharged every 6 years. A disposable fire extinguisher has a plastic head with a gauge that reads “full” or “empty”. Rechargeable extinguishers have a metal head with a gauge that reads “charge” or “recharge”.

How Do You Know If Your Extinguisher Needs to be Replaced?

Some extinguishers have a recommended replacement date set by the manufacturer. However, there are many extinguishers without strict expiration dates which can make it hard to tell when it should be replaced. Every month, you should do a visual check of your fire extinguishers to make sure that they are still functional. Some things you should look out for include:

• Depressurization – Many extinguishers have pressure gauges. If your extinguisher’s gauge needle falls out of the green zone, it is time to replace it. Fire extinguishers that are depressurized are inoperable.
• Signs of Damage – If you see any signs of damage, loose pieces, rust, or corrosion on your extinguisher, it may not function properly and could need to be replaced.
• Failed Hydrostatic Test – A fire extinguisher service provider can perform hydrostatic testing to measure the integrity of the cylinder of your extinguisher. If your fire extinguisher fails the test, it must be replaced immediately.

Certain types of fire extinguishers are now considered obsolete as regulations change or technology advances. NFPA guidelines dictate which types of extinguishers should be removed from service. If you have an older fire extinguisher, you should consult with an experienced fire protection provider to determine whether it is obsolete.

Regular Maintenance of Extinguishers Can Extend Lifespan

Getting your fire extinguishers inspected, tested, and serviced according to NFPA and manufacturer recommendations can help to extend the lifespan of your equipment. 

Fire safety is an important subject to discuss, especially with young ones. However, the discussion you have with a child in kindergarten versus a child in 6th grade are two different approaches. A good resource for information for both of those age groups (and those in between, of course) is Firesafekid.org. They have separate sections with information for grades K-3 and for grades 4-6.

Fire safety is a very important topic. Once they start, fires can spread quickly. You should have a plan in place to get out, should a fire start, but here is a list of tips for fire prevention:

• Watch your cooking
  Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you must leave, even for a short time, turn off the stove.
• Give space heaters space
  Keep fixed and portable space heaters at least three feet from anything that can burn. Turn off heaters when you leave the room or go to sleep.
• Smoke outside
  Ask smokers to smoke outside. Have sturdy, deep ashtrays for smokers.
• Keep matches and lighters out of reach
  Keep matches and lighters up high, out of the reach of children, preferably in a cabinet with a child lock.
• Inspect electrical cords
  Replace cords that are cracked, damaged, have broken plugs, or have loose connections.
• Be careful when using candles
  Keep candles at least one foot from anything that can burn. Blow out candles when you leave the room or go to sleep.
• Have a home fire escape plan
  Make a home fire escape plan and practice it at least twice a year.
• Install smoke alarms
  Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas. Interconnect smoke alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound.
• Test smoke alarms
  Test smoke alarms at least once a month and replace batteries once a year or when the alarm “chirps” to tell you the battery is low. Replace any smoke alarm that is more than 10 years old.
• Install sprinklers
  If you are building or remodeling your home, install residential fire sprinklers. Sprinklers can contain and may even extinguish a fire in less time than it would take the fire department to arrive.

Originally posted on the National Fire Protection Association website.

We deal with loud environments often: concerts, construction sites, etc. It can be physically painful if the ambient noise is loud enough. Because of this, it makes sense that many people avoid such settings in an attempt to avoid hearing problems in the future. 

If this is true, then why are fire alarms so loud? 

Fire alarms are LOUD

NFPA 72 outlines the requirements for fire alarm notification appliances, which take two primary forms: audible and visible.

• Horns and sirens provide the audible alert, sounding off at 65 to 120 decibels (dB) when standing 10 feet from the device.
• Strobe lights provide the visible alert, flashing once per second at 15 to 1,000 candelas, depending on the setting.

It’s well known that repeated exposure to loud noises can be damaging to your hearing. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) states that 85 dB and higher is the danger zone for hearing loss.

Here are some comparative noise examples to help you understand the loudness of different decibels:

• Indoor conversation: 50 dB
• Chatter in a restaurant: 60 dB
• Vacuum cleaner: 70 dB
• Garbage disposal or food blender: 80 to 90 dB
• Power lawn mower or motorcycle engine: 100 dB
• Thunderclap: 120 dB
• Jet take-off from 25 meters away: 150 dB (eardrums may rupture if exposed to this volume without ear protection)

So… Why are some fire alarms louder than others?

The goal of a fire alarm is to make sure everyone in the building knows to evacuate. That’s why the NFPA requires fire alarm horns and sirens to sound louder than ambient noises.

The precise requirement is 15 dB above the average noise level or 5 dB above the maximum ambient sound, whichever is greater. This means it may be appropriate to program fire alarm horns to 75 dB for a restaurant or office setting, but an industrial facility with loud equipment may need to sound off closer to the maximum 120 dB level to ensure the sound stands out from other ambient noises.

The high volume requirement for fire alarms accounts for the fact that distance from the horn decreases its perceived volume, and building materials absorb noise, especially if the doors are closed between rooms. Due to these factors, the decibel level must be high at the source to ensure the sound travels to every corner of the building.

Can I protect my ears from the noise of a fire alarm?

When you hear the shrill noise of a fire alarm, your first instinct is to cover your ears. This is actually an effective way to defend against hearing loss while you walk calmly toward the exit and make your way out of the building.

More importantly, however, is to create a fire evacuation plan and hold fire drills regularly. This way, everyone is confident about what steps to take and where to evacuate in case of an emergency. By planning ahead, you can limit confusion and reduce the time you’re exposed to loud volumes.

Not enough cord for your lamp or radio to reach the nearest outlet? Just plowing through the junk drawer for an extension cord? This may not be a good idea. Extension cords can be very helpful in delivering power right where we need it. However, regardless of the gauge or rating of the cord, an extension cord is a temporary solution and is not meant to be used as a long-term extension of your household’s electrical system.

Read more and get safety tips on the Electrical Safety Foundation International’s website.

Deputy Dominique Calata was shot during a SWAT operation on March 15. He died March 16.

Click here to read the complete article on King5 News’ website.

Discussing fire safety with your kids is important, but sometimes fun activities help them to remember what was discussed. We told you about the Smokey the Bear site for kids before, but we wanted to highlight some of the activities on the site. 

The first one is their Story Maker. Much like Mad Libs, this tool allows your child to fill in each blank with a word or two. After clicking “Create Story,” they can read the story they created. 

The other fun activity on the site is a coloring page designer. This tool lets kids choose a border and then one of several designs that they can print and then color. 

Originally posted on Nisqually Valley News’ website.

One person was found dead in the early morning hours of Friday, Feb. 25 after a fire destroyed a residence near the city of Rainier, according to the Southeast Thurston Fire Authority.

The person who died was described only as an “adult” in a news release, stated The Olympian.

At about 4:50 a.m. on Feb. 25, fire crews responded to the blaze in the area of Jonas Hill Road, located outside Rainier, according to The Olympian.

Crews arrived to find the fire underway, stated The Olympian, which included flames that were visible through the center of the roof. The intensity of the fire and damage to the structure prevented crews from accessing the main fire area, according to The Olympian.

That’s the same area where the resident was found dead.

East Olympia Fire District 6, South Thurston Fire & EMS and Thurston County Fire District 17 also were dispatched to assist SE Thurston Fire.

The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office also was on scene, according to The Olympian.

We all know that working smoke alarms can mean the difference between a safe exit and potential harm in an emergency. However, typical smoke alarms don’t always protect anyone who is deaf or hard of hearing. If they can’t hear the alarm or people yelling for them to evacuate, how can they stay safe? Here are some options to keep in mind:

Strobe Lights

One option is to install a fire alarm that has a strobe light system. The flashing lights are there to help keep the deaf and hard of hearing safe. As with traditional smoke alarms, the lights on these systems should be tested on a regular basis to ensure continued safety.

Vibrations

Another suggestion is using a device that notifies the person via vibrations. This can include vibrators for pillows, a shaker for the bed, or something the person can wear throughout their day. The device activates to the sound of a traditional fire alarm. The person may not be able to hear the fire alarm, but the device can and then sends an alert via vibrations to alert that person.

Mixed Pitch

Another example is to have a mixed pitch alarm installed. This option is good for people with hearing loss or who might be heavier sleepers. Basically, the alarm makes a lower-pitched sound, with mixed tones at 520 Hz. This sound can be heard by a wider portion of the population and, importantly, can wake you from a deep sleep so you can get to safety.

We all know that safety is important and that having safety and escape plans in case of a fire are crucial. Do these plans include your fur babies? They should! Our safety plans should include our pets, as they depend on us for so much. 

Just like preventive measures are important with children (making sure that candles, lighters, etc. are out of their reach), we should make sure that we put measures in place to prevent our pets from getting into dangerous situations. Here are what some of these measures can look like:

• Monitor Open Flames – Candles and other open flames can be dangerous. It only takes seconds for a curious (or clumsy) animal to knock a candle over. Fireplaces should also have safety gates in place. These measures can keep animals from being seriously hurt, as well as prevent the possibility of a fire.
• Secure Your Wires – Loose wires are normally nothing too alarming. Whether it’s the wires connected to appliances or wires for device chargers, make sure that they are as well hidden and/or secured as possible. Pets, especially when young, like to chew on everything, which can make these wires dangerous fire and safety hazards.
• Water and Electricity Don’t Mix – This one seems like common sense, but many people may not consider it when placing their pet’s water bowl. Many pets are messy drinkers. Some dogs can dribble water from their mouths (especially breeds that tend to drool) and cats and young animals will sometimes play in their water bowls. Make sure that any water that spills from their bowl can’t go toward any electrical outlets.
• Pet Signs – There are signs and window clings available to purchase that will inform any emergency responders that your home has pets. These signs can save them time when responding to a call, especially if you’re not home to let them know, yourself. These signs could also save your pet’s life in the event of a house fire.
• Microchip and Tag – Make sure your pet is microchipped and that they have a tag on their collar with your address and phone number on it. A fire can be a scary thing, especially for your pets. When afraid, they will most likely flee the flames, which could result in them getting lost. Make sure that, if someone finds your furry friend, they can contact you to reunite you and your pet.

Obviously, this is not an exhaustive list. These items will, however, help you to keep your home and family safe, including the furry members of the family.