One of the mildest winters on record appears to be behind us; with that said most of us will be starting to get our yards ready for spring and summer.

We would like to remind people that open burning of yard waste is prohibited in Savage.

Recreation Fire Permits are available; you can download one by clicking here.

Please keep in mind that using gasoline and other flammable liquids can have devastating and deadly consequences; please see the excerpts from a local Boston newspaper article that was published on April 1, 2012 below. (Copyright 2012 Community Newspaper Holdings Inc. (CNHI) All Rights Reserved)

An 18 year-old from Muthuen, MA was airlifted to a Boston hospital after being badly burned pouring gasoline on a backyard campfire. The teen suffered second and third degree burns to approximately 50% of his body. It was reported that the fire had died down to embers when the teen added some brush to the fire, and then poured gasoline onto it; the fire flashed up and the gas exploded severely burning the teen. Events like this can have lifelong ramifications!

The Savage Fire Department cautions people to not pour lighter fluid, gasoline, or any other flammable liquids onto embers or an open flame.

We would like to offer a few other reminders and tips:

• Open burning of yard waste is prohibited
• Do not stack bags full of yard waste against your house or garage, it is a fire hazard and can attract rodents
• Make sure if you have a recreational fire that you have a way to extinguish the fire; a garden hose, fire extinguisher, a shovel and dirt all work well
• Keep all other combustibles away from the fire
• Never leave the fire unattended
• Keep young children at a safe distance from the flames
• Never leave young children unsupervised around a recreational fire.

Daylight Savings has pasted us this Spring; if you have not changed the batteries in your smoke alarms or carbon monoxide alarms now is a good time. We recommend changing the batteries at least once a year in each of the alarms. Along with changing the batteries it is a good idea to blowout or vacuum the dust from each of the units; the buildup of dust can cause them to go off randomly at anytime day or night.

As a parent you want to keep your child safe. Using the right car seat and making sure it is installed correctly can make that job a lot easier.

We are proud to offer our residents assistance with installing a car seat. If you are looking for help installing a car seat for the first time or just want to make sure that the current one is installed properly, we can help.

For more information on child safety seat go to: http://www.safekids.org/safety-basics/

Americans over the age of 65 have a fire death rate nearly twice the national average. For those over 75, this jumps to three times the national average. Whether living independently or in a care facility, there are steps seniors can take to remain safe from a fire.

Change Smoke Alarm Batteries:

• Having a working smoke alarm can more than double your chances of surviving a fire. Make sure alarms are installed on each level of your home and outside all sleeping areas. If sleeping with bedroom doors closed, the smoke alarms should be installed within each room. Test each alarm monthly and replace the battery at least once a year. Adults who are deaf or hard of hearing should invest in visual aids such as alarms with strobe lights. Flashing or vibrating smoke alarms should also be tested every month.

• Many older adults are still using escape routes that were planned when the kids were in the house. Plan and practice your home fire escape. Consider your capabilities when preparing escape routes. Have two ways to get out of each room and if needed, make sure all exits are accessible for walkers or wheelchairs.

• Careless smoking is the leading cause of fire deaths among Americans 65 years and older. Make sure that you are alert when you smoke and never smoke in bed. When you are finished smoking, soak the ashes in water before discarding them. Never leave smoking materials unattended, and collect them in large deep ashtrays.

• Cooking fires are the leading cause of fire injuries among older adults. When using the stove, never leave cooking food unattended. If you need to step away, turn it off. Also, wear tight-fitting clothing when cooking over an open flame; a dangling sleeve can catch fire easily. Keep towels and potholders away from the flame.

• Install and maintain heating equipment correctly. Do not store newspapers, rags, or other combustible materials near a furnace, hot water heater, or space heater. Keep flammable materials, such as curtains or furniture, at least three feet from space heaters. Never use a stove as a substitute for a furnace or space heater.

Between 2004-2008, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 260 home fires that started with Christmas trees per year. These fires caused an average of 14 deaths, 26 injuries, and $13.8 million in direct property damage annually.

Christmas tree fires are not common, but when they occur, they are likely to be serious. On average:

• One of every 21 reported fires that began with a Christmas tree resulted in death.
• A heat source too close to the Christmas tree started one of every five (19%) of these fires.
  
• One of every five (19%) home Christmas tree structure fires were intentionally set.
  
• Thirty-six percent of home Christmas tree structure fires occurred on the ten days between December 24 and January 2.
• Electrical problems were factors in one-third of home
  Christmas tree structure fires.
  
• A heat source was too close to the Christmas tree in one of
  every five (19%) of these fires.
  
• Thirteen percent of home Christmas tree fires involved
  decorative lights.
• Candles started 11% of home Christmas tree structure fires.
• More than one-third (37%) of all home Christmas tree fires started in the living room, family room, or den.
• One of every five (19%) home Christmas tree structure fires were intentionally set.
  
• More than half of the intentional Christmas tree fires occurred in January and may have been related to disposal.

We conducted an experiment to show how important it is to properly maintain your Christmas tree.

Click here to watch the video.

Grease fires can be very dangerous, especially in the kitchen. When a grease fire starts the initial reaction might be to throw water on it, that is one thing you DO NOT want to do! Putting water on a grease fire can cause an explosive force of steam that can blow the burning oil up and out causing devastating results.

Water, being heavier than oil, sinks to the bottom where it instantly becomes superheated, and as stated above, the explosive force of the steam blows the burning oil up and out. If this is done outside, with a turkey fryer for example, it can become a thirty foot high fireball. In the confines of the kitchen the fire ball hits the ceiling and can fill the entire room. Also, do not throw sugar or flour on a grease fire, one cup of either can create the explosive force of two stick of dynamite.

Here is what you should do.

1. Cover the pot with a lid that fits properly. Make sure you slide the lid onto the pot rather than setting it on; sliding the lid will help protect your hand, wrist, and arm from getting burned.
2. Turn the burner off
3. Let it cool down 15 - 20 minutes
   

Another thing to note; be careful when you add food to hot oil or a deep fryer. If the oil is too hot, or there are pockets of hot liquid in the food, the hot oil can spray about.

Click Here to learn more about grease fire hazards.

Do you have questions about product recalls?

Almost daily the Consumer Product Safety Commission posts a list of recalled items, ranging from children's toys that have lead paint to defective items. A list of the recalled items can be found at the CPSC website. The website features a list of recent recalls on their home page as when as a search feature to search for recalled items, you can search by manufacturer or item.

The Minnesota State Fire Marshal's Office has created some interactive games for kids of all ages. Learn about the different topics by clicking on one of the links below. Fire prevention is something that should be practiced by each member of your family. Test your fire safety knowledge by taking the Fire Marshal Challenge

Fire sprinkler systems are being installed in more and more homes these days. Take the Fire Sprinkler Challenge to learn more about residential fire sprinkler systems.

Learn how fires are investigated and how arson can affect everyone by taking the Arson Challange