Author Archives: Landon McLeod

About Landon McLeod

Firefighter at Wabasca Fire Department - Sr GIS Technician at MD Of Opportunity No. 17 -- Q: What did the fireman say when the church caught on fire? A: Holy smoke! --

How to Prevent Dryer Fires

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Every year, firefighters across the country respond to around 14,630 home fires caused by clothes dryers, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

One-third of these fires is caused by an accumulation of lint, which means that not cleaning out your dryer vent can set you up for a dangerous situation that’s far more serious than the drop in performance caused by constricting a dryer’s duct work

1. Clean the Lint Filter

Not once a month, or even once a week. Clean the lint from the dryer’s lint screen before and after every load.

2. Clean the Dryer Duct Annually (at Least)

If you notice that your dryer takes longer to dry laundry than it used to, that’s a clue that there may be a blockage in the dryer vent system. When you’re drying a load, go outside and look at the vent. Do you see or feel exhaust air? If not, the vent or exhaust duct may be blocked with lint.

3. Handle Chemical Stains With Care

Clothes stained with gas, cooking oil, cleaning agents, or other flammable chemicals or substances need special care. Wash such stained clothing more than once to minimize volatile chemicals, then hang to dry. If you must use a dryer, use the lowest heat setting and a drying cycle that concludes with a cool-down period.

4. Never Run the Dryer When You Leave Home or Are Sleeping

We all have probably caved to convenience and thrown a load of clothes into the dryer before heading to work or running errands. However, if a fire starts while you are gone, you cannot stop it early. If you are asleep, it may be too late before you realize that your house has caught fire. For your own safety, consider running the dryer only when you are home and awake. It is also a good idea to keep a fire extinguisher in your laundry room, just in case something does go wrong.

In the event that a fire does start, keep the dryer door closed to limit its oxygen supply—a fire needs oxygen to keep it going.

sources: https://www.consumerreports.org/clothes-dryer/how-to-prevent-dryer-fires/ 
https://learn.compactappliance.com/preventing-dryer- fires/

 

Frayed and Worn block heater cords can cause Fires

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Frayed and Worn block heater cords can cause Fires.

Its that time of year again to start to use the block heaters in our vehicles. But like most of us, you probably haven’t given much thought to the condition of the cords that supply the up to the 1500 Watts of power necessary. On the whole, the block heater itself is quite safe but the cords just might be in pretty bad shape. And if, like others, you forget occasionally to unplug your vehicle before driving away, you can do some real damage to those cords.

Another problem is using an extension cord that cannot handle the amount of electricity necessary to operate your block heater. They use a lot of power and if the cord is too small, it can over-heat, melt and cause a fire. So you need a cord that is rated for a block heater.

Vehicles are surprisingly flammable and once they get started they can take anything around them – like your house – up in smoke with them. Its a good rule of thumb to ensure that your vehicle is a minimum of 3 meters or 10 feet from your home.

So today, before you forget, go out and check the cords that carry electricity to your block heater. Over the years the insulation can crack and expose the wiring underneath them or, if your driven away while still plugged in, inspect the extension cord plugs. With the sealed units we have today, it is difficult to see if the wire has been stretched causing a possible short. When in doubt, replace the extension and block heater cords. If you come out in the morning and find the area around the plugs warm, that’s a bad sign. Time to replace those cords. Don’t use it again. Better to be late for work than put your family at risk by continuing to use a cord you fear is faulty.

Halloween Fire Safety Tips

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Make Halloween fire safe for your little monsters with a few easy safety tips

  1. Use a battery-operated candle or glow stick in jack-o-lanterns.
  2. Look for costumes and accessories such as beards, wigs, wings and tails that are labelled flame-resistant. Flowing skirts and capes, baggy sleeves and over-sized costumes can all be hazards around candles or flames.
  3. Nylon or heavyweight polyester costumes are best. Remember, flame-resistant does not mean fire-proof.
  4. When choosing costumes, stay away from long trailing fabric.
  5. Teach children to stay away from open flames including jack-o-lanterns with candles in them.
  6. Check indoor and outdoor decorative lights for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires or loose connections. Do not overload extension cords.
  7. Remember to keep exits clear of decorations so nothing blocks escape routes. Make sure all smoke alarms in the home are working

Trick or Treating safety tips for your child

  1. Children should be accompanied by an adult.
  2. Children should wear clothing that can easily be seen at night. Retro- reflective materials are best.
  3. All candy should be inspected by an adult to make sure that no one has tampered with it. If it looks suspicious, the police should be contacted.
  4. Children should avoid stray animals.
  5. Children should wear masks that do not interfere with vision. Better yet, they can avoid masks by wearing makeup.
  6. Children should watch for moving vehicles when crossing streets.
  7. Costumes should be short enough that the child will not trip.
  8. Trick-or-treaters should dress appropriately for the weather and carry a flashlight.

It is important to make your home safe for little ghouls and goblins. Remove objects around the outside of your house that could cause children to trip or fall. Keep pets inside or tied up to ensure children won’t be accidentally bitten. Turn on your outdoor lights to increase visibility and let trick-or-treaters know they can visit. 

Have a safe and fun Halloween!

Electrical fire safety

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Reduce the risk of electrical fires in your home by following these safety tips.

Each year, thousands of residential fires are caused by small appliances or faulty home wiring, cords and plugs. It’s one of the leading causes of household fires and can often end in tragedy.

 

Home wiring

All equipment and appliances in your home that use electricity increases the risk of fire. To reduce the risk, inspect cords and plugs regularly. Contact a qualified electrician immediately if you notice any issues with your home’s wiring. Do not attempt to fix faulty wiring unless you are qualified to do so

Small appliances

When it comes to small appliances, there’s one important rule to remember – unplug them when you’re not using them. This is especially true with appliances that produce heat, such as:

  • toasters
  • toaster ovens
  • microwave ovens
  • hair dryers
  • portable dishwashers
  • electric kettles

Be cautious with appliances when they are in use. Appliances with automatic turn-offs, for example, may malfunction as they age. Instead of shutting down properly, they could continue to heat up and potentially start a fire.

Check for recalls

You can check for the latest product recalls by visiting the Government of Canada’s recalls and safety alerts page. If you are moving into a home that has appliances installed, you should record their make and model and check for any recalls or review customers’ experiences with those products.

Inspect appliances and cords

Reduce the risk of an electrical fire in your home by following these tips:

  • Replace cracked, frayed or damaged power cords.
  • Never route cords under carpeting or where they can be damaged by furniture.
  • Never use damaged appliances.
  • Stop using an appliance if it repeatedly blows a fuse or trips a circuit breaker. Unplug it and repair or replace it.
  • If you have children, install tamper-resistant outlets.

 

Protect yourself from electrical shock

Be sure you have a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection anywhere electricity and water are within 2 meters of each other to protect against electric shock. These outlets are designed to save lives when a small appliance comes into contact with water.

Ensure your GFCI is working properly:

  1. Press the test button
  2. You should hear a click sound that trips the outlet
  3. To ensure it has actually cut the power, try the same test using a nightlight
  4. If the light goes out, you know you’re safe

 

Use only approved appliances

Make certain all small appliances have a mark (approved) from an accredited testing laboratory, such as the Underwriters Laboratories Canada or the Canadian Standards Association. Only use small appliances according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Do not overload outlets

Limit how many appliances are plugged in and being used at the same time. Unplug all small appliances not in use.

 

source: https://www.alberta.ca/electrical-fire-safety.aspx

Protecting children from fire

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It is normal for children, even as young as two years old, to be curious about fire.
Guiding children to fire-safe behavior is the responsibility of parents and caregivers.

Fire play happens when a child, curious and unsupervised, plays with matches, a lighter, an open flame or a hot stove. This curiosity can lead to a fire that may result in death, injury and property damage.

Fires started by children in the home usually happens in a bedroom, followed by the living room, closet and kitchen.

If your child or a child you know is curious about fire, there
are three steps to prevent a fire tragedy: Continue reading →

Carbon Monoxide

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What is carbon monoxide?

Carbon monoxide, commonly referred to as CO, is an invisible, odourless, colourless, toxic gas.

How is it produced?

Carbon monoxide is produced by the incomplete burning of common fuels such as gas, coal, natural gas, propane, heating oil, kerosene and methane, or any other combustible material such as wood, cloth or paper. Fuels burn incompletely when there isn’t an adequate supply of oxygen.

Continue reading →

Wabasca’s First Fire Chief

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From Tina Rathbone (Daughter of Bruce Rathbone)

“It is such an honour to see his name on the building. My dad was the 1st fire chief in Wabasca and volunteered for so many years. We have so many memories of us riding the fire truck with him when we were kids. Answering the dispatch phone and running to his garage to tell him where the fire was and he would be on his way as we jumped in too. Every week he would go get the fire trucks ready at the old fire hall and we would tag along. Every year the fire department held a pancake breakfast and the kids got a chance to ride in the fire truck around the Wabasca loop. Great childhood memories with our dad. My dad retired and my brother Derrick was the next fire chief. Thanks to our current Fire Chief, Lee Bissell for having it all set up for us. I took pictures of them together too. The 1st fire truck in our community that my dad used to drive.“

Lee Bissell With Bruce Rathbone

Bruce Rathbone

Bruce inside Old Red (Still running)

Tina and Bruce Rathbone

BBQ Summer Safety Tips

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There’s nothing like outdoor grilling. It’s one of the most popular ways to cook food. But, a grill placed too close to anything that can burn is a fire hazard. They can be very hot, causing burn injuries.

Summer is the peak month for grill fires and that’s why this month, the Office of the Fire Commissioner is focused on BBQ and fire pit safety.

Here Are Some Safety Tips Continue reading →