FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 Fire Prevention in Cold Weather

Logan, Utah - Jan. 14, 2013 - According to the Home Safety Council, each year in the United States 240,000 home fires occur as most households use gas, wood, kerosene, propane or other fuels as their major heating source. Burning these fuels releases potentially fatal carbon monoxide (CO) fumes. Every year, exposure to dangerous levels of CO results in more than 100,000 medical visits and 300 home poisoning deaths in the U.S.

The following tips can help you avoid tragedy this winter:

* Install a smoke alarm and carbon monoxide (CO) alarm on every level of your home and near sleeping areas and make sure to keep them in good working order. Carbon monoxide is a silent killer.

* Never use a gas or charcoal barbecue grill inside to heat your home or any enclosed area.

* Never using a cooking stove to heat your home.

* Turn off space heaters before leaving a room or going to sleep.

* Establish a fire escape plan with at least two means of exit from every room.

If there is a fire hydrant near your house, help keep it clear of snow and debris. The fire department needs to be able to access it in case of a fire.

Other helpful cold weather tips:

Fireplaces & Wood Stoves

• Never leave a fire unattended.
• Have your chimney and fireplace inspected annually by a certified chimney sweep. They will check for creosote build-up, cracks, crumbling bricks, and obstructions.
• Never burn charcoal indoors. It can give off lethal amounts of carbon monoxide when burned.
• Place ashes outdoors in a covered metal container at least three feet away from anything that could burn.

Portable Heaters

• Make sure you have at least 36 inches of empty space between all heaters and everything else, like curtains, furniture, papers, and people.
• Never leave children unattended in rooms with portable heaters.
• Be sure the heater has a tip-over shut off function.
• Never use an extension cord with portable electric heaters. It is a common cause of fires.
• Check the cord on your electric portable heater. If it is cracked or frayed or gets hot, have the heater serviced.
• Be sure to turn portable heaters off when leaving the house or sleeping.

Furnace

• Leave furnace work to experts. Have a qualified technician check and clean the input and controls every year.   
• Always keep trash, papers, paint, etc. away from the furnace area.

Cold Weather Fire Safety

• If your pipes freeze, do not try to thaw them with a blowtorch or other open flame. The pipe could conduct heat and a fire could be started. Try a hand held dryer, hot water or a UL labeled device for thawing.

Escape Planning

• Plan a fire escape plan with your family.
• Make sure all family members are familiar with the plan.
• Practice your escape plan at least twice a year. It is good to practice in the winter so you know what to do in cold weather.

Remember, more fires occur during the winter months than at any other time of year. However, most fires can be avoided by taking a few simple precautions. Now that you have carefully read through these tips, it's time to make sure your home is fire safe so you can have a warm, worry-free winter!

Contact:

Craig Humphreys, Fire Marshal
Logan City Fire Department
76 East 200 North
Logan, Utah 84321
435-716-9515 Office

 

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Mobile home fire in Smithfield

SMITHFIELD, Utah -- An attempt to thaw pipes resulted in a fire that caused approximately $30,000 damage to a trailer home and its contents this morning (January 3, 2013) in Smithfield.

At about 10:46 a.m., firefighters from Smithfield, North Logan, Logan and Cache County responded to a fire at 610 W. 100 North. The first arriving officers reported seeing smoke and flames coming from the mobile home.

Smithfield Fire Chief Jay Downs said the fire started in a small utility closet that housed the water heater and furnace. The fire extended into the adjacent bedroom and bathroom before firefighters brought it under control. No one was injured.

Downs said the cause of the fire was a heat gun that was being used to thaw pipes. The device is typically used to remove paint and decals.

Mike Weibel, a battalion chief with Smithfield Fire Department, said this is a good opportunity to remind people not to leave portable heating devices unattended. For more heating safety tips, visit www.smithfieldfire.org

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Structure Fire, Paradise

For Immediate Release

Paradise, Utah December 23, 2012 The Paradise Fire Department with automatic aid from Hyrum, Wellsville and the Cache County Fire District responded to a structure fire located at 1215 East 8412 South Paradise at approximately 4:17 AM.

The first arriving units found light smoke in the structure. Units were able to access the attic and extinguish a small fire. The fire had burned some insulation and burned through a truss. 

The cause of the fire was electrical. Damages are estimated at 5,000 dollars.

Troy Fredrickson

Fire Chief

Paradise Fire Department

(435) 770-6099

Jason Winn

Fire Marshal

Cache County Fire District

(435) 755-1674

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Structure Fire, Hyrum, 442 South Center St

For Immediate Release

Hyrum, Utah December 22, 2012 The Hyrum Fire Department with automatic aid from Paradise, Wellsville and the Cache County Fire District responded to a structure fire located at 442 South Center St in Hyrum at approximately 7:32 AM.

The first arriving units found smoke coming from around the outside of the chimney and the roof of the home. Units made an aggressive interior attack and found fire in the wall above the wood burning stove which extended to the second floor. Units were able to quickly extinguish the fire.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation at this time. Damages are estimated at 10,000 dollars.

Kevin Maughan

Fire Chief

Hyrum Fire Department

(435) 881-0562

Jason Winn

Fire Marshal

Cache County Fire District

(435 755-1674

House Fire, North Logan, 1910 N 1200 E

For immediate release:

At approximately 12:55PM, fire crews from North Logan, Logan and Smithfield responded to a house fire at 1910 N 1200 E in North Logan. The first crew entered the garage and extinguished a fire on the South wall and ceiling. The second crew entered the house and extinguished a fire on the second floor that had extended vertically through the wall and staircase.

Two individuals were home at the time and attempted to extinguish the fire with snow after calling 911. The resident confirmed a blanket was left on top of an electric radiator, causing it to overheat and start the fire.

No injuries were reported. Fire personnel remained on scene with investigators for approximately two hours. Damage to the property is estimated at $10,000 to $12,000. The fire was determined unintentional.


Contact:
Jason Killinen
Fire Marshal, North Logan FD
2005 N 1200 E
North Logan, UT 84321
435-755-5739 o
801-558-0760 c
jkillinen at northloganfire.net

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16:28 11/22/12 - Structure Fire 1215 East 2200 North, North Logan

For immediate release:

Fire personnel responded to a structure fire alarm @ 1215 East 2200 North, North Logan

Upon arrival, the command unit reported light smoke coming from the attic and chimney and sent two engine crews to check the attic space, where they found no smoke or fire. A truck company was ordered to the roof to breach the top of the chimney and surrounding roof and found there was fire near the base, within the wall space. The interior engine company then breached the base of the chimney and extinguished the fire.

The resident called 911 approximately an hour after starting a fire in the fireplace, when the home began to fill with smoke. The resident extinguished the fire, called for help and all residents vacated the home.

The cause is determined to be a compromise in the base of the fire-box/chimney and ruled unintentional. Damage is estimated at $10,000. There were no reported injuries.

Units responded from North Logan, Logan and Smithfield. The last unit cleared at 18:58.

Contact:

Jason Killinen
Fire Marshal, North Logan City
2005 North 1200 East
North Logan, UT
jkillinen@northloganfire.net
801 558 0760

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Electrical Problems Blamed for Smithfield Fire

SMITHFIELD, Utah – Officials determined that electrical problems were to blame for a fire early this morning (Nov. 9, 2012) that destroyed a shed and its food storage contents in Smithfield.

At approximately 2:40 a.m., firefighters from Smithfield, North Logan, Logan , Cache County Fire District and Cache County Ambulance were dispatched to a working structure fire  at 276 N. 200 West. Upon arrival, Smithfield fire officials found the building fully engulfed by fire. However, because of the relative size of the structure and its distance away from the neighboring homes, Logan and North Logan units were canceled en route.

Smithfield firefighters were on the scene nearly three hours extinguishing the blaze and opening parts of the approximately 20 by 30 foot shed to ensure that the fire did not extend any farther into the building or adjacent buildings.

There were no injuries. Investigators estimated the damaged caused by the fire at $45,000.

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