City logs record high for fires in a single month

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

A rash of serious fires in the past month has broken all records for Peachtree City's fire and rescue department.

The amazing fact is that among the 10 serious fires and 11 minor incidents, only two minor injuries were recorded. And the two people hurt were helping rescue residents or fight the flames, said Fire Chief Stony Lohr.

Some of the fires can be attributed to carelessness, Lohr said. Some were started by candles or incense.

Another blaze was started by a three-year-old child who had access to a long-stem lighter and set a bed on fire, Lohr said.

"I'm not sure how nobody got hurt in that one," Lohr said. "They came very close to losing their house."

Another house fire was likely started by a dirty chimney, Lohr said. When firefighters responded, there were flames shooting four feet high out of the chimney, he added.

Thanks to quick response from the department, the recent residential fires could be contained quickly before the damage spread to the entire structure, Lohr said.

"The whole idea is to get there early and knock it down while it's still reasonably small or before it gets out of control," Lohr said.

In addition to the residential fires, the department has also fought a significant blaze at the Certainteed plant in the industrial park and a major field fire near the Smokerise subdivision that started from a controlled burn.

"A small break would be okay," Lohr said.

Lohr encouraged local residents to exercise caution to help prevent fires. He warned that becoming complacent with fire prevention measures can lead to trouble.

Here are some fire tips prepared by the city to help residents prevent fires:

Candles and incense. Keep burning candles or incense well away from decorations or other combustible materials. Never display lighted candles or incense in windows or near exits in case you need to use these accesses as a means of escape. Never use candles or incense to decorate flammable objects such as Christmas trees. Do not leave burning candles or incense unattended.

Electrical circuits. When plugging in appliances, be careful not to overload electrical circuits. If lights blink or dim, motors slow down, or the volume on your TV or radio changes, turn off some appliances to reduce demand. Many fuse or circuit breaker boxes are located in closets or confined spaces. Fires can start in the box or the supply wires leading to it. If circuit breakers trip or fuses blow continuously, contact a licensed electrician to check your system.

Fireplaces. Have fireplaces and wood burning stoves inspected annually and cleaned as necessary by a professional chimney sweep prior to use. Use only seasoned wood and burn small, hot fires. Furniture, draperies, and holiday decorations should be kept at a safe distance, and no flammable decorations should be placed on the mantel or the hearth. Never burn discarded wrapping paper in the fireplace. When removing ashes from the fireplace, use only metal containers. Take the ashes outside, drown them with water, stir the ashes, and drown them again with water. Never leave ashes near your home or on wooden decks or porches.

Kitchen area. The kitchen is the leading room for fire injuries and fire origins. To reduce the risk of kitchen fires: Keep flammable objects away from the cooking area in your kitchen. Don't place towels, potholders, pizza boxes or paper bags on the stove or near hot appliances. Clean any grease buildup from the stove and oven. Cooking oil and grease ignite easily and burn rapidly. Use a lid or a larger pan to smother a small pan fire. Do not use water on a grease fire. It will make the fire bigger. Do not try to carry a burning pan outside or to the sink. You may accidentally spill the contents and spread the fire. Keep a lid, baking soda or an ABC fire extinguisher handy in the kitchen. Avoid reaching over the stove for anything while cooking. Store frequently needed items in other areas of the kitchen. Do not keep cookies or treats near the stove. Keep young children and pets away from cooking areas. Keep pot handles turned inward, out of reach of children. Keep appliance cords up on counter tops. Check those cords regularly for frayed or broken spots, and replace damaged cords or appliances. Dress for fire safety in the kitchen. Do not wear baggy or loose fitting clothing, such as nightgowns and bathrobes while cooking. Never leave cooking unattended. If you must leave the kitchen, take something with you to remind you that items are cooking. Shield yourself from steam when uncovering cooking food. Steam can cause serious burns.

Matches and lighters. Keep matches and lighters out of the reach of curious little hands. Teach your children that if they find these items, they should leave them alone and immediately tell Mom, Dad or some other responsible person about them.

Outside. Wherever possible, homeowners and businesses should remove any combustible landscaping material (such as pine straw) that is directly adjacent to structures, and replace it with noncombustible or combustion resistant material. In this time of diminishing water and higher outdoor temperatures, pine straw becomes increasingly susceptible to ignition. It may be ignited by radiant heat or blowing embers. When ignited, it burns easily, quickly and hotly, and may spread fire to other combustible surfaces near it. Using soil based material or some type of rock around the perimeter of your structure increases your margin of safety in the event of a fire, especially if the exterior of a structure is a combustible material such as cedar or a fire susceptible material such as vinyl.

Preparing for fires. When fires do occur, people often make poor decisions because they believe they have a lot of time to react and then because they are affected by smoke, disoriented by being awakened abruptly, and frightened. These reactions are not uncommon, but they can be overcome by planning an escape route and practicing the plan. In today's home environment, small fires can grow to flashover or other non-survivable environment in as little as two minutes. Your well-being and that of your family can depend on how effectively you use this short amount of time.

1. Draw a floor plan of your home. Be thorough. Indicate primary and alternate escape routes from each room.

2. Learn escape routes and keep them clear. Walk through the primary escape routes and the alternates, making sure that all exits are accessible to all members of your household.

3. Decide on a meeting place outside your home. Gathering at one location allows you to count heads and determine whether anyone is left inside the building. Never go back into your home for any reason. Firefighters are trained and equipped to enter burning buildings, you are not.

4. Practice an exit drill every six months. The more you practice the more prepared you will be in the event of a true emergency.

5. Post your escape plan near your phone so baby-sitters and guests will know about escape routes.

When fires occur. Have working smoke detectors to give you maximum warning and maximum time to escape. Have at least one working fire extinguisher in place to extinguish small fires, and get some training so that you will know its capabilities and how to use it. Install and maintain a carbon monoxide detector. Check smoke detector batteries regularly, and change then whenever you change your clocks for time changes.

Finally, in case of fire, Lohr urges everyone to get out, stay out and immediately call 9-1-1 for help. Our response time is among the best in the metro-Atlanta area, but it is of little value if we do not receive timely notification of your emergency.

For more information on fire safety topics, visit the Fire Department web site at www.peachtreecityfd.org and click on the Fire Safety Division, stop by Neely Fire Station on Peachtree Parkway North or call 770-631-2526.

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