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Upper Makefield Townsihp

BUCKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

www.upper-makefield.com

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Upper Makefield Township Fire Marshal

Contact Information:

John C. Kernan
Township Fire Marshal, 1991-Present (FM-272)
Assistant State Police Fire Marshal (11498-U)

Phone#: 215-968-2868
Fax #: 215-968-9228
Emergency Dial 9-1-1

The Fire Marshal is a Township Department Head who’s key responsibilities include…

• FIRE PREVENTION
• FIRE CODE INTERPRETATION AND ENFORCEMENT
• FIRE “ORIGIN AND CAUSE” INVESTIGATIONS

Certifications

Certified Fire Investigator IAAI-CFI
International Association of Arson Investigators
Certification # 29-072

Certified Fire and Explosive Investigator NAFI-CFEI
National Association of Fire Investigators
Certification # 3781-4132

Certified Expert Witness
International Association of Arson Investigators

Pro-Board Certified Fire Investigator NAFI-CFEI
National Board of Fire Service Professional Qualifications
Certification # 232598

Pro-Board Certified Fire Investigator IAAI-CFI
National Board of Fire Service Professional Qualifications
Certification # 240449

Membership and Affiliations

• National Association of Fire Investigators
• International Association of Arson Investigators
• Pennsylvania Association of Arson Investigators
• National Fire Protection Association
• International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators
• Fraternal Order of Police
• International Code Council
• Bucks County Fire Marshals Association
• NFPA-International Fire Marshal's Association
• Liason-Congressional Fire Service Institute

Special Needs Registration

In the event of a house fire seconds count! If you're handicapped, or have special needs, those seconds can turn into long minutes. We're here to help!

If you are handicapped, or know of someone who has special needs and may need help exiting their home in an emergency, please let us know.

In conjunction with Bucks County Emergency 911 Dispatch we've initiated a program that will alert police, medical and fire personnel, while responding, that there is a special needs person at that address. This pro-active information will allow the emergency personnel to arrive prepared and aware of a "special needs" occupant.

To communicate and register this information please call the Upper Makefield Police Department at 215-968-3020 between 9am and 3pm Monday through Friday. All information given is strictly confidential.

Also, if you know of any "special needs" resident that could use assistance installing or checking their smoke alarms, or any other fire safety related issue, please call me at the township building by dialing 215-968-3340.

Smoke Alarm Requirements

• Smoke alarms are required by law in all homes in Upper Makefield Township.
• Smoke alarms need to be installed on every level of the house, including the basement and outside every sleeping room.
• New homes are required to install alarms in every sleeping room and all alarms must be interconnected.
• Mount smoke alarms on the highest area on walls and ceilings - remember that smoke rises!
• Test your alarms monthly and replace batteries at least once a year.

SPRING AND SUMMER FIRE SAFETY TIPS

SAFE GRILLING

Whether you use charcoal, wood, gas or electricity for grilling, a moments inattention can spell disaster. Below are highlighted some fire safety tips to insure a summer of safe grilling.

• Keep grills away from combustibles, including the exterior of your house, balcony or garage.
• Check hose integrity and hose connections to make sure gas is not leaking from your gas grill. Apply soapy water to hoses and connections to reveal any leaks.
• Use only equipment bearing the mark of an independent testing laboratory. Follow the manufacturer's instructions on how to set up to grill and maintain it.
• Never store propane cylinders in your home or garages.
• Establish a "kid free zone" of three feet around the grill and keep pets from underfoot.
• Never add charcoal starter fluid when coals or kindling have already been ignited.
• Use only approved charcoal lighter fluid and never gasoline or other combustibles to start charcoal fires.
• If your propane tank is over three years old or showing signs of age exchange it for a new updated tank.
• Keep a fire extinguisher near by and be familiar with how to use it.
• When finished grilling turn off the propane at the tank control and then the grill fuel control.
• The popularity of gas grills nearly tripled between 1982 and the late 1990's, up 193% from 9.4 million to over 30 million gas grills.
• Gas grills have a higher fire risk than charcoal grills; leaks and fuel line cracks are the leading cause, accounting for nearly half of gas grill fires.
• Gas fueled grills caused an estimated 600 home structure fires and 3,200 outdoor fires in 2001.
• Half of all gas and charcoal grill home fires begin on an exterior balcony or unenclosed porch.
• Wall coverings, exterior trim, and plants are the leading items first ignited in home outdoor charcoal grill fires.
• Gas fuel is the leading item first ignited for home outdoor gas grill fires.
• Placing combustibles too close to heat, and leaving cooking unattended, are the two leading causes for charcoal grill home fires.

SPRING / SUMMER FIRE SAFETY TIPS

• Allow your tractor or lawn mower to cool down outside prior to being stored in a shed or garage.
• Clean and clear your mower or tractor of all accumulated lawn debris prior to storage as dried grass near heated areas may cause a fire.
• Keep gas and fuel containers stored in well ventilated outdoor storage areas.
• Have your tractor or mower serviced by a professional maintenance technician.
• Install and test smoke alarms in your garage and storage areas.
• Keep a fire extinguisher near and/or mounted on garage walls, kitchen areas and outdoor grills.
• Test your home smoke alarms monthly.
• Take the time to discuss and develop a home fire drill with all family members.
• Schedule a professional technician to service your air conditioning unit.
• Check the exhaust hoses on your clothes dryers for accumulated lint.

FALL AND WINTER FIRE SAFETY TIPS

The fall and winter holidays are a time for celebration, and that means more cooking, home decorating, entertaining and an increase in fires due to heating equipment. Below are summarized some key "Fire Safety Tips" designed to make your home safer from fire during the winter holiday months.

HOME HEATING

Heating equipment is the leading cause of home fires during the months of December, January, and February, and trails only cooking equipment in home fires year-round.

• Have your heating unit serviced by a professional.
• Buy fuels only from a reputable company.
• Have a certified chimney sweep clean you chimney.
• If you have a fireplace insert burn only the recommended fuel and have it serviced by the installer prior to winter use.
• Insure that you're familiar with how the fireplace flue works.
• Purchase and use a fireplace screen to control sparks.
• Make sure that all combustibles are a safe distance from any heating source.
• Space heaters need space, at least three feet from all combustibles is recommended.

SPEAKING OF FIRE PREVENTION

A fire can double in size every thirty seconds! Given the right ignition source, adequate combustible materials and oxygen flow your home can quickly turn into a smoke filled trap that even you can't find your way out of. Every year about 3,000 people lose their lives in residential fires and the majority die from inhalation of smoke and toxic gases, not as a result of burns or injuries!

The first and most important line of defense once a fire is ignited in your home is the loud beeping noise emitted by your smoke alarms. Smoke alarms are required by code in all residential homes here in Upper Makefield Township. Having them properly located and tested monthly will give you and your family a fighting edge in getting out alive.

A smoke alarm is required on each level of your home and in the hallway adjacent to bedrooms. Newly constructed homes are required to have "hard wired" alarms with battery back up. New homes are also required to have a smoke alarm in each bedroom. I strongly recommend, now that these alarms have become more affordable, that they also be placed in your garage, rooms with a heat source and cooking areas. Place the alarms in the highest position at the top of stairways and ceilings; remember that smoke follows the path of least resistance! The risk of dying in a house fire without smoke alarms is twice as high as in homes that have properly placed and working smoke alarms.

Test your smoke alarms monthly, replace batteries annually and discard and replace any alarms that are older than ten years. Take the time to discuss as a family what to do should these alarms go off and my next article will address how you can develop and rehearse a family escape plan.

Be fire safe!

RESIDENTIAL FIRE ESCAPE - PLANNING AND PRACTICE

Developing and practicing a home fire escape plan that everyone understands can mean the difference between life and death! A fire can double in size every thirty seconds under the proper conditions and once your smoke alarm starts beeping you may have less than a minute to escape safely.

It's been reported that only one-fifth of households (23%) have actually developed and practiced a home fire escape plan to ensure they can escape quickly and safely. In 2003 there were an estimated 388,500 reported home structure fires that resulted in the death of 3,145 family members! Nearly half of American households surveyed felt they had at least 6 minutes before a fire in their home would become life-threatening. The time available to escape safely is often much less and as every second ticks by the smoke and heat turn known passage ways into a confusing maze.

The tips outlined below can help you develop and practice an effective home fire escape plan. Please take the time to meet as a family to discuss, plan and practice so that everyone has a chance of getting out alive.

• Draw a simple floor plan of your home.
• Highlight at least two ways out of each room, including windows.
• Don't forget to mark the location of each smoke alarm. Test alarms monthly and consider buying and installing more.
• Make sure everyone understands the escape plan and recognizes the sound of the smoke alarms.
• Are escape routes clear and can windows and doors be opened easily?
• Discuss various sinarios as to where the location of the fire might be and where to exit in that particular instance.
• Smoke and heat rises so train to stay low and practice crawling to an exit.
• Practice the escape plan at least twice a year and please take all children's questions seriously.
• If children or others do not readily waken to the sound of the smoke alarm, or if there are infants or family members with mobility limitations, make sure that someone is assigned to assist them in the fire drill and in the event of an emergency.
• Consider purchasing window mounted fire escape ladders certified by an independent testing laboratory. Practice using them with adult supervision.
• Agree on an outside meeting place. Remember to escape first then call for help from the nearest phone.
• In Upper Makefield Township you are to dial 911 to report a fire.
• Never go back into the house under any circumstances!
• One of the adults should meet the Fire Company or Police Officer upon their arrival and the best news you can give them is that everyone is safely outside the home and accounted for!

Should you have any questions regarding home fire safety please contact my office at the township building by dialing 215-968-3340. I will return all calls as promptly as possible.

FIRE SAFETY FOR BABYSITTERS

Babysitting is a job many people take for granted. When parents call and ask you to "sit" in their place with their children, they are telling you that they trust you to be as responsible as they are for the safety of their children. It's a big job! It certainly should be enjoyable but it needs to be safe and responsible as well. In many instances you are in a strange house for the first time and totally unfamiliar with the layout and key bits of information that become vital in an emergency.

The points highlighted below should be enforced by you as a babysitter and discussed with the parents prior to them leaving the home. The Fire Safety Checklist should be filled out by the parents and carried in your pocket until their return.

• When babysitting you are in charge. During an emergency YOU must act on your own right away to insure the safety of the children you are sitting for.
• Be Familiar with the house. Learn all exits and how to unlock doors and windows. Discuss with the parents two ways out of each room and alternate escape routs.
• Have the parents show you and the children an established meeting place outside the home. Don't confuse children with a different plan.
• Cook only if you have the permission of the parents. Turn pot handles in to prevent spilling and never leave cooking unattended.
• In case of fire gather the children and exit the house immediately.
• Account for everyone and go immediately to a neighbor's house and dial "911."
• Have one of the parents from the neighbors house meet the police and or first arriving fire officer to inform them everyone is out safely. Tell them exactly the reason for exiting the house and where the smoke alarm activated or fire started.
• Never go back inside the house! Stay outside, stay safe and keep the children calm and close by.
• If you encounter smoke or flames that are blocking the way to the children, go straight to the neighbor's house quickly and dial "911." Tell them the children are trapped inside and where they are. Wait for the fire company on the street outside with the neighbor to inform them exactly where the children are.
• If you encounter smoke or flames while you and the children are escaping a fire use other established exit routes.
• If you must escape through smoke remember that heat and smoke rises so stay low by crawling through the cleaner air on the floor. Keep the children constantly in sight and instruct/encourage them to get out quickly.
• Ask the parents if they've tested the smoke alarms recently, if not, ask the to please test them prior to leaving the home. Replace batteries as required to insure they are operating.

• Download Babysitter Checklist (1 Page/15 KB)

Watch What You Heat!

Did you know that:

• Three out of every 10 reported home fires start in the kitchen? (That's more than any other place in the home.)
• Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home cooking fires.
• Two out of three reported home cooking fires start at the range or stove.

Upper Makefield Fire Marshal John Kernan believes that residents can prevent these and other fires by emphasizing four key safety measures:

1. Keep the handles of pots and pans turned toward the rear of the range, out of reach of children.
2. Never leave cooking food unattended on stovetops or ovens.
3. Make Fire Prevention Week the time to replace the batteries in all your smoke home's smoke alarms.
4. Sit and discuss home escape planning as a family to prevent injuries in the event of a home fire.

For more fire-safety advice, visit the National Fire Protection Association website.

Fire Marshal John Kernan welcomes anyone with questions about home fire safety to call his office (215-968-3340) and leave a message. He promises to return all calls as promptly as possible.

MISCELLANEOUS TIPS AND REQUIREMENTS

• Permits are required for any and all "Open Burning". Please visit the Township Building to fill out and submit a request to conduct "Open Burning".
• Permits are required prior to the installation of any wood/coal/other burning stoves or inserts. Please visit the Township Building to fill out and submit a request for installation.
• Questions regarding jurisdictional International Code Council Fire Code issues need to be directed to the Fire Marshal for consideration and final approval.
• Please feel free to contact my office anytime by dialing 215-968-3340. If I'm not immediately available please leave a message and I will return your call as soon as possible.
• In the event of a fire emergency immediately dial "911".

John C. Kernan IAAI-CFI & NAFI-CFEI
CHIEF FIRE MARSHAL
FM-272