Tag Archives: fire prevention

Tips for Smoke Alarms and Home Escapes for Fire Prevention Week

It’s almost one of our favorite weeks of the year at Beacon Hose — Fire Prevention Week, when we get to share important fire prevention and safety tips with our community.

Make sure to join us Saturday, Oct. 5 from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. at the firehouse for Octoberfest! In addition to great food, drinks, and games, we’ll kick off Fire Prevention Week with hands-on demonstrations to teach some important fire prevention and safety tips!

This year’s Fire Prevention Week theme is “Smoke Alarms: Make Them Work for You!” Very simply, smoke alarms save lives, so you need to make sure you have yours installed properly, check them regularly, and practice fire escape plans in case they ever go off! (If you need some alarms, or you want yours checked by the Beacon Falls Fire Marshal’s Office, click here.)

We want to make sure that all of our residents have developed fire escape plans in their own homes. Everyone who lives in your home should know two ways out of every room, practice them to simulate conditions of a smoky house at nighttime, and have a safe meeting place outside and away from your home so that we know everyone made it out safely.

We also want to make sure our residents have installed smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of their homes, including the basement. Larger homes may need more alarms.

Here are a few key bits of information that you might not know about the importance of smoke detectors and escape plans.

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BHC’s Fire Prevention Week Includes Operation EDITH on Oct. 12

Beacon Hose wants to remind all of our residents that Fire Prevention Week is this Oct. 8-14! This year’s theme is “Cooking Safety Starts with You! Pay Attention to Fire Prevention” — we recommend looking at this great tip sheet about cooking safety!

Not only will Beacon Hose visit Laurel Ledge Elementary School and United Day during Fire Prevention Week, but we invite everyone to join Operation EDITH on Thursday, Oct. 12!

Operation EDITH stands for “Exit Drills in the Home” and is intended to help families practice their home fire escape plans. All you need to do to participate is wait until Beacon Hose’s fire whistle sounds at 6 p.m., practice your home fire escape plan as a family, and wait outside at your meeting place. Beacon Hose’s firetrucks will be driving through many neighborhoods to see how many families have a secure plan and practiced it with us.

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Beacon Hose to Participate in Operation EDITH on Oct. 8

UPDATE: Thanks to everyone for participating!

Beacon Hose wants to remind all of our residents that Fire Prevention Week is this Oct. 3-9! This year’s theme is “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety” — we recommend looking at this great tip sheet about what the sounds coming from your smoke alarm or carbon monoxide detector mean!

Unfortunately, COVID-19 is still in the way of our usual Fire Prevention Week activities, but the fire department is inviting everyone to join Operation EDITH on Friday, Oct. 8!

Operation EDITH stands for “Exit Drills in the Home” and is intended to help families practice their home fire escape plans. All you need to do to participate is wait until Beacon Hose’s fire whistle sounds at 6 p.m., practice your home fire escape plan as a family, and wait outside at your meeting place. Beacon Hose’s firetrucks will be driving through many neighborhoods to see how many families have a secure plan and practiced it with us.

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Reviewing Snow Ordinances and Fire Hydrant Clearing

It’s a good time for Beacon Falls residents to refresh themselves on the town ordinances involving snow and ice removal from their sidewalks, as well as rules about street parking during snowstorms. Here are the key details to remember:

  • Residents must clear snow and ice away from public sidewalks adjacent to their property in a timely manner after a snowstorm. The ordinance specifies this be done within 12 hours of the end of snow (after 7 a.m.).
  • Residents and private contractors may not clear snow from sidewalks or driveways into a public street.
  • Residents cannot park on public streets for more than one hour while town workers are clearing snow.

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Resolve to be Ready for a Winter Emergency

Beacon Hose, along with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), want you to always “Resolve to be Ready” for an emergency, especially during the winter.

Taking preparedness actions can save lives and protect property anywhere — at home, in schools, in your neighborhood and in the workplace. We highlight the importance of planning ahead to protect our families and secure our community and homes for disasters. For these reasons, we are asking you to Resolve to be Ready by knowing your risk and taking action.

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