LANSING, MI (WHTC-AM/FM, Jan. 13, 2023) – Governor Gretchen Whitmer has proclaimed January 16 through January 22, 2023 Community Risk Reduction (CRR) Week in Michigan. Together, LARA Director Orlene Hawks and State Fire Marshal Kevin Sehlmeyer join Governor Whitmer in stressing the importance of home fire safety during national CRR Week and throughout the year.
“During Community Risk Reduction Week, let’s come together to practice fire safety and make sure that we are prepared,” said Governor Whitmer. “I urge Michiganders to practice fire safety with their families, especially their kids, because the best way to face emergencies is by having a solid plan. Let’s work together to stay safe.”
Preventing Fires, Protecting Individuals
CRR Week is a grass-roots effort organized by an informal group of fire safety professionals to help promote the awareness of Community Risk Reduction within the fire service. Michiganders and community officials are encouraged to visit www.CRRWeek.org and learn more about how to strategically reduce risk in your community using the five E’s:
- Education
- Engineering
- Enforcement
- Emergency Response
- Economic Incentive
CRR Week 2023 is placing a special focus is on engineering risk reduction including improving safe use of electric vehicles, chargers, and lithium-ion batteries as well as promoting common sense fire safety tips such as closing the door between you and fire and escaping through windows
Lithium-ion batteries are popular because of how much power they can put out at a given size and weight. However, lithium-ion batteries are extremely sensitive to high temperatures and inherently flammable. These battery packs tend to degrade much faster than they normally would, due to heat.
“With increased use of lithium-ion batteries in toys, electronics, and other devices found within our home, it is important to understand the fire risk associated with these batteries,” said Fire Marshal Sehlmeyer. “If a lithium-ion battery pack fails, it will burst into flames and can cause widespread damage.
After extensive testing, Underwriters Laboratories and the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) have developed the following safety tips:
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for charging and storage.
- Do not charge a device under your pillow, on your bed, or a couch.
- Always use the manufacturer’s cord and power adapter made specifically for the device.
- Keep batteries/devices at room temperature. Do not place in direct sunlight.
- Store batteries away from anything flammable.
If a battery overheats or you notice an odor, change in shape or color, any leaking, or odd noises from a device discontinue use immediately. If safe to do so, move the device away from anything that can catch fire, and call 9-1-1.
To learn more, individuals are encouraged to visit https://strategicfire.org.
Stay Safe In The Event Of A Fire
Based on fatal fire data collected by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) – Bureau of Fire Services (BFS), a total of 124 Michigan residents died in 105 residential home fires and another 360 were injured in between December 1, 2021, and November 30, 2022. Most of Michigan’s fire deaths happen overnight, with a majority of fire deaths resulting from fires that started in the living room, followed by fires started in bedrooms, and in the kitchen.
“It is critical for families to create a fire escape plan with two ways out of their home,” said LARA Director Orlene Hawks. “Develop your plan and practice it often. Talk with your family about what to do if a fire occurs in your home, including how to get out, and the necessity of staying out and calling 911 for help. It is important to teach our family members not to go back inside the home for any reason once you escape.”
To reduce the chance of having a fire, BFS offers the following tips for Michigan residents:
- Never smoke in bed; keep lighters and cigarettes away from children.
- Never leave lit candles unattended; place them in sturdy holders on uncluttered surfaces, keeping them at least one foot away from anything that can burn, including curtains, bedding, furniture, and carpeting.
- Have fireplaces, chimneys, wood stoves, and coal stoves inspected annually by a professional – and cleaned if necessary; never leave a fire in the fireplace unattended.
- Use caution when utilizing space heaters; never leave them unattended, keep them at least three feet away from anything that can burn, and place them on a hard-nonflammable surface, like a ceramic tile floor.
- Never plug a space heater into an extension cord.
- Do not overload extension cords and be sure to replace frayed extension cords.
- Never overload electrical outlets; plug only one heat-producing appliance into an outlet at a time.
- Major appliances should not be plugged in using extension cords or plug strips; plug appliances and space heaters directly into the wall electrical outlet.
- Clean the dryer lint screen after each load – lint is extremely flammable.
- Have fire extinguishers in the home and know how to use them.
“It is important for Michigan residents to recognize that fires can impact anyone,” said Sehlmeyer. “By discussing practical and essential preventative approaches to home fire safety, people can help avoid fires in their homes and also be better prepared to escape if a fire does occur.”
In order to increase your chance of escaping and surviving a fire, BFS shares the following tips for Michigan residents:
- Install smoke alarms on every level of the home and inside every sleeping area and check the alarms by pushing the test button every month.
- Make sure all doors and windows leading outside can open easily and are not blocked by furniture or clutter.
- Sleep with your bedroom door closed with a smoke alarm in your bedroom; this can save lives by reducing toxic smoke levels and slowing down the spread of fire and smoke into bedrooms.
- If you need to escape out a window, close the door between you and the fire before opening the window to escape as a closed door slows down the spread of fire and smoke as you escape.
In an effort to protect Michigan residents and save lives, MI Prevention – a statewide CRR effort led by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs in collaboration with the State Fire Marshal’s Office – has been working diligently with over 602 local fire departments and partnering with public and private organizations to promote CRR in our communities.
For more safety information, visit the Bureau of Fire Services’ website.
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