Midvale Police Department

Fire Prevention Tips

How much time do you have to get out of a fire?
Not as much as you think. Real fires are hot, smoky and dark. You may have only a very few minutes to safely escape from fire. If you're ever in a fire, don't spend time getting dressed or trying to gather valuables. Just get out and stay out. Then call the fire department from a neighbor's telephone.

If you have a fire tonight, will you get out safely?
You'll have a better chance of getting out safely if you've planned ahead. Develop a fire escape plan and practice it with the whole family. Everyone should know two ways out of each room and know where to meet outside. Make sure everyone understands that getting out is the first priority. And remember, once you're outside, stay out.

"Get Out, Stay Out" - Your fire safe response.
What would you do if your home caught on fire? Would you know where to go if smoke or flames blocked your escape? There is no time to think about these questions in a real fire. It's hot, smoky, and so dark you may not be able to see your own hands. Know ahead of time what to do if there's a fire. Develop an escape plan with two ways out of every room. You'll need a second way in case your primary exit is blocked by smoke or flames. And make sure every exit is accessible, including windows. Getting out is your first priority in a fire. And once out, stay out! Do not return for valuables or even pets.

Candle Fire Prevention Tips

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), there are typically more than 12,000 home candle fires each year.  Candle fires cause an average of $144.5 million in damage each year and kill 119 people.

Candle fires have been rising dramatically over the past few years, probably because of the increasing demand for candles.  Over the past four years, the candle industry has tripled in response to this demand.

What are some of the common causes of home candle fires?

Half of the fires occurred because of carelessness.

Over one-third started because the candles were left unattended, abandoned or inadequately controlled.

Almost 20% of the fires occurred because combustible material was too close to the candle.

The most common material ignited is mattresses or bedding, followed by cabinetry and then curtains or drapes.

Seasonal Fire Safety Tips

Extinguish all candles when leaving the room or when going to sleep.

Keep candles away from items that can catch fire such as clothing, books, paper, curtains, Christmas trees, flammable decorations or anything else that burns.

Make sure candles are placed on a stable piece of furniture in sturdy holders that won't tip over. Candles should fit in the holders securely and holders should be made from material that can't burn.

Use flashlights for temporary lighting in power outages, not candles. Keep plenty of fresh batteries on hand during thunderstorm seasons.

Make sure the candleholder is big enough to collect dripping wax.

Don't allow children or teens to have candles in their bedrooms.

Don't place lit candles in windows, where blinds or curtains can close over them.

Do not use candles in places where they could be knocked over by children or pets.

Keep candles and all open flames away from flammable liquids.

When purchasing or using candles, consider what would happen if the candle burned low. Could it burn the candleholder or decorative material nearby?

Avoid candles with combustible items embedded in them.

Extinguish taper and pillar candles when they get within two inches of the holder or decorative material. Votives and container candles should be extinguished before the last ½ inch of wax starts to melt.

CERT Training

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program helps train people to be better prepared to respond to emergency situations in their communities. When emergencies occur, CERT members can give critical support to first responders, provide immediate assistance to victims, and organize spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site. CERT members can also help with non-emergency projects that help improve the safety of the community.

The CERT training program is a 24-hour course, typically delivered over an eight-week period. Training sessions cover disaster preparedness, disaster fire suppression, basic disaster medical operations, light search and rescue, and team operations.  The training also includes a disaster simulation in which participants practice skills that they learned throughout the course.  The CERT course is taught in the community by the fire department.

CERT teams remain active in the community before a disaster strikes, assisting with events such as drills, neighborhood clean up, and disaster education fairs. Trainers offer periodic refresher sessions to CERT members to reinforce the basic training and to keep participants involved and practiced in their skills.

CERT is a vital part of a community-based initiative to engage citizens in homeland security and community and family preparedness through public education and outreach, training opportunities, and volunteer service.