Disaster Recovery News

The traditional method to fight fires is with water, special foams, powders and other chemical substances. Harvard University’s Whitesides Research Group, however, have created a “wand” that harnesses the power of electric fields to control flames. This new technology could help reduce the environmental threats and water damage caused by traditional flame tamers.

How it Works

National Geographic reports the wand is a thin wire connected to a 600-watt amplifier plugged into the wall. The amplifier is about the size of a file cabinet and has the power of a high-end car stereo. The wand creates the electric field necessary—a million volts per meter—to create a spark in dry air, but the frequency is not enough to pose dangers to healthy individuals. Harvard researchers found that when they brought the wand close to 20-inch, thin flames, the flames disappeared almost instantly. Future smaller versions of the wand device will use a tenth of the wattage, be more portable and would create the same results.

The Science behind the Magic

Flames contain ions, soot and electrons that react to electric fields. Because of this, the wand uses electricity to detach the flames away from its fuel source. The science behind this recent discovery involving electricity has scientists working on a way to suppress wider fires and those that are farther away by changing the shape of the voltage, frequency and electric current in the wand. While the wand is not the answer for fighting all fires, like wildfires, there is a possibility that future versions could allow firefighters to carry power sources in a backpack that attach to a wand, or buildings and ships could have a similar feature in their ceilings.

In the Meantime

The promise of new technology does not mean individuals can ignore traditional fire-safety prevention methods. It is still the responsibility of home and business owners to take measures to ensure the safety of those in the home or office.

Learn more about fire prevention.

[photo: jnyemb]

The colder weather means it is time to put wood on the fireplace and turn on the heaters. Because the fall and winter months bring cause for celebrations, the risk of house fires is greater because of all the heating equipment used. In honor of the upcoming Fire Prevention Week, consider the following fire safety tips for when the weather turns cold.

Fall and Winter Fire Safety Tips

• If you have a fireplace, make sure you know how the flue works and have a certified chimney sweep clean your chimney.
• Cover the front of the fireplace with a screen to help control sparks.
• Dispose of ashes from the fireplace in a metal container kept outside of the home.
• Keep space heaters at least 3-feet away from walls, furniture and any other items in a room.
• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home and outside of every bedroom. Make sure the smoke alarms you already have in your home work.
• Keep a fire extinguisher on every level of your home, in an easy-to-find location. Additionally, keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and one near the fireplace.
• Use holiday decorations that are flame resistance.
• Only use indoor decorative lights inside your home; use outdoor decorative lights outside. Use clips instead of nails to hang strands of lights.
• Keep candles away from holiday decorations. Never leave candles unattended, particularly around children and pets.
• While cooking, do not leave food on the stovetop unattended.

Learn more about protecting your home from a fire.

[photo:  Paul Sapiano]

Smoke alarms can cut the risk of dying in a fire in half. According to the National Fire Protection Association, two-third of fire-related deaths occurred in a home that did not have a smoke alarm or a working smoke alarm. The purpose of a smoke alarm is to detect smoke while a fire is still small, giving you just enough time to get out of your home. In honor of National Fire Prevention Week, which runs from October 3 to October 9, we’re offering the following tips about smoke alarm installation and maintenance.

Smoke Alarm Installation Tips

• Ionization smoke alarms respond better to flaming fires. Photoelectric smoke alarms respond better to moldering fires. For the best protection, install combination alarms in your home.
• Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home, including the basement, and one outside of every bedroom.
• If someone in the home is hard or hearing or deaf, install an alarm that has a flashing light, vibrates and makes a louder than normal sound.
• Mount smoke alarms at least 4-inches away from the nearest wall. Install wall-mounted smoke alarms 4 to 12-inches away from the ceiling’s highest point.
• Do not install smoke alarms near doors, windows or ducts.

Smoke Alarm Maintenance Tips

• Test your smoke alarms on a monthly basis.
• Replace the batteries on your smoke alarm whenever you hear it chirp or once a year, whichever comes first.
• Replace the entire smoke alarm at least every 10 years.
• If your smoke alarm is sensitive to steam or cooking fumes, replace it with an alarm that has a “hush” button. This way you do not have to take the battery out of your existing alarm while you cook.

Make fire alarm maintenance part of your emergency disaster plan.

[Image: NFPA]

Image by Robert S. Donovan

Memorial Day weekend signals the official start of summer, one of the most popular times to fire-up the grill to make backyard cuisines. However, the beginning of summer also signals the beginning of wildfire season. Help keep your home and neighborhood safe by keeping the following tips from the HPBA (Hearth, Patio & Barbeque Association) and the Propane Education & Research Council in mind.

Prepare Your Home and Grill

• Cut back your grass and move burnable materials. Keep grass, wood, bush, plants and other materials at least 10 feet away from propane tanks and cylinders. This includes tanks installed in your grill and tanks you are storing.
• Do not store propane tanks and cylinders inside a home, shed, garage or any other building.
• Read the manual for your propane tank and grill.
• Only use grills outside and in a well-ventilated area. If you grill indoors, there is a chance carbon monoxide could accumulate and prove fatal to those in the building.
• Make sure the grill is stable. When grills are unstable or placed on uneven surfaces they may fall or tip over unexpectedly, which can cause a fire.
• Replace expired or damaged tanks. This includes tanks that have holes, rust spots or cracks.
• Use a grill mat. Use a heat-resistance grill mat under a gas or charcoal grill to prevent fires caused by hot embers or drippings.
• Keep an extinguisher nearby. When grilling, keep a fire extinguisher nearby. If you do not have an extinguisher, keep baking soda, a bucket of garden sand or a garden hose close.

Outdoor fire prevention is quick, easy and worth the effort so you do not have to deal with the consequences of a full-blown, damaging blaze.

Learn more tips about how to protect your home from a fire.

[Photo: Robert S. Donovan]

October 4-10, 2009 is National Fire Prevention Week. The National Fire Protection Association is using the week to focus on fire prevention and burn awareness.

Here are the top five most interesting facts listed by the NPA for National Fire Prevention Week:

1.       “Someone was injured in a home fire every 40 minutes and roughly eight people died in home fires every day during 2008.”

2.       “Cooking continues to be the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries… Unattended cooking is the leading cause of cooking fires. ”

3.       “Smoking materials caused one of every four home fire deaths…Smoking materials (i.e., cigarettes, cigars, pipes, etc.) are the leading cause of fire deaths (roughly one in four) in the United States.”

4.      “Smoke alarms that are properly installed and maintained play a vital role in reducing fire deaths and injuries. Having a working smoke alarm cuts the chances of dying in a reported fire in half.”

5.      “No smoke alarms were present in 40% of the home fire deaths.”

More on fire prevention.

2009 Fire Prevention Week – Electrical Safety

2009 Fire Prevention Week – Kitchen Safety

2009 Fire Prevention Week – Smoke Alarms

More fire safety videos.