Fire Safety

This information is only meant as a guide. Please feel free to contact the fire department for more detailed information.

In case of an emergency call 9-1-1.

Pre-Game

• Smoke Detectors---make sure there is nothing covering them and press the Test button to make sure it works
• All outside doorways---are clear of obstruction and trash
• Windows---make sure all are able to be opened
• No candles
• Identify fire extinguisher locations
• Don't overload electrical outlets; only use one extension cord length. No multi plug adapters
• Establish ashtrays, contained with sand, at each outside doorway
• Keep space heaters away from furniture, bedding and curtains

Party

• No open flames
• Cooking---ONLY by a non-impaired person
• Never leave cooking unattended
• If you think there are too many people, you are right
• Check extension cords - check for heat. If warm/hot unplug IMMEDIATELY
• Keep trash clear from outside doorways
• No smoking inside, this includes bedrooms

After Party

• Know who is staying the night and where
• Check the inside of furniture cushion(s) for discarded cigarettes/smoking materials
• Clear all trash and obstruction from the exit paths/doorways
• Check outside for discarded cigarettes
• NO SMOKING IN BEDROOMS
• No open flames, includes candles
• All cooking appliances are shut off and cold
• Unplug extension cord after use. Check extension cords for heat. If warm/hot unplug IMMEDIATELY
• Check to make sure smoke detectors are unobstructed

The goal of the Fire and Life Safety Inspection program is to assist you in making your business a safe place for your customers and employees. We also want to work with you to ensure that if a fire were to occur, damage is limited as much as possible and our firefighters can operate efficiently and safely.

Fire Inspection Checklist

Download our fire inspection checklist to prepare your business.

Practicing fire prevention and addressing fire hazards is a great investment.

In an effort to reduce the number of fires and fireworks-related injuries, the Division of State Fire Marshal encourages Ohioans to attend public fireworks displays hosted by local municipalities and licensed exhibitors this July 4th weekend.

The best way for Ohioans to prevent fireworks injuries is to attend a licensed, professional fireworks exhibition.  Keep in mind that even trick and novelty fireworks, like sparklers, are inherently dangerous and can cause serious injury.

The only types of fireworks that can be legally purchased and discharged in Ohio are trick and novelty devices. These include items that smoke, sparkle, snap and snake. For those who choose to have their own display using these legal fireworks, the State Fire Marshal encourages Ohioans to follow some important safety tips:

• Handle and discharge trick and novelty devices only under adult supervision.
• Appoint one adult to be in charge. This person should know the hazards of each type of firework being used.
• Carefully read and follow the label directions on the trick and novelty device packaging.
• Light only one sparkler at a time and hold it away from your body and others.
• Sparkler wires, which can burn up to 1800 degrees, should immediately be placed in a bucket of water to avoid injury as they remain hot for a few minutes after burnout.
• If someone gets burned, run cool water over the wound for two or three minutes and seek medical attention when necessary.

Other fireworks, like those sold at fireworks stores around Ohio, can be legally purchased in the state, but you must agree to take them out of Ohio to discharge. You must be at least 18 years of age to buy items such as firecrackers and bottle rockets at the stores you see along the roadways of Ohio.  Firing them off within state boundaries is prohibited.

Under Ohio's fireworks law, stiff penalties can be applied for the illegal possession or discharge of fireworks. It is a first-degree misdemeanor for non-licensed individuals to discharge fireworks in Ohio, to falsify an application when purchasing fireworks, or to possess them for more than 48 hours without taking them out-of-state. First-time offenders are subject to up to a $1,000 fine and six months imprisonment.

Ohio's Department of Natural Resources Forestry Division prohibits outdoor open burning and prescribed fires in the months of March, April, May, October and November between 6am and 6pm.  This ban includes burning of yard waste, trash, and debris, even in a proper burn barrel.  Know before you burn to prevent a fire burning out of control jeopardizing the safety of those around you along with other structures in the area. Read more on the Ohio Division of Forestry's website.

NFPA is your source of education materials designed to reduce fire deaths, injuries, and property loss. The NFPA provides various safety tips on topics such as: Fireworks, Lightning, smoke Alarms for People who are deaf or hard of hearing, Grilling, Clothes Dryer, Cooking, Escape Planning, Campus, Generators, Candles, Halloween, Heating, High-Rise Apartments & Condominiums, Home Fire Sprinkling, Hotels/Motels, Christmas Trees, Smoke Alarms, Thanksgiving Safety, Winter Holiday, and Carbon Monoxide.

Adults 65 and over are twice as likely to die in fires compared to the general population. As you age, your risk continues to increase. Use these resources to learn about extra precautions and safety steps you can take to protect yourself and your home.

• Fire Safety for Older Adults and Their Caregivers
• Escape Planning for Older Adults

This information is only meant as a safety guide. Please feel free to contact the fire department for more detailed information.

In case of an emergency call 9-1-1.

Grills

Fire is unavoidable when it comes to preparing the perfect kabob or rack of ribs on the grill, which means you’ve got some inherent risks right from the get-go. In fact, the NFPA reports that an average of 8,900 home fires are caused by grilling each year. Here are some fire safety tips for the grill:

• While the meat is marinating, be sure to check each potentially problematic points of the grill including the propane tank, the hose, and all connecting points.
• Charcoal should be soaked with charcoal starter fluid only, so don’t let the pyro-happy Boy Scout in your family go anywhere near the grill with a container of lighter fluid, no matter how cool he swears it will be!
• Make sure the grill is clean—failing to clean the grill before and after use is a contributing factor in nearly 20% of all grill structure fires.
• Make sure the grill is set up in an open, outdoor area with nothing combustible (plants, paper products, etc.) nearby.

Outdoor Fire Pits

The necessary safety precautions for an outdoor fire pit (s'mores, anybody?) are much the same as for a grill, plus a few others:

• Never leave young children unattended near a fire pit in the pit.
• Fill a bucket with water and set it next to the pit before you even begin building a fire. 
• Avoid throwing leaves, pine cones, pine needles and paper into the fire. They catch fire quickly and can result in dangerous, floating embers.
• Unless there is an emergency, avoid dumping the entire bucket of water on the fire to put it out. Instead, spread the pieces of fuel as far apart as possible and gently sprinkle water over them until there are no more glowing embers. This prevents the scattering of embers and a thick cloud of smoke. 
• Toast your marshmallows over the embers rather than the flames. This not only gives them that perfect, golden crust but also prevents them from catching fire.

Chimneys

As cozy as it was in February and March, come April and May chances are you’ll be less 

inclined to build a fire in the living room fireplace. As easy as it is to just scoop out the ashes, 

close it up, and forget about it until November, go ahead and have the chimney inspected as part of your spring cleaning effort. The NFPA recommends having a chimney inspected and 

thoroughly cleaned at least once a year anyway, and getting it out of the way this time of year often means ridding it of buildup that would only cause more damage if it hung around until the fall. Plus, chimney technicians will be more likely to have flexible schedules in the springtime.

Smoke Alarms

You knew this one was coming, right? The batteries should be changed once a year anyway, so just go ahead and roll it into your spring cleaning ritual. As the spring and summer days 

progress, don’t forget to test the smoke alarms (there should be at least one on every floor of the house) each month.

More Spring Fire Safety

Properly use and store gasoline:

• Use gasoline only as motor fuel, never as a cleaner or to break down grease.
• Only store gasoline in a container that is sold for that purpose and do not bring it indoors, even in small amounts.
• Never store gasoline containers in a basement or in the occupied space of a building. Keep them in a detached garage or an outdoor shed.
• Make sure the container is tightly capped when not in use.

Carefully dispose of rags with paint and stain:

The oils commonly used in oil-based paints and stains release heat as they dry. If the heat is not released in the air as the rags dry, the heat is trapped, builds and can cause a fire.

• Never leave cleaning rags in a pile. When you're finished using the rags, take them outside to dry, keeping them well away from the home and other structures.
• Hang rags outside or spread them on the ground and weigh them down so that they don't blow away.
• Put dried rags in a metal container, making sure the container is tightly covered. Fill the container with a water and detergent solution, which will break down the oils.
• Keep containers of oily rags in a cool place out of direct sunlight and away from other heat sources. Check with your town for information on how to properly dispose of them.

Use/store flammable and combustible liquids with care:

• Flammable and combustible liquids should not be used near an open flame.
• Never smoke when working with these liquids.
• If you spill liquids on your clothing, remove your clothing and place it outside to dry. Once dry, clothing can be laundered.
• Keep liquids in their original containers. Keep them tightly capped or sealed. Never store the liquids in glass containers.

Learn more information about the power of home fire sprinklers. 

Watch this video, sponsored by the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition, to experience fires without and with an installed sprinkler, as if you are inside the burning house.