Port Jervis Fire Department
Fire Service News
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Office of Fire Prevention and Control Safety Alert Bulletin New York State Department of State Office of Fire Prevention and Control 41 State Street Albany, NY 12231-0001 • phone: (518) 474-6746 • fax: (518) 474-3240 • fire@dos.state.ny.us • http://www.dos.state.ny.us/fire/firewww.html December 26, 2007
The Office of Fire Prevention & Control is issuing this safety alert due to several incidents that have involved the use of propane cylinders inside of residential structures for heat. With the heating season upon us and the high cost of home heating fuels residents are trying to find ways to reduce costs. One way is through the use of small propane cylinders with an attached radiant heater. Small one pound and twenty pound cylinders have been found inside of destroyed structures in at least three fires reported to the Office of Fire Prevention and Control raising safety concerns for first responders arriving on scene. In at least two fires, firefighters could have been severely injured or killed while operating on the scenes of these incidents due to propane cylinders exploding inside the residences. Washington County Fire Coordinator Ray Rathburn reported two instances in his County that were alarming to him where he felt firefighter’s could have been casualties had they been operating in or around the structures when the cylinders exploded. In both instances the structures were totally destroyed. “The first Structure we found had a 100lb. LP Tank inside with a Radiant Heat Fixture attached to it! This tank at some point before the Fire was called in blew, knocking pictures off the wall of a Bar almost a half mile away! We found nothing more then a small part of the top of this tank! The second incident we found 2 - 20lb. LP tanks in the Structure with Radiant Heaters attached as well, 1 of which did rupture!” reported CFC Rathburn. The second incident occurred in the Town of White Creek, Washington County on Friday December 14th where a fatality of a resident occurred. It was discovered that the resident was using two small propane heaters to try and stay warm. Numerous one pound propane cylinders along with two twenty pound cylinders (the kind used for outside barbeque grills) were discovered inside the structure after the fire was knocked down. Upon arrival the structure was heavily involved with fire and a report of a resident still inside the structure. Firefighter’s attempted to make entry into the structure, but were unsuccessful. It was later discovered that a third twenty pound propane cylinder was under the landing where firefighters were operating.
Propane is commonly known as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG or LP-gas) which can be a mixture of propane along with small amounts of propylene, butane, and butylene. The odorant ethanethiol is also added so that people can easily smell the gas in case of a leak. In the presence of excess oxygen, propane burns to form water and carbon dioxide. When not enough oxygen is present for complete combustion, propane burns to form water and carbon monoxide. Unlike natural gas, propane is heavier than air (1.5 times denser). In its raw state, propane sinks and pools at the floor. Liquid propane will turn to a vapor at atmospheric pressure and appears white due to moisture condensing from the air. Propane is used as fuel in cooking on many barbecues, portable stoves and in motor vehicles. The ubiquitous 4.73-gallon (20 Lb.) steel container is often dubbed a "barbecue bottle" In many rural areas of North America, propane is used in furnaces, cooking stoves, water heaters, laundry dryers, and other heat-producing appliances. Size up is very important when determining the type of fuels being used inside the residence when responding to Carbon Monoxide, Unknown Odor and Structure Fire responses. Used propane cylinders outside the residence and propane connections where bottles are absent are good indicators that an alternative heating system may be present inside the structure. Size up will allow firefighter’s to shut off and check connections and odors from possibly damaged propane lines outside due to falling ice and snow should they exist. Checking entry and egress points will ensure firefighter safety due to reduction of possible hazards. Checking with the local fuel suppliers can help to identify those residents using excessive amounts of propane in the colder months and may provide you with information on those consistently refilling twenty pound cylinders. During any type of alarms if you notice propane cylinders being used inside the residence please contact your local code enforcement official and make them aware of the situation. This may make you feel bad about reporting someone for this, but think how bad you’ll feel returning to their home for a fatal fire or any fire that may occur.
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The PJFD purchases FIT-5 Extinquishers + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + which were used successfully for the 1st time on a fire at 19 Elizabeth Street on 12/27/07 see story right below: |
What is it?A new kind of fire suppression tool, a Powder Aerosol Generator. The FIT-5 is about the size of a lunchbox, and weighs about nine pounds. Its designed to be carried in Chiefs vehicles and on Fire Trucks. First Responders use it to knockdown fires prior to entering a burning structure.
How does it work?Powder Aerosol devices deploy a huge cloud of super-fine aerosol powder. This powder attacks the fire chemically, interrupting the Fire Triangle. The powder is proven safe for people to be around, and is safe for equipment. Oxygen levels in the room don't change, so any trapped victims aren't harmed. The aerosol acts like Halon, interrupting the flames within seconds.
Where can it be used?You can use the FIT-5 on Class A, B and C fires, any fire in a contained space. A single FIT-5 can protect a 1,700 cubic feet sized room. Heat in the burning room drops from over 1,000° to under 300° within 15 seconds. Deploying a FIT-5 will completely prevent flash-over.
Why is it important?The FIT-5 can save victims trapped in a fire, thousands die this way after every year. The only category of firefighter deaths that's increasing every year is deaths inside structure fires. Using a FIT-5 makes any fire safer to overhaul for firefighters. By reducing water damage the FIT-5 helps protect the cause of a fire, so investigating a fire is much easier.
Who's using it now?The FIT System has been in use in Eastern Europe for over a decade. ARA Safety Inc has been test-marketing the FIT-5 in Western Canada since 2005. Over 90 per cent of Canadian departments invited to test the FIT-5 have purchased the system. The FIT-5 is the most powerful portable aerosol generator available. It's the only portable generator actually in service with fire departments anywhere in the world. Click here to see live test video, testimonials and news reports of the
For more information abour FIT 5, click here.
See Sharon's story about the Elizabeth Street fire on
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THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS FORWARDED BY THE FOR YOUR INFORMATION. November 26, 2007 - 1107-37 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From Firefighting News.com: Cause for Alarm - Fewer Volunteer Firefighters
"Membership is a big concern for most companies, and if volunteer companies fold, most municipalities could not afford a fully paid fire department," he said.
"Unless we make some changes now, things are going to get worse." What can be done to avoid a crisis and ensure volunteer fire companies are able protect local citizens?
Mann said it's crucial that fire companies work more closely with each other and with their municipal leaders. In
Read Complete article at FirefightingNews.com: Cause for Alarm - Fewer Volunteer Firefighters
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Changes to law - 10/06
There is a new law that extends an option to receive either the partial tax exemption for your real property
general municipal taxes or receive a tax credit on your Income Tax Return.
Important Notice:
(a) Volunteer Firefighters and Ambulance worker’s credit. For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2007,
a resident taxpayer who serves as an active volunteer firefighter as defined in Subdivision 1 of Section 215
of the General Municipal Law or as a volunteer Ambulance worker as defined in Subdivision 14 of Section 219-k
of the General Municipal Law, shall be allowed a credit against the tax imposed by this article equal to $200.00.
In order to receive this credit a volunteer firefighter or volunteer Ambulance worker must have been active for the
entire taxable year for which the credit is sought.
(b) If a taxpayer receives a real property tax exemption relating to such service under Title 2 of Article 4 of the Real
Property Tax Law, such a taxpayer shall NOT be eligible for the credit.
(c) If the amount of the credit allowed under this subsection for any taxable year shall exceed the taxpayers tax for
such year, the excess shall be treated as an overpayment of tax to be credited or refunded in accordance with
the provisions of Section 686 of this article, provided, that no interest shall be paid thereon.
Please note some very important facts.
As a volunteer you must have been active for the entire taxable (2007) year. However, this credit may NOT be
claimed by taxpayers who are receiving real property tax exemptions relative to such service. In other words, an
eligible volunteer will have to choose between the exemption and the Tax Credit; you cannot receive both.
The credit as to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2008.
If are already signed up, the Assessor’s Office you have until March 1, 2008 to fill out a form to remove the partial tax exemption
from your city tax bill. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Assessor’s office at 858-4094