Fireplace Safety in the Home
Answering the Next Alarm
Fireplace Safety in the Home
More than 30 percent of Americans utilize fireplaces as alternative heating sources during the winter months . Heating / fireplace fires account for 22 percent of fires during the winter in the United States . Many of these fires are caused by a creosote buildup in the chimney liners . Creosote is a byproduct of combustion . Fireplaces need annual maintenance to remain safe for your home . The Peters Township Fire Department encourages you to seek a qualified fireplace specialist to inspect your chimney flue annually .
eters Township
PETERS TOWNSHIP NEWS
Answering the Next Alarm
The Peters Township Fire Department ( PTFD ) is comprised of a combination of career and volunteer firefighters , enabling the department to provide fire , rescue and emergency medical services to Peters Township residents 24 / 7 . In recent decades , many volunteer departments across the Commonwealth have faced a steady decline in the number of volunteers .
In an effort to combat this trend , PTFD embarked on a new recruiting campaign in the fall of 2015 , aimed at township residents looking to give back to their community under the slogan : “ Step Up and Answer the Next Alarm !”
Since the campaign began , PTFD has been fortunate to have recruited a total of nine volunteers . These men and women have completed hundreds of hours of training on topics including firefighting , hazardous materials , vehicle extrication and emergency medicine . Much of the training has benefits that extend further than the fire service . “ Fire training has opened my eyes to a different way of problem solving in high stress situations ,” says Nick Nye , one of PTFD ’ s new recruits .
The firefighters come from a variety of backgrounds including law , insurance and technology . Their responsibilities include duty shifts , call response and training . Rick Normand , recipient of PTFD ’ s 2016 Firefighter of the Year Award says he “ wanted to help our community and belong to a team with that same goal .” PTFD was the place for him .
PTFD maintains a roster of approximately 15 career and 30 volunteer firefighters that operate out of two stations located in McMurray and Venetia . It is through the dedication of these individuals that we are able to provide exceptional emergency response to the residents of Peters Township .
Are You Ready to Answer the Next Alarm ? Contact us at 724.941.4176 or ptfd64 . org for more information .
12 Peters Township
Rick Normand
Fireplace Safety Tips from The Peters Township Fire Department
• Have areas adjacent to the hearth free of furniture and decorations .
• Have the mantle area of your fireplace free of decorations ( remember hot air rises ).
• Never leave a running fireplace unattended .
• While in use , leave glass doors open for proper combustion .
• Close glass doors after fire is out or unattended .
• Utilize metal buckets to remove ashes from the fireplace .
• Place ashes outside in a metal container . Never use cardboard boxes or paper bags for ash disposal .
• Ashes can continue to generate heat for up to 36 hours .
• Free standing wood stoves should have a minimum of double wall pipe and be at least 18 inches from combustibles .
• Never use any accelerant to start your fires .
• Do not burn cardboard , wrapping paper or debris in your fireplace .
• Always use a metal grating to stack your log on . Without a grate proper combustion will not be achieved .
• Chimneys should have a cover or grate to arrest the sparks and protect your roofing material .
• Use seasoned hardwoods . Burning soft wood such as pine will create large amount of creosote .
Owners should also have a charged dry powder fire extinguisher in their homes . Chimney fires happen without warning . No matter how small the fire is within your firebox , the creosote buildup , which is highly flammable within your chimney liner , will accelerate the fire . Fire safety within your home is your personal responsibility .
To learn more about proper fireplace safety contact the Fire Department at 724.941.4176 .