November 2016 CT

O n a cool March morning, Woodbridge contractor Mark T. was working on cabin- etry and varnishing in the walk out basement of a Springfield condominium. The woodwork caught fire. According to the Springfield Police, Lt. Judd Levenson in an NJ.com news report, the 64 year-old man appeared to have used a garden hose to try to extinguish the fire. The basement quickly filled with smoke and the fire rapidly spread. Firefighters arrived quickly on scene and the fire was extinguished. They were not able to save Mark T who had been unable to escape. Firefighters said he was dead at the scene. This incident is a tragic reminder of how important fire safety is for home owners as well as for management companies to have the proper protocols established BEFORE an emergency occurs. FIRE PREPAREDNESS AND PREVENTION In 2014 (the most recent year for which we have statistics), there were more than 380,000 home fires, causing more than 2,700 deaths according to the National Fire Protection Association. Most fires start in the kitchen or with heating equipment and older adults are at a much greater risk. Many fires can be avoided through proper home maintenance and careful behavior. Space heaters, candles, fireplaces and cigarettes, left unattended, often lead to disaster. Moreover, having proper equipment can make sure you survive a fire if one were to occur. Here are some important reminders: SMOKE DETECTORS - Test your smoke detectors monthly and replace the batteries at least twice a year. Replace your detectors every 10 years. If you’ve been living in your home over 10 years and have never replaced them, NOW IS THE TIME. FIRE EXTINGUISHER - Buy two! Keep one in your kitchen and one in your garage (or utility closet if you do not have a garage). Label “Kitchen” and “Garage.” Class A (wood, paper), B (liguids, gases), and C (live electrical) fires can be extinguished by the versatile ABC type extinguisher that smothers the fire with a dry chemical. ESCAPE LADDER - Put a chain-link escape ladder upstairs near a second story window that can be easily opened in the event of a fire. ELECTRIC & PLUMBING - Flickering lights, circuit breakers that trip and fuses that blow frequently are all signs of overloaded circuits. Make sure you haven’t plugged in too many devices to the same circuit. Circuit overloads can also be caused by loose or corroded Fire at a Union County Condominium Reminds Residents to BE PREPARED By Ginger Pitaccio, PCAM, Executive VP, Towne & Country Management, Inc.

"Many fires can be avoided through proper home maintenance and careful behavior."

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