Fire Prevention

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There are numerous steps that you and your family can take to prevent a fire. The following section provides tips and safety information on how to reduce and prevent fires.
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Chimney Fires are Preventable with Proper Care
Chimney fires caused about $1 million in damage in 2004 and made up 60 percent of all the heating-related fires in our state (257). Chimney fires can start with a low rumbling sound and then explode onto the roof or they can smolder silently inside the chimney and build up intense heat that ignites combustible materials nearby. Chimney fires are usually caused by buildup of creosote. Creosote is highly combustible and restricted air supply, unseasoned wood and cooler-than-normal chimney temperatures can contribute to creosote buildup. You can help prevent a chimney fire by calling a certified chimney sweep to inspect and clean your chimney annually, and have necessary repairs completed before you light a fire. In addition to regular cleaning, you can take these steps to avoid chimney fires:

• Use seasoned wood only. Dryness is more important than hardwood/softwood considerations.
• Build smaller, hotter fires that burn more completely and produce less smoke.
• Never burn cardboard, wrapping paper, trash or holiday trees; they can spark chimney fires.
• If you have a wood stove, install a stovepipe thermometer and adjust burning practices.

For information on selecting a chimney sweep, the chimney cleaning process and more, go to the Chimney Safety Institute of America web site at www.csia.org.

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Fire prevention tips
Here are a few pointers from the St. Louis Park Fire Department. Upon request, firefighters will visit homes to advise you on where to place smoke detectors or how to create an evacuation plan. Call (952) 924-2171 for more information.

• Install a smoke detector in every bedroom, in the hallway outside of bedrooms, and on every level of your home (including attics and basements).
• Test your detectors every month, and change the batteries twice a year.
• Buy a fire extinguisher (rated 2A-10BC) for the kitchen. (Some insurance policies offer lower rates for homes with smoke detectors and a fire extinguisher.)
• Keep matches and lighters out of children's reach.
• Avoid the use of extension cords. Use a fused power strip instead.
• Power strips should be equipped with overload protection.
• Periodically check electrical cords for insulation cracks.
• Have your furnace properly maintained and change filters regularly.
• Don't store boxes too close to the furnace or water heater: leave at least three feet of clearance.
• Keep lint from accumulating in your clothes dryer.
• If you have gas appliances, learn where the shut-off valves are and check to make sure they're operational.
• If you have an attached garage, make sure the firewall between the house and garage is in good condition.
• Properly install and maintain wood burning appliances.
• Light bulbs get very hot: keep clothes, curtains and papers away from them.
• Don't leave burning candles or oil lamps unattended.
• Teach children what a smoke detector sounds like and what to do if they hear the alarm.
• Teach children never to hide during a fire. Tell them to call for help if they can't escape.
• Prepare and practice a home evacuation plan in case of fire. Set a meeting place so you can be sure everyone is safe.

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Fire Protection Advice
Upon request, firefighters will visit businesses to advise you on where to place smoke detectors, how to create an evacuation plan or whether to install a sprinkler system. For more information, contact Fire Marshal Cary Smith at

• (952) 924-2171
• csmith@stlouispark.org

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Home Emergency Kit
It'd be a rare Minnesota summer without at least one trip to the basement because of a severe thunderstorm or tornado warning. The St. Louis Park Fire Department recommends you keep an emergency kit in your basement that contains:

• Flashlight
• Battery operated radio
• Extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Candle and matches
• Pillow and blanket
• Snacks and beverages with a long shelf life
• Deck of cards, books, toys, etc.
• Notebook with your doctor's name and phone number, names of all family members and their blood types and special medical conditions. It should also list your homeowner's insurance policy number and agent's phone number.

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Home Health Concerns
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, tasteless, odorless gas produced by incomplete combustion of natural gas, propane, oil, coal or wood. When CO replaces oxygen in the blood's hemoglobin, oxygen starvation-and eventually death-can result.

Symptoms of CO poisoning include dizziness, headaches, drowsiness, flu-like symptoms and sometimes loss of memory. If you have these symptoms, get out of the house immediately: do not stop to open windows. Call 911 from a neighbor's house.

CO poisoning can be caused by a bad furnace, a blocked flue, or improper exhaust venting from illegal connections. Extreme moisture accumulation in the house can be a warning sign of CO gas. If you're concerned about your furnace, hire a licensed heating contractor to perform a carbon monoxide and smoke bomb test.

The St. Louis Park Fire Department recommends that homeowners install a carbon monoxide detector close enough to bedrooms to wake you from a sound sleep. Make sure the detector is properly installed and maintained.

Deteriorated chimneys can become blocked and allow potentially lethal carbon monoxide gas into the home. Signs of chimney deterioration include excessive moisture in the home, an aldehyde odor (similar to the smell of exhaust emitted when a car shuts off) or symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. For more information, call 952/924-2588.

Formaldehyde is an irritating gas vapor that, depending on the individual's tolerance, can cause reactions such as coughing, headaches, cramps, burning eyes or shortness of breath.

Formaldehyde is found in adhesives used in fabricating carpet and rug backing, curtains and particle board. It has a pungent odor and is easily noticeable. Formaldehyde is generally considered a health hazard until the resins have totally cured. Once the adhesives have cured, the vapors are eliminated and the health threat is over as long as the material remains moisture-free. If you are concerned about formaldehyde, call the Minnesota Department of Health at (651) 215-0909 or the City of St. Louis Park 952/924-2589.

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas produced by the breakdown of radium, an element commonly found in rock and soil. Outdoors, radon gas is not a health hazard; indoors, it can become a problem when it accumulates to high levels. Initial testing for elevated radon gas levels should be done with an alpha track detector available from many hardware, drug and discount stores.

St. Louis Park residents may buy radon detection kits for $5 at city hall (Inspections Department) between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

For more information, call the Minnesota Department of Health at (651) 215-0909 or the City of St. Louis Park at (952) 924-2589.

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Is Your Address Visible on Your Home or Business?
Every second counts when you're waiting for a fire truck or ambulance. Please help police and firefighters find your home or business quickly: make sure your address numbers are easy to read at night.

To test how readable your address numbers are, try reading them from your car at night. If you have to squint to see them: replace them with larger numbers that contrast sharply with your home's siding. Emergency vehicles will be able to find your home much more quickly if they don't have to slow down and shine a spotlight to read small address numbers. Garages facing alleys should also have a visible address numbers.

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Prevent Fires

To prevent fires:

• Install smoke detectors
• Test smoke detectors every month, and change the batteries twice a year.
• Buy a fire extinguisher (rated 2A-10BC) for the break rooms with a kitchen.
• Equip power strips with overload protection.
• Have the furnace properly maintained.
• Don't store boxes close to the furnace or water heater: leave at least three feet of clearance.
• Prepare and practice an evacuation plan in case of fire.

For more information, please contact the St. Louis Park Fire Department at 952-924-2171.

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Smoke Detectors, Fire Alarms and Doors
It's illegal for tenants to tamper with fire alarms or smoke detectors. Some detectors become overly sensitive to steam from bathroom showers, cooking, dust or cobwebs. If your smoke detector frequently sounds false alarms, don't disconnect or disable the detector! Instead, call your building caretaker or manager to have the detector repaired or replaced.

To ensure that water is released in the event of a fire, don't hang anything from fire sprinkler heads or pipes. Do not place furniture or other items within 18 inches of the sprinkler head.

Unless your building has magnetic hold-open doors connected the building's fire alarm system, all fire doors - including laundry and storage room doors - must be kept closed at all times.

Learn where fire extinguishers are located in your building.

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Warning Sirens
Public warning sirens are sounded when dangerous weather or emergency conditions exist. When sirens are sounded, evaluate conditions. If strong winds, heavy rain or large hail are present, take shelter immediately. If the weather doesn't appear threatening, check the television or radio for warnings.

Please remember that sirens are designed to warn people who are outdoors - not indoors. While sirens can be heard inside many homes, they cannot be made loud enough to be heard inside every home-especially when air conditioners and televisions are on. To increase the likelihood that you're alerted about dangerous weather conditions, you can buy a weather alert monitor. They're sold at many electronics stores. You can also make it a practice to check the television or radio whenever weather conditions appear threatening.

Sirens are sounded at 1:00 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month to test the system. No action is required during siren testing.