Fall Back and Sound Those Alarms: Somers Fire Department reminds residents to check smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors
October 23, 2023
As we prepare to “fall back” on Sunday, November 5, 2023 at 2:00 a.m., not only is it possible to gain an hour of sleep, but it’s also the perfect time for homeowners and landlords to review functionality and placement of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. The Somers Fire Department is sharing some critical reminders about fire protection in residential spaces.
“We used to say, ‘Change Your Clocks, Change Your Batteries,’” says Somers Fire Department Chief John Roache. “But, things have changed over the years and it’s not quite that simple anymore. Not all smoke alarms require a disposable 9-volt battery to change every six months. It’s important for people to know what kind of smoke alarms and CO detectors they have, how they are powered, whether they’re placed properly, and how old they are.”
Today’s smoke detectors are powered either by battery or a home’s electrical system (e.g., “hardwired”). If the alarm runs on a battery, it is either a disposable 9-volt battery or a non-replaceable 10-year lithium-ion battery. Alarms that are hardwired typically have a backup battery that needs to be replaced once per year.
Chief Roache says, no matter what type of alarm you have, be sure to:
- Test it monthly.
- Replace it every 10 years. Always check the label on the alarm; an alarm may not work properly in the event of a fire if the manufacture date on the label shows it is more than 10 years old.
Remember, smoke alarms should be both inside and outside every bedroom and sleeping area as well as on every level of the home. When you hear a smoke alarm, you may have less than two minutes to get everyone out of the home.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), roughly two-thirds of home fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarms. In other instances, homes may have smoke alarms that fail to operate due to missing, disconnected, or dead batteries. The Somers Fire Department shares the following NFPA guidelines:
- Make sure everyone in the home understands the sound of the smoke alarm and knows how to respond.
- Replace the smoke alarm immediately if it doesn’t respond properly when tested.
- Smoke alarms with non-replaceable (long-life) batteries are designed to remain effective for up to 10 years. If the alarm chirps, a warning that the battery is low, replace the entire smoke alarm right away.
- For smoke alarms with any other type of battery, replace batteries at least once a year. If the alarm chirps, replace only the battery.
Anyone with questions about their smoke alarms and CO detectors should call the Somers Fire Department at (860) 749-7626.
About Somers Fire Department
Established in 1937, the Somers Fire Department (SFD) proudly protects more than 10,000 people living in the 28.5 square mile area that makes up the Town of Somers, Connecticut. The Department’s mission is to develop, organize, and manage effective Fire and Emergency Medical Services that minimize the impact of emergencies on life and property within the Town of Somers. In addition, the Department provides mutual aid support to those surrounding communities that, in time of need, may request assistance.
As a combination department, SFD relies on both paid staff and volunteers, all of whom are professionally trained, selfless, dedicated, and work together to provide round-the-clock response services – firefighting as well as four levels of emergency medical care – to the Town of Somers. The SFD can always use more help and is currently accepting volunteer membership applications.
The SFD operates out of a single firehouse, stationed at 400 Main Street, and has 10 pieces of apparatus, including three ambulances, two tankers, two pumpers, and three service vehicles. Anyone interested in learning more about the SFD should call (860) 749-7626, stop by the firehouse at 400 Main Street, or follow the SFD on Facebook and Instagram
This Fire Prevention Week, Somers Fire Department Reminds Residents: Cooking Safety Starts with YOU. Pay Attention to Fire Prevention.
October 8, 2023
The Somers Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) — the official sponsor of Fire Prevention WeekTM (FPW) for more than 100 years — to promote this year’s FPW campaign, “Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire preventionTM.” The campaign works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take when cooking to keep themselves and those around them safe.
Fire Prevention Week runs from Sunday, October 8, through Saturday, October 14. The Somers Fire Department will be holding an open house at its station located at 400 Main Street in Somers on Saturday, October 14 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The event will feature a car seat clinic, a fire prevention trailer for children, free smoke and CO detectors, and tours of the Department’s apparatus and equipment. Throughout the month of October, the Somers Fire Department will also be visiting schools and classrooms in town to talk with students about fire prevention.
According to NFPA, cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries in the United States. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of cooking fires and deaths.
“Year after year, cooking remains the leading cause of home fires by far, accounting for half (49 percent) of all U.S. home fires,” said Lorraine Carli, vice president of outreach and advocacy at NFPA. “These numbers tell us that there is still much work to do when it comes to better educating the public about ways to stay safe when cooking.”
“We encourage all residents to embrace the 2023 Fire Prevention Week theme, ‘Cooking safety start with YOU,’” said Somers Fire Department Chief John Roache. “A cooking fire can grow quickly. I have seen many homes damaged and people injured by fires that could easily have been prevented.”
The Somers Fire Department offers these key safety tips to help reduce the risk of a cooking fire.
- Watch what you heat. Always keep a close eye on what you are cooking. Set a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
- Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. Always keep a lid nearby when cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner.
- Have a “kid- and pet-free zone” of at least three feet (one meter) around the stove or grill and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
About Somers Fire Department
Established in 1937, the Somers Fire Department (SFD) proudly protects more than 10,000 people living in the 28.5 square mile area that makes up the Town of Somers, Connecticut. The Department’s mission is to develop, organize, and manage effective Fire and Emergency Medical Services that minimize the impact of emergencies on life and property within the Town of Somers. In addition, the Department provides mutual aid support to those surrounding communities that, in time of need, may request assistance.
As a combination department, SFD relies on both paid staff and volunteers, all of whom are professionally trained, selfless, dedicated, and work together to provide round-the-clock response services – firefighting as well as four levels of emergency medical care – to the Town of Somers. The SFD can always use more help and is currently accepting volunteer membership applications.
The SFD operates out of a single firehouse, stationed at 400 Main Street, and has 10 pieces of apparatus, including three ambulances, two tankers, two pumpers, and three service vehicles. Anyone interested in learning more about the SFD should call (860) 749-7626, stop by the firehouse at 400 Main Street, or follow the SFD on Facebook and Instagram.
September is National Preparedness Month: Somers Fire Department Shares Information About How to Get a Kit, Make a Plan, and Be Informed
September 12, 2023
September is National Preparedness Month. It’s a time for people across the country to explore and revisit the steps necessary to ensure they’re ready in the event of an emergency – whether it’s a natural or man-made disaster. To help members of the community prepare, Somers Fire Department is sharing important information about how to make an emergency kit, create a plan, and be informed.
“The best time to prepare is before an emergency happens and, with some of the extreme weather events we’ve witnessed lately, there’s no time like the present,” says Somers Fire Department Chief John Roache. “Just like making and practicing an escape plan in the event of a home fire, we can ensure our families and neighbors have the tools they need to cope with the unexpected.”
The Ready and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) websites are chock full of great information for people looking for advice about how to prepare. In general, there are three key components of emergency preparedness. They are:
Get A Kit
According to Ready, an emergency kit should include:
- Food and Water for Several Days – One gallon of water per person per day and foods that are non-perishable and easy to make (e.g., canned soup, dry pasta, powdered milk). Don’t forget a can opener and basic utensils.
- Health Supplies – At least a three-day supply of all medicines as well as any medical supplies such as syringes, walking canes, masks, and extra batteries for hearing aids.
- Personal Care Items – Soap, toothbrush and toothpaste, baby wipes, glasses.
- Safety Supplies – First Aid kit, blankets, multipurpose tool, and a whistle.
- Electronics – Radio, flashlight, cell phone with charger, extra batteries.
- Documents – Insurance cards, medical records, family emergency plan, emergency contact information.
- Extra cash, local maps, extra house and car keys.
- Don’t forget about pets and children – Be sure to bring enough pet food, medications, supplies, and documents, and pack games and activities for children.
Make a Plan
Ready offers an online form for making a Family Emergency Communication Plan – once complete, the form can be saved as a PDF. Some things to consider include:
- Making a contact card for each family member, selecting an emergency contact, making sure everyone knows how to send a text, and knowing emergency phone numbers.
- Identifying the safest places in the home for different types of possible disasters, choose meeting places (they may differ depending on the situation), map out escape routes from the house (two ways out of each room), and practice by running drills. Don’t forget pets and that they may not be allowed in shelters.
- Teaching kids how to dial 911, quiz them on the plan, include them in the planning and drills. Ready Wrigley is a great resource.
- Checking insurance policies to make sure coverages are adequate for potential disasters, know how and when to turn off water, gas, and electricity at main shut-off locations, make sure each family member knows where fire extinguishers are and how to use them.
Just like fire drills to learn and practice what to do in case of a fire, families can practice their disaster response as well.
Be Informed
In Connecticut, residents can sign up for the CT Alert Emergency Notification System. It uses the state’s Enhanced 9-1-1 database for location-based notifications to the public. Visit the CT Alert website to learn more.
About Somers Fire Department
Established in 1937, the Somers Fire Department (SFD) proudly protects more than 10,000 people living in the 28.5 square mile area that makes up the Town of Somers, Connecticut. The Department’s mission is to develop, organize, and manage effective Fire and Emergency Medical Services that minimize the impact of emergencies on life and property within the Town of Somers. In addition, the Department provides mutual aid support to those surrounding communities that, in time of need, may request assistance.
As a combination department, SFD relies on both paid staff and volunteers, all of whom are professionally trained, selfless, dedicated, and work together to provide round-the-clock response services – firefighting as well as four levels of emergency medical care – to the Town of Somers. The SFD can always use more help and is currently accepting volunteer membership applications.
The SFD operates out of a single firehouse, stationed at 400 Main Street, and has 10 pieces of apparatus, including three ambulances, two tankers, two pumpers, and three service vehicles. Anyone interested in learning more about the SFD should call (860) 749-7626, stop by the firehouse at 400 Main Street, or follow the SFD on Facebook and Instagram.
Prepare for Back-to-School Driving: Somers Fire Department Offers Tips for Sharing the Road with School Buses, Bicyclists, and Pedestrians
August 30, 2023
As summer draws to a close, schools will once again be in session; the first day of school in Somers is Thursday, August 31, 2023. To keep children safe, the Somers Fire Department is reminding residents about sharing the road with school buses, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
“When school is back in session, there’s a lot more happening around us as we leave our homes and travel through our neighborhoods and the community on our way to and from work,” says Somers Fire Department Chief John Roache. “Drivers need to be extra alert for school buses, as well as children waiting at bus stops and biking or walking to school.”
Somers Fire Department shares the following reminders regarding school buses:
- When driving behind a school bus, leave more room than when driving behind another vehicle to allow more time to stop when the bus’s yellow lights begin flashing.
- It is illegal to pass a school bus stopped to let off or pick up children.
- Never pass a bus from behind.
- Stop far enough away from a school bus to allow children enough space to safety get on and off the bus.
- Stay alert – keep an eye on children around school buses as they may not behave in a safe manner.
In addition, many children ride their bicycles or walk to school. Remember:
When stopping at a red light, do not block a crosswalk.
- Always yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk or intersection.
- Be alert in school zones and watch for crossing guards.
- Do not impatiently honk or rev the engine.
- Keep an eye out for children on foot or bicycle who may come out of driveways or from behind parked cars.
- Watch bicyclists carefully – they may not always signal or look before turning.
About Somers Fire Department
Established in 1937, the Somers Fire Department (SFD) proudly protects more than 10,000 people living in the 28.5 square mile area that makes up the Town of Somers, Connecticut. The Department’s mission is to develop, organize, and manage effective Fire and Emergency Medical Services that minimize the impact of emergencies on life and property within the Town of Somers. In addition, the Department provides mutual aid support to those surrounding communities that, in time of need, may request assistance.
As a combination department, SFD relies on both paid staff and volunteers, all of whom are professionally trained, selfless, dedicated, and work together to provide round-the-clock response services – firefighting as well as four levels of emergency medical care – to the Town of Somers. The SFD can always use more help and is currently accepting volunteer membership applications.
The SFD operates out of a single firehouse, stationed at 400 Main Street, and has 10 pieces of apparatus, including three ambulances, two tankers, two pumpers, and three service vehicles. Anyone interested in learning more about the SFD should call (860) 749-7626, stop by the firehouse at 400 Main Street, or follow the SFD Facebook and Instagram.