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Town of Watertown
      Fire District
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                                                          Fire Response 
 

  • If there is a fire, get outside quickly and stay outside. Then call 9-1-1.

  • If you can’t get outside call 9-1-1. Let the fire department know you can’t get outside. Wave a light-colored cloth or a flashlight near the window, but don’t open the window.

  • If there is smoke, use your second way out. If you must escape through smoke, get low and go under the smoke.

Have an Escape plan

  • Plan your home escape; including two ways out of each room. Share the escape plan with everyone in the family and guests.

  • The plan should include two ways out of every room and an outside family meeting place.

  • Share the escape plan with everyone in the family and guests.

  • Practice your fire drill.

  • Make sure children, older adults, and people with disabilities have assistance.

  • Make sure your home has bright lighting in stairways to prevent falls.

  • Remove clutter to prevent trips and falls to allow for a quick escape.

  • Install handrails along the full length of both sides of the stairs.

  • If you live in an apartment, know the location of all available exit stairs on your floor in case the nearest one is blocked by fire or smoke and use the stairs to get out, never use the elevator unless directed by the fire department.

Smoke Detectors Save Lives

  • Make sure your home has working smoke alarms.

  • Place a smoke alarm on every level including inside each sleeping room and outside each separate sleeping area. Interconnect the alarms so when one sounds, they all sound.

  • Install smoke alarms and alert devices to assist family members who are deaf or hard of hearing.

  • Alert devices, such as strobe lights, flash when the smoke alarm sounds. Pillow or bed shakers may be useful to wake a person who is sleeping. The shakers are triggered by the sound of the smoke alarm and shake people awake to warn them of a fire.

  • Test your alarms at least once a month. Press each test button to make sure it is working.

  • Review the Consumer Product Safety Commission, www.cpsc.gov, website for information on recalled smoke alarms.

Carbon Monoxide – The Invisible Killer
  • Carbon Monoxide (CO) is the “invisible” killer. Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas. Every year more than 100 people in the United States die from unintentional exposure to carbon monoxide associated with consumer products. What is carbon monoxide? Carbon monoxide is produced by burning fuel.  Therefore, any fuel-burning appliance in your home is a potential CO source.  When cooking or heating appliances are kept in good working order, they produce little CO.  Improperly operating appliances can produce fatal CO concentrations in your home.  Running a car or generator in an attached garage can cause fatal CO poisoning in the home. So can running a generator or burning charcoal in the basement, crawlspace, or living area of the home. 
Safe Battery Management
  • Observe all guidelines for battery maintenance. Utilize only the specific power cord provided with your electronics. Avoid resting charging items on furniture or soft surfaces. Cease use if you detect strange smells, discoloration, excessive warmth, or clicking. If batteries ignite, evacuate all occupants immediately and contact 9-1-1 for emergency assistance.
Battery Safety Information Guide
Download CO Brochure
 The National Fire Protection Association recommends a multi-purpose extinguisher that is large enough to put out a small fire, yet it's light enough to handle with ease. Use a fire extinguisher when the fire is confined to a small area, such as a garbage can and it isn't growing. To use, remember the word "PASS." Pull the pin, aim low, squeeze the lever slowly and sweep the nozzle from side to side. And you should have a fire extinguisher in your kitchen, along with one on each floor including in the basement and in the garage and/or workshop.

Safety and Fire Prevention

 Safety Tips

Safe Cooking Practices
Heating Unit Upkeep
  • Stay in the kitchen while cooking is active. Store oils away from heat sources to prevent combustion. Maintain a lid and soda nearby to extinguish grease flames; never use water. Keep flammable fabrics away from burners. Ensure all stoves and ovens are fully powered down before you leave the area to maintain a safe kitchen environment for everyone.
  • Remove lint from dryers every cycle and scrub vents biannually. Arrange professional chimney sweeps every autumn. Store combustible liquids like paints and fuels far from any furnace or heat discharge to ensure your home remains safe during cold months.
Lighting and Candles
Holiday Safety Protocols
  • Keep open flames twelve inches from flammable materials. Extinguish candles before leaving rooms. Prevent objects from touching hot bulbs. Keep storage items clear of light fixtures and ensure shades are securely fitted to avoid overheating. Small adjustments prevent major accidents.
  • Store ignition tools away from children. Hydrate real trees daily to prevent drying. Inspect electrical cords for damage or wiring issues. Disconnect all festive lighting before going to bed or leaving the house to reduce the risk of structural fire hazards.
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