Fire

The mission of the Cache Fire Department shall be to prevent fires from starting, to prevent loss of life and property once started, to confine a fire to the place where it started, to extinguish fires and to investigate the cause of all fires. Regarding emergency medical services, the Fire Department shall provide the highest quality of emergency medical services possible, in the care of sick and / or injured in transporting same to hospital facilities.

Fire Marshal Inspections

Churches, businesses, and schools are required to have regular inspections by the Fire Marshal to ensure they are up to current fire code. The state Fire Marshal’s Office uses NFPA 101, International Building and International Fire Code, as the standards on inspections.

Regulations & Information

Do not park within 15 feet of a fire hydrant. This is to allow the fire truck and firefighters to easily access the hydrant in case of emergency.

Hydrants are flushed on a regular basis for cleaning and tested for pressure.

§ 7-30  SALE, POSSESSION OR DISCHARGE OF FIREWORKS

a.   It shall be unlawful and an offense for any person, firm or corporation to possess, sell, discharge, ignite or in any manner aid, assist or abet in the discharging or igniting of any firecrackers of any size, type or description or substances designed and intended for pyrotechnic display, or small display ground pieces, or other appliances using caps containing chlorate or potash mixture within the corporate limits of the city, except on the Fourth of July as hereafter provided.

You must obtain Firework permit through Cache City Hall.

Cooking is the leading cause of home fires in the United States with most home cooking fires and injuries the result of unattended cooking. Never leave cooking unattended. If grease catches fire, carefully slide a lid over the pan to smother the flames and turn off the burner.

Cooking Safely Prevents Fires

• Always keep an eye on food being heated. If you leave the kitchen, turn off the heat. If the phone rings or something else requires you to leave the kitchen momentarily when cooking, take a potholder or wooden spoon with you as a reminder to get back to the kitchen quickly.
• Keep young children away from appliances when cooking. Enforce a 3-foot kid-free-zone around the range and teach youngsters not to play in that area. If you allow older children to cook, supervise them closely and teach them safe cooking practices.
• Dress appropriately for cooking. Wear short or tight-fitting sleeves when cooking and use caution when working near heat sources.
• Try not to reach or lean over the stove. You can avoid this by not storing items you use directly over or behind the stovetop.
• Provide plenty of quality, fire-resistant potholders and oven mitts for the cooks in your household. Select heavy, fire-retardant oven mitts that nearly reach the elbow to protect your entire forearm from heat.
• Turn handles inward so pots and pans won’t be pulled or knocked off the stove.
• Keep the stove-top clean and clear. Store things that can catch fire; like potholders or wooden utensils, away from heat sources.
• Keep food or grease form building up by cleaning often.
• Monitor hot oil carefully and heat it slowly, keeping the pan lid close at hand. Guard against splattering grease and know what to do in case a grease fire occurs.
• Use caution with electrical appliances. Plug one appliance into an outlet at a time. Have appliances with frayed or cracked cords repaired before using. Never stand in or near water when using electrical appliances. Unplug countertop appliances when not in use.
• Always have potholders and lids ready when cooking. You may need them if you experience a small pan fire.

Home Electrical Safety

• Don’t overload extension cords or run them under rugs
• Replace any electrical cord that is cracked or frayed
• If an appliance smokes or has an unusual smell, unplug it and have it repaired by a professional
• Use the proper size fuses in your fuse box

Making & Implementing a Home Escape Plan

Each year, thousands of Americans die and tens of thousands more are injured in home fires. Children are at double the risk of dying in a home fire because they often become scared and confused during fires. People can survive even major fires in their homes if they are alerted to the fire get out quickly and stay out.

Fire Survival

Take the following steps to make sure you and your family are ready for a fire:

Develop a Plan

Once a fire has started, there is no time to plan how to get out. Sit down with your family today and make a step-by-step plan for escaping a fire. Make sure your children understand that a smoke detector signals a home fire and that they recognize its alarm.

Draw a floor plan of your home marking two ways out of every room – especially sleeping areas. Discuss the escape routes with every member of your household.

Agree on a meeting place where every member of the household will gather outside your home after escaping a fire to wait for the Fire Department. This allows you to count heads and inform the Fire Department if anyone is missing or trapped inside the burning building.

Practice your escape plan at least twice a year by having a fire drill in your home. Appoint someone to be the monitor and have everyone participate. A fire drill is not a race; get out quickly, but carefully.

Make Your Exit Drill Realistic

Pretend that some exits are blocked by fire and practice alternative escape routes. Pretend that the lights are out and that some escape routes are filling with smoke.

Be Prepared

Know What to Do

Make sure everyone in the household can unlock all doors and windows quickly, even in the dark. Windows or doors with security bars need to be equipped with quick-release devices and everyone in the household should know how to use them.

If you live in an apartment building, use stairways to escape. Some high-rise buildings may have evacuation plans that require you to stay where you are and wait for the Fire Department.

If you live in a multi-story house and you must escape from an upper story window, be sure there is a safe way to reach the ground, such as a fire-resistant fire escape ladder. Make special arrangements for children, older adults, and people with disabilities. People who have difficulty moving should have a phone in their sleeping area and, if possible, should sleep on the ground floor.

Test Doors Before Opening Them

While kneeling or crouching at the door, reach up as high as you can and with the back of your hand touch the door, the knob, and the crack between the door and its frame. If you feel any warmth at all, use another escape route. If the door feels cool, open it with caution. Put your shoulder against the door and open it slowly. Be prepared to slam it shut if there is smoke or flames on the other side.

If you are trapped, close all doors between you and the fire. Stuff the cracks around the doors to keep out smoke. Wait at a window and signal for help with a flashlight or by waving a light-colored cloth. If there is a phone in the room, call the Fire Department and report exactly where you are.

Get Out-Exit Immediately

In case of a fire, don’t stop for anything. Do not try to rescue possessions or pets. Go directly to your meeting place and then call the Fire Department from a neighbor’s phone, a portable phone, or an alarm box. Every member of your household should know how to call the Fire Department.

Crawl low under smoke. Smoke contains deadly gases, and heat rises. During a fire, cleaner air will be near the floor. If you encounter smoke when using your primary exit, use an alternative escape route. If you must exit through smoke, crawl on your hands and knees, keeping your head 12 to 24 inches (30 to 60 centimeters) above the floor.

And Stay Out

Once you are out of your home, don’t go back for any reason. If people are trapped, firefighters have the best chance of rescuing them. The heat and smoke of a fire are overpowering. Firefighters have the training, experience, and protective equipment needed to enter burning buildings.et Out

Practicing Your Drill

Now use what you’ve learned, set up your plan, including two ways out and a meeting place, and conduct a practice drill to determine if anything has been overlooked; everyone in the household needs to participate for it to be successful. It may save your life.

Heating equipment is the second leading cause of home fires in the United States. During December, January, and February it is the leading cause.

Most heating equipment fires start as a result of misuse or improper maintenance. When purchasing new heating equipment, be sure to select products that have been tested and approved by an independent testing laboratory. Install and maintain heating equipment correctly and be sure it complies with local fire building codes.

Fireplaces Safety

Have your chimney inspected by a professional prior to the start of every heating season and cleaned if necessary. Creosote, a chemical substance that forms when wood burns, builds up in chimneys and can cause a chimney fire if not properly cleaned. Always protect your home and your family by using a sturdy screen when burning fires.

Remember to burn only wood. Never burn paper or pine boughs; they can float out the chimney and ignite your roof or a neighboring home. Never use flammable liquids in a fireplace. If you are purchasing a factory-built fireplace, select one listed by a testing laboratory and have it installed according to local codes.

Portable & Other Space Heaters

Portable and space heaters can be either electric or fueled by gas, liquid fuel (kerosene), or solid fuel (wood or coal). All types must be placed at least 3 feet away from anything that can burn, such as wallpaper, bedding, clothing, pets, and people. Never leave space heaters operating when you are not in the room or when you go to sleep.

Don’t leave children or pets unattended with space heaters and be sure everyone understands that drying clothing or placing combustibles over heaters is a fire hazard. Fire retardant children’s pajamas are highly recommended. If you have an electric space heater, check each season for fraying or splitting wires and overheating. Have all problems repaired by a professional before operating the space heater.

Portable Kerosene Heater Safety

If you have a liquid fueled space heater, use only the fuel recommended by the manufacturer. Never use gasoline or any other substitute fuel because the wrong fuel could burn hotter than the equipment’s design limits and cause a fire. When refueling, always turn off the heater and let it cool down before adding fuel. Wipe up any spills promptly.

If you are considering a kerosene heater, be sure to check with your local fire department before purchasing to find out if it is legal in your community. Store the kerosene away from heat or open flame in a container approved by the local Fire Department and be sure it is clearly marked with the fuel name. Portable LP gas (propane) heaters with self-contained fuel supplies (cabinet heaters) are prohibited for home use by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) fire safety standards.

Wood/Coal Stove Safety

Be sure your wood or coal stove bears the label of a recognized testing laboratory and meets local fire codes. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for proper installation, use, and maintenance. Chimney connections and chimney flues should be inspected at the beginning of each heating season and cleaned periodically.

Follow the same safety rules for wood stoves as you would for space heaters. Burn only wood and be sure the wood stove is placed on an approved stove board to protect the floor from heat and hot embers.