Public Education/Safety

Safeguarding people and property safe from dangers in the built environment is an ongoing endeavor. As a result of this, it's imperative that individuals possess the core skills and information needed to reduce hazards and enhance safety.

Find out which NFPA standards and codes are applied locally. A free interactive tool called CodeFinder® gives you the most recent information on the codes and standards that are in use both domestically and internationally.

Resources:

• Calculating Occupant Load Fact Sheet(PDF, 400KB)
• Construction Safety Fact Sheet(PDF, 1MB)
• Warehouse Safety Fact Sheet(PDF, 916KB)

The Salinas Fire Department adopts codes and standards from the International Code Council (ICC) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The organizations are committed to promoting electrical safety in areas where people work and reside.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) publishes NFPA 70®, the National Electrical Code® (NEC®), which serves as the global standard for electrical safety in residential, commercial, and industrial settings.

Where is the National Electrical Code® in effect?

•  On July 1, 2023, twenty-seven states will have implemented the 2020 NEC, twelve states will have implemented the 2017 NEC, one state will have implemented the 2014 NEC, and two states will have implemented the 2008 NEC.

Safety with E-Bikes and E-Scooters

In recent years, e-bikes and e-scooters—also known as electric bicycles and scooters—are becoming more prevalent than ever. These electronic devices provide users with an affordable and greener mode of transportation. However, many users are unaware that there have also been instances of explosions caused by e-bike and e-scooter batteries catching fire.

A fascinating article written by the NFPA Journal and video highlighted below explain the current state of affairs.

Resources for you: 

• Electrical Safety in the Workplace(PDF, 1MB)
• Grounding and Bonding(PDF, 4MB)  
• Lithium Ion Battery Safety(PDF, 1005KB)  
• Natural Disaster Electrical Equipment Checklist(PDF, 138KB)  

Smoke Alarms 

Did you know? 

• Homes without smoke alarms or with malfunctioning smoke alarms account for about three out of every five fire deaths. Alarms for smoke save lives. Appropriately fitted and maintained smoke alarms are essential in lowering fire-related fatalities and injuries. Working smoke alarms provide you an early warning so you can escape the fire before it develops too quickly.

Resources: 

• Fire Safety with Shapes (Kids) 
• Learn the Sounds of Safety Tip Sheet(PDF, 4MB)  
• Smoke and CO Alarms(PDF, 276KB)   
• Smoke Alarms at Home Tip Sheet (English)(PDF, 496KB)  

Particularly around the holidays, the kitchen is considered by most to be the center of the house. Everyone takes pleasure in helping with the preparations, whether it's testing out family recipes or decorating cakes and sweets.

During this happy yet busy time of year, it's crucial to remember fire safety in the kitchen, particularly when there are plenty of people and activity going on. Remember that you can enjoy time with your loved ones and protect yourself and your family from fire by adhering to a few basic safety precautions when you start planning your holiday itinerary and setting up that big family feast. 

Top Holiday Safety Tips

• Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking on the stove top so you can keep an eye on the food.
• Stay in the home when cooking your turkey, and check on it frequently.
• Keep children away from the stove. The stove will be hot and kids should stay three feet away.
• Make sure kids stay away from hot food and liquids. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy or coffee could cause serious burns.
• Keep knives out of the reach of children.
• Be sure electric cords from an electric knife, coffee maker, plate warmer or mixer are not dangling off the counter within easy reach of a child.
• Keep matches and utility lighters out of the reach of children — up high in a locked cabinet.
• Never leave children alone in room with a lit candle.
• Keep the floor clear so you don’t trip over kids, toys, pocketbooks or bags.
• Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button. 

Thanksgiving fire facts

• Unattended cooking was by far the leading contributing factor in cooking fires and fire deaths.
•  Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires with more than three times the daily average for such incidents. Christmas Day and Christmas Eve ranked second and third, with both having nearly twice the daily average. 
•  Cooking causes half (52%) of all reported home fires and nearly two of every five (36%) home fire injuries, and it is a leading cause of home fire deaths (17%). 
•  On Thanksgiving day alone, an estimated 1,610 home cooking fires were reported to U.S fire departments in 2022, reflecting a 399 percent increase over the daily average.

Source: NFPA Research Division

The use of turkey fryers

Turkey fryers that use cooking oil are not safe. These fryers use large amounts of oil at high temperatures, which can cause devastating burns. If you want a fried turkey for your Thanksgiving meal, purchase it from a grocery store, restaurant or buy a fryer that does not use oil.

Resources for you: 

• Cooking Safety(PDF, 619KB)
• Thanksgiving Safety(PDF, 1MB)
• Christmas Tree Safety(PDF, 774KB)  

The holiday season is known for its joyous festivities, flickering lights, and winter greens, but it also carries a risk of fire, which may rapidly transform this joyous time of year into an unthinkable one. In order to help everyone enjoy the holidays safely, the Salinas Fire Prevention Division follows National Fire Protection Association lead and provides videos, tip sheets, and other materials to raise public awareness of potential fire hazards.

Winter Holiday Fire Facts

• U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 835 home structure fires per year that began with decorations, excluding Christmas trees. These fires caused an annual average of 3 civilian fire deaths, 30 civilian fire injuries and $14 million in direct property damage.
• Electrical distribution or lighting equipment was involved in more than two in five (41%) home Christmas tree fires.
• Nearly one of every five (20%) Christmas tree fires were started by lamps or bulbs. Eleven percent were started by candles.
• Roughly two of every five (40%) home Christmas tree fires started in the living room.
• Candle fires peak in December and January with 11 percent of candle fires in each of these months.
• Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve.
• Year round, one-third (32%) of home decoration fires were started by candles. This jumped to almost half in December when candles started 46% of such fires. Cooking started one-fifth (20%) of decoration fires.

Source: NFPA's Applied Research 

Christmas Tree and Ornamental Fire

You can make the holidays safer for you and your family by taking the time to decorate your house with care. Fire departments in the United States responded to an average of 155 home fires that began with Christmas trees annually between 2018 and 2022. An estimated 835 residential structure fires that started with decorations—not including Christmas trees—are responded to by US fire departments. 

Source: National Fire Protection Association

Disposal of Christmas trees

Christmas trees becoming increasingly combustible as they dry out. In January, 36 percent of Christmas tree fires occurred. Christmas tree fires are uncommon, but they may spread quickly.

For Families 

Fire Safety Minute 

Fire burns quickly. When the smoke alarm goes off, you and your family might not have more than two minutes to safely evacuate.

The early warning system provided by smoke alarms and preparation ahead of time determine your chances of escaping a burning house. Everyone should design and rehearse a home fire escape. To ensure that everyone is aware of what to do in the event of a smoke alarm, preparation is required in advance. Every home is unique, thus the fire escape strategy for each will be unique as well. Make sure everyone in the house has a plan. It may require support for elderly, disabled, and children to wake up and leave. Ensure that they will receive assistance.

National Fire Protection Association - Presents Sparky School House

Sparky.org provides a safe yet interactive platform for children to learn about fire safety! 

As we grow older, our bodies change. Poor eyesight, loss of hearing, arthritis, dementia and side effects from medicine can make it more difficult to react to a fire. We need to consider these changes and how they may affect our abilities.

 In comparison to the population at large, starting at age 65, people are twice as likely to be killed or injured by fires. For that reason this section and presentation is designed to help you learn more about fire safety!

Smoke Alarms

• Every year in America nearly 2,000 people die in home fires. Many of these people die in homes that do not have working smoke alarms. Smoke alarms warn you and your family when there is a fire.
• Smoke is a deadly mix of particles and gas that is made when materials are on fire. Smoke alarms warn you there is a fire before you see, hear or smell it.
• Smoke alarms give you extra time to escape.
• If anyone in your home is deaf, install a smoke alarm that uses a flashing light or or vibration to let you know there is a fire. You can also buy a pillow or bed shaker that will turn on when the smoke alarm sounds.

Fire Safety in the Kitchen

• Cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires. Many older adults also experience burn-related injuries during cooking. Prevent fires and burns by being watchful and alert when you cook.
• Check the kitchen after you finish cooking. Make sure the oven, burners and other appliances are off.

Heat your Home Safely 

• When it is cold outside, we heat our homes to stay healthy and warm; but heating equipment can also cause fires if not used correctly.
• Keep children, pets and things that can burn at least 3 feet away from radiators, space heaters, fireplaces, wood stoves and furnaces. 
• If you use  a fire place. Put ashes in a metal container with a tight fitting lid. Place the container outside on concrete or gravel at least 3 feet from your home.

Practice Electrical Safety 

• Older homes are more likely to catch fire from electrical causes than newer homes. Older wiring may not have the capacity to safely handle newer appliances and equipment and may not have updated safety features.

Candle Safety

• Candles are pretty to look at, but remember that a candle is an open flame and can easily start a fire.
• Consider using battery-operated flameless candles. They look, smell and feel like real candles but won’t cause a fire.

Plan your Escape 

• Planning what to do in case of fire can make the difference between life and death. Practice how to get to your outside meeting place quickly. In a fire, you may have only seconds to escape safely after you hear a smoke alarm. 
• Know and practice two ways out of every room in your home.
• Make sure all doors and windows that lead outside open easily.

What to do when there is a fire? 

• If a fire starts, stay calm and get out. Once out, call 911 or the fire department from a cellphone or a neighbor’s telephone. Have an outside meeting place at a safe distance in front of your house where first responders can see you.

Fire Safety for Older Adults PowerPoint(PPTX, 15MB)