Welcome to the City of Sandusky, Ohio Web Site


www City of Sandusky

CITY DEPARTMENTS

HELPFUL LINKS

Online Calendar
General Information
Street Map (pdf)
Drug Tip Hotline - 419.627.5980
East Sandusky Bay Water Trail
Send Us Your Comments

CONTACT CITY HALL

THE CITY OF SANDUSKY

222 Meigs Street
Sandusky, OH 44870
419.627.5844 (Phone)
419.627.5825 (Fax)

The City Building is open from 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday.

FIRE DEPARTMENT

Fire Safety

FIRE SAFETY TIPS AND HELPFUL INFORMATION

Rudy Ruiz, Fire Inspector

419.627.5823

Fire Safety Tips

Fire Extinguishers

Smoke Alarm Application- Free smoke alarm program for homeowners

over the age of 62 years and/or persons with disabilities

What Is Carbon Monoxide?

Smoke Detectors Save Lives

fire pull small

The SFD Fire Prevention Bureau's goal is to provide prevention programs, fire safety education and fire safety inspections for local business owners within the City of Sandusky. We also provide plan review for new construction and fire/arson investigations.

Open burning [Disclaimer] is regulated by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency [Disclaimer] and prohibited without obtaining a permit from both the EPA and the City of Sandusky's Fire Department.

The United States Fire Administration [Disclaimer] believes that fire deaths can be reduced by teaching people basic facts about fire. Below are some simple facts that explain the particular characteristics of fire.

FIRE IS FAST!

There is very little time.

In less than 30 seconds, a small flame can get completely out of control and turn into a major fire. It only takes minutes for thick black smoke to fill a house and become engulfed in flames. Most fires occur in the home when people are asleep. If you wake up to a fire, you won't have time to grab valuables because fire spreads too quickly and the smoke is too thick. There is only time to escape.

FIRE IS HOT!

Heat is more threatening than flames.

A fire's heat alone can kill. Room temperatures in a fire can be 100 degrees at floor level and rise to 600 degrees at eye level. Inhaling this super hot air will scorch your lungs. This heat can melt clothes to your skin. In five minutes, a room can get so hot that everything in it ignites at once; this is called flashover.

FIRE IS DARK!

Fire isn't bright,
it's very dark.

Fire starts bright, but quickly produces black smoke and complete darkness. If you wake up to a fire, you may be blinded, disoriented and unable to find your way around the home you've lived in for years.

FIRE IS DEADLY!

Smoke & toxic gasses kill more than flames do.

Fire uses up the oxygen you need and produces smoke and poisonous gasses that kill. Breathing even small amounts of smoke and toxic gasses can make you drowsy, disoriented and short of breath. The odorless, colorless fumes can lull you into a deep sleep before the flames reach your door. You may not wake up in time to escape.

Fire Safety Tips

In the event of a fire, remember time is the biggest enemy and every second counts! Escape first, then, call for help.

Develop a home fire escape plan and designate a meeting place outside. Make sure everyone in the family knows two ways to escape from every room. Practice feeling your way out with your eyes closed.

Never stand up in a fire, always crawl low under the smoke and try to keep your mouth covered. Never return to a burning building for any reason; it may cost you your life.

Finally, having a working smoke alarm dramatically increases your chances of surviving a fire. And remember to practice a home escape plan frequently with your family.

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

fire extinguisher

Instructions for Use -
Instructions are on the extinguisher.
1. Pull the pin.
2. Stand 6' to 8' away from the fire.
3. Aim/point extinguisher at the base of the fire.
4. Squeeze lever & sweep side-to-side until flames are out.

Should You Fight the Fire?
Pull the fire alarm, make sure everyone is leaving the building.
Make sure the fire department has been notified.
Make sure the fire is confined to a small area and not spreading.
Make sure you have an unobstructed escape route.

Extinguisher Types
Class A - ordinary combustibles (anything that will leave an ash)
Class B - Flammable liquids (gas, oil, grease, tar, oil-based paint)
Class C - Energized electrical equipment (wiring, fuse boxes, circuits)
class D - Combustible Metals

Extinguisher Sizes
1A - 40A
Fire Extinguisher with a 2A rating will protect 3,000 square feet.

Extinguisher Locations
Best if kept in high traffic locations.
Always keep in plain sight (not under drapes, in closets, etc.).
Place extinguisher in wall brackets no more than five feet off the floor.
Place near exits and in all hazard areas.

What is Carbon Monoxide?

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless deadly gas. Because you can't see it, taste or smell it, carbon monoxide can kill you before you know it's there.

Who is at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning?

Everyone is at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning. Medical experts believe, however, that individuals with greater oxygen requirements such as unborn babies, infants, children, senior citizens and people with coronary or respiratory problems are at greater risk.

What makes carbon monoxide so dangerous?

The great danger of carbon monoxide is its attraction to hemoglobin in the bloodstream. When inhaled, carbon monoxide bonds with hemoglobin in the blood, displacing the oxygen which cells need to function. When CO is present in the air, it rapidly accumulates in the blood, forming a toxic compound known as carboxyhemoglobin (COHb).

Carboxyhemoglobin causes symptoms similar to the flu, such as headaches, fatigue, nausea, dizzy spells, confusion and irritability. As levels of COHb increase, vomiting, loss of consciousness and eventually brain damage or death can result.*

Where does carbon monoxide come from?

Carbon monoxide is a by-product of incomplete combustion, present whenever fuel is burned. It is produced by common home appliances such as gas or oil furnaces, clothes dryers, ranges, ovens, water heaters or unvented space heaters, fireplaces, charcoal grills and wood burning stoves.

Fumes from automobiles also contain carbon monoxide and can enter a home through walls or doorways if a car is left running in an attached garage.

All of these sources can contribute to a CO problem in the home. If a home is vented properly and is free from appliance malfunctions, air pressure fluctuations or airway, venting or chimney blockages, carbon monoxide will most likely be safely vented to the outside.

Energy efficient insulation, meant to keep warm air in during winter months and cool air in during summer months, could also cause carbon monoxide to be trapped inside. Furnace heat exchangers can crack; vents and chimneys can become blocked, disconnected or corroded. Inadequate air supply for combustion appliances can cause conditions known as "downdrafting" or "reverse stacking", which force CO contaminated air back into the home.

How can I guard my family from carbon monoxide poisoning?

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) [Disclaimer] recommends installing at least one carbon monoxide detector with an audible alarm near the sleeping area. A detector on every level and in every bedroom provides extra protection. Remember, a carbon monoxide detector is a purchase that could help save your life.

Select an Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. [Disclaimer] listed detector. For an extra margin of safety, chose a self-powered, extra sensitive unit that responds to lower levels of carbon monoxide and protects even during a power outage.

In addition to installing carbon monoxide detectors, have a qualified professional check all fuel burning appliances, furnaces, venting and chimney systems at least once a year or as recommended by the manufacturer.

What do I do if my Carbon Monoxide detector alarms?

Get everyone, including yourself, out of the house! If anyone is feeling ill, acting strange or unconscious, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Call your local gas company [Disclaimer] or fire department and tell them you have a carbon monoxide detector alarm.

*Source: Journal of American Medical Association.

Smoke Detectors Save Lives

Two-thirds of all fires involving fatalities happen in homes between the hours of 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. Three-fifths of America's home fire fatalities occur in homes without smoke detectors.

A smoke detector can't save your life if it's not working. Dead, missing or disconnected batteries are the principle cause of non-working detectors. Test your smoke detectors once each month and replace any battery too weak to sound the alarm. Heed the warning, when the detector chirps, the battery is low. Replace batteries once per year on the same date (your birthday).

Dealing with False Alarms
Do not disconnect the detector - RELOCATE IT!
If false alarms persist, replace the detector.
Nothing lasts forever. After 10 years, replace it.

Installing Smoke Detectors
There are basically two types:

Ionization, and the most common, Photoelectric. Any approved type will work fine.

How many do I need?
Outside each sleeping area and on each level, including the basement.
For hearing impaired individuals, you can obtain detectors with flashing lights.

How do I install my detectors?
Read the directions that come with the detector.

Where do I install my detectors?
Wall mounted units should be installed with the top 4 to 12 inches from the ceiling. Ceiling mounted units at least 4 inches from the nearest wall
Do not mount near registers, doors, windows or ceiling fans.