STATE FIRE MARSHAL REMINDS CITIZENS TO KEEP HALLOWEEN FIRE FREE

Posted: October 26th, 2010 3:18 PM

Oregon State Fire Marshal Randy Simpson reminds residents to keep fire safety at the forefront when participating in Halloween festivities.

"Events and activities surrounding Halloween can increase the risk of fire and injuries," says State Fire Marshal Randy Simpson. "When you combine an increase in candle use with decorations, costumes, and children, you have an increased fire risk. A safer option is to use battery-operated candles. We want to remind families to remember fire safety when decorating and participating in activities throughout the weekend."

In the five-day period surrounding Halloween (Oct. 28 through Nov. 1), over the past five years there have been 290 structure fires in Oregon resulting in 10 injuries and more than $5.5 million in property damage.

With Halloween just a few days away, the Office of State Fire Marshal offers tips to keep everyone safe:
• Only purchase costumes, wigs, and props labeled flame-resistant or flame-retardant.
• Avoid flowing costumes or those that drag; these may easily contact an open flame and catch fire.
• Keep flammable materials such as dried flowers, corn stalks, hay bales, crepe paper, and other decorations well away from open flames and heat sources including light bulbs, heaters, etc.
• Consider using flashlights or battery-operated candles when illuminating jack-o-lanterns.
• Use flashlights as alternatives to candles or torchlights when decorating walkways and yards.
• If using candles, place them out of reach of children and pets.
• Always use a sturdy metal, glass, or ceramic candleholder.
• Never leave candles burning unattended and be sure to blow them out before leaving the room or before going to sleep.
• Don't light candles with items embedded in them such as twigs, flowers, or leaves.
• Check decorative light sets for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Dispose of any damaged sets.
• Don't overload extension cords or electrical sockets.
• Be sure to have working smoke alarms on every level of your home, outside each sleeping area, and inside each bedroom.
• Fight arson by reporting suspicious activity in your area to your local law enforcement agency.

More fire safety information is available at: http://www.oregon.gov/OSP/SFM/Com_Ed_Section.shtml.
If you are planning to host a haunted house, you can find state regulations at: http://www.oregon.gov/OSP/SFM/docs/Codes/AppendixK.pdf.

ARSON AWARENESS WEEK MAY 2-8, 2010

SEATTLE— Next week is National Arson Awareness Week, and this year’s theme is Community Arson Prevention. According to FEMA Acting Regional Administrator Dennis Hunsinger, the goal of this year’s Arson Awareness Week is to focus attention on the horrific crime of arson, and provide communities with tools and strategies to combat arson in their neighborhoods, businesses, schools and places of worship.
“Arson robs communities of their most valuable assets—lives and property,” said Hunsinger. “Fighting arson effectively takes the entire community. Firefighters across the country do the very best they can, but they can’t do it alone.”
Steps that can reduce incidents of arson include:
• Contact your local fire or police department if you know or suspect an arson crime.
• Report suspicious activity near houses or other buildings. Support Neighborhood Watch programs.
• Keep leaves and flammable debris away from buildings. Don’t make it easy for an arsonist to start a fire or facilitate a fire’s spread to adjacent buildings.
• Keep matches and lighters out of reach of small children.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s 2008 Uniform Crime Reporting statistics showed that 14,011 law enforcement agencies reported 62,807 arsons. Arsons involving structures (residential, storage, public, etc.) accounted for 43.4 percent of the total number of arson offenses. Mobile property (cars, motorcycles, etc.) was involved in 28.9 percent of arsons, and other types of property (such as crops, timber, fences, etc.) accounted for 27.7 percent of reported arsons.
For more information, including a media kit for the 2010 Arson Awareness Week campaign, please visit the USFA’s Web site at www.usfa.dhs.gov.
FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

National Arson Awareness Week

National Arson Awareness Week, 3-9 May 2009
Arson For Profit
Release Date: April 27, 2009Release Number: R10-09-60
» 2009 Region X News Releases
SEATTLE, Wash. -- Next week (3-9 May 2009) is National Arson Awareness Week, and the U.S. Fire Administration has partnered up with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Fire Arms; the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud and the International Association of Arson Investigators to educate the public on arson hazards. This year’s theme will focus on Arson for Profit, and according to FEMA Acting Regional Administrator Dennis Hunsinger, arson for profit is more than insurance fraud—it can turn deadly.
"Arson fires easily spread to adjacent properties, and can injure and kill innocent neighbors and bystanders," said Hunsinger. "According to the National Fire Incident Reporting System, arson for profit accounts for 28 percent of civilian fire deaths nation-wide."
National Fire Protection Association figures (2005) estimate that the 323,900 intentional fires in their databanks resulted in 490 civilian fire deaths, 3 firefighter on duty deaths, 1,500 civilian fire injuries, 7,600 firefighter on duty injuries and caused over $1.1 billion in direct property damage. The insurance Information Institute reports that arsonists destroyed nearly $900 million in insured property, and killed 295 civilians in 2007.
"Arson for profit affects everyone, through loss of life, increased insurance premiums, and related expenses for fire and law enforcement professionals," continued Hunsinger. "We can all help reduce and prevent these serious crimes by reporting suspicious activity, and by supporting local Neighborhood Watch programs and local fire department initiatives."
Arson Awareness Week information is available from the USFA (www.usfa.fema.gov), the Coaltion Against Insurance Fraud (www.insurancefraud.org) InterFIRE (www.interfire.org) and Firehouse Magazine (www.firehouse.com). For more information contact USFA at 1-888-603-3100.
FEMA leads and supports the nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation, to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the nation from all hazards including natural disasters, acts of terrorism and man-made disasters