Category: Fire Protection

Putting Out Your Bonfires Safely

Putting Out Your Bonfires Safely As the weather continues to get warmer and warmer, bonfire season will soon be upon us. Sure, there’s nothing like gathering around a bonfire with friends and family bundled up on a cool summer night while enjoying the outdoors, but if proper safety precautions aren’t taken, that once seemingly peaceful and innocent bonfire could turn dangerous.

By not extinguishing a bonfire properly, you can not only potentially injure yourself or others, but also the fire could potentially spread creating a larger fire or a wildfire.

In fact, 2 million acres were burned and destroyed in 2015 from 58,916 wildfires all caused by humans, according to the Smokey Bear Wildfire Prevention campaign.

Don’t be another statistic. Avoid having to think of the what-if’s altogether by familiarizing yourself with proper safety guidelines for putting out bonfires.

How to Put Out a Bonfire

Here are a few easy-to-follow tips to keep in mind the next time you have a bonfire:

  • Always be mindful of your personal safety when handling the bonfire. Be careful not to touch anything hot and use proper precautions not to get burned while putting the fire out.
  • Until the hissing stops, drench the fire with as much water, dirt or sand is needed.
  • Inspect the ash and bonfire site for any leftover sticks or logs. Stir everything together to make sure all embers have been extinguished.
  • Give yourself a half an hour buffer between when you put out the fire and when you plan on leaving, allowing for time to make sure the fire is actually out. It’s best to follow one simple rule in terms of knowing when it’s OK to leave: “If it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave,” according to a wildfire prevention campaign.

For more fire safety tips, visit Davis-Ulmer Fire Protection Systems.

Davis-Ulmer is your full-service fire protection contractor serving New York and surrounding states in the Northeast region of the United States.

Importance of Owning a Fire Extinguisher

The large majority of people do not have fire extinguishers in their home regardless of the fact that house fires happen on a daily basis.

However, owning a fire extinguisher can save your life and your property from an accidental house fire.

Although a fire extinguisher might not be able to put a house fire out but it can at least control the flames enough to give you time to get out. Household fire extinguishers are typically classified as an A, B, C, or a combination of the three letters. They are labeled to indicate what type of fire they are meant to put out such as ordinary combustibles, flammable liquids, or electrical.

However, many fire extinguishers are a combination and will put out multiple kinds of fires.

The size of a fire extinguisher matters. A bigger fire extinguisher is going to be capable of putting out a larger fire. However, large fire extinguishers can be heavy, making them difficult for many people to lift and use. If you are going to purchase a fire extinguisher for your home, it’s important to have one that you’re able to maneuver.

A 5-pound fire extinguisher works well in a kitchen where you’ll likely notice the fire immediately. However, a 10-pound extinguisher is best for a garage or workshop where the fire might become large before becoming noticeable.

The National Fire Protection Association does suggest having a fire extinguisher on every floor of your home.

Many people don’t have a fire extinguisher because they aren’t sure how to operate one, therefore, they can’t justify owning it. However, fire extinguishers come equipped with detailed instructions no how to operate them. You can also typically find instructional videos online or you can give your local fire department a call with questions you might have.

If you want to ensure that you’re protecting your family against a house fire, contact Davis Ulmer to get a residential sprinkler system installed. We are your local fire protection company that can help you get the fire protection you need for your peace of mind.  We work with customers in the Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and surrounding areas.  Contact us today for more info.

Staying Safe with Space Heaters

During the winter months, we are all desperate to stay as warm and cozy as we can. In order to stay warm in winter months, you might need something more than your standard home heating system. Many people use a variety of heating units in winter months, including space heaters. Space heaters are a convenient heating unit that provides plenty of warmth in small spaces.

Most space heaters run on electricity while others are fuel-fired. Regardless of the type of space heater, the large majority of them can get extremely hot. You should always have your space he heater on a flat surface, primarily on the ground, and far from anything that could catch fire easily.

Unfortunately, fires happen frequently during winter months and many of them are due to the improper use of space heaters.  There are several different ways to safely utilize the convenient heat from a space heater:

Keep the Little Ones Clear

First and foremost, keep children away from the space heater. You should be teaching young children about the dangers of space heaters as soon as they are old enough to understand. Educating children on fire safety is very important.

Set Up is Important

Make sure that you keep your space heater at least three feet away from flammable materials such as curtains, bedding, toilet paper, towels, and other flammable items.

Let It Be Alone

You should not plug a space heater into an outlet where other electrical appliances are plugged in. Too many appliances plugged into one outlet result in overheating which can also result in electrical fires.

Turn It Off

You should never leave a space heater running while you are asleep or while you are not home. It is important that you focus on turning it off whenever necessary or purchase one with one safety features such as an automatic shut-off option.

If you want to protect your residential or commercial space from fires, contact Davis-Ulmer Fire Protection Systems. We are your full-service fire protection company serving New York and surrounding states.

Making Your Rental Property Fire Safe

As a landlord, you have a lot of responsibilities that you need to keep in mind at all times.

One of the most important ones is doing everything within your power to ensure that your rental properties are as “fireproof” as possible. There’s no guarantee that a fire won’t ever affect one of your properties due to an accident but you can do your best to prevent them and to make sure that they are extinguished quickly in the event that they do take place.

About once every year, you should inspect your properties and do a fire risk assessment to gauge any potential risks that could result in fires.

You should make sure the electrical systems are up to code, check to see that fire extinguishers are functional and present within the properties, and take a look at the types of furniture that are being used in your rental homes and/or apartments. Furniture made out of fire resistant materials is always your best bet.

Ensure smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are in working order.

Additionally, you should make sure smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are installed and in working order within your rental properties. If a fire ever takes place, these detectors could help save lives and reduce the damage that is done to your properties.

You should also consider installing sprinkler systems inside of the properties that will kick on if a fire ever starts

Just make sure you have routine maintenance done on these systems so that you know they are ready to turn on at the first sign of danger.

It can be hard to keep an eye on a large number of rental properties at one time in an effort to prevent fires.

Davis Ulmer can help give you the peace of mind that comes along with knowing you have done everything you can do to reduce the risk of fires in your properties.

Request a quote from us today and find out more about how we can help make your properties safer. We are the full-service fire protection company that works with properties all over the Northeast region of the United States.

How To Teach Children Fire Safety

It is vital that you teach your children about fire safety at home. Your children should understand what to do in the event of a fire and how to protect themselves against a fire.

Establish an Escape Route

In the event of a house fire, your family should have an established escape plan that you all understand. Your children should know how to get out of each room in your home and how to do so safely. You should establish a meeting point outside, far enough away from the house, so your children know where to meet you once they get outside.

Functioning Windows

You should make sure that your windows can be easily opened by your child and that the screen can be removed easily. You should help your children practice opening and closing the windows in case they had to it by themselves in the event of a fire. Bedroom windows never should be sealed shut or incapable of opening. Many fires happen overnight and they may need that window to get out.

Understand Smoke Detectors

Your children should understand where your smoke detectors are in your home and how they work. They should be familiar with the sound the smoke detector makes so they can recognize it in the event that it is going off. As the adult, you need to ensure that batteries are regularly replaced and the detectors are tested.

Checking for Signs

You should teach your children how to check one side of a door to see if a fire could be burning on the other side. Children should understand how to feel for a fire through a door and be able to establish if there is one. You should also help children find alternative routes out of rooms if a fire is on the other side of their door, especially their bedroom.

Staying Outside

Children need to understand that they should stay out of the burning house once they are safely outside. Many children want to run back inside for pets or toys because they don’t understand the danger of the fire inside. You should make it clear to children that they should not go back inside for absolutely anything once they are outside safely.

These hints are just several points that you should be covering with your children on fire safety. For more fire news and advice, visit Davis Ulmer’s blog. Davis-Ulmer Sprinkler Company is your full-service fire protection company serving New York and surrounding states.

Practice Fireplace Safety this Winter

As cold temperatures get settled in for a long winter’s nap, many of us start to settle in by our fireplace. Many people use their fireplaces frequently in the winter months and something about a fireplace can make a home feel so cozy. However, it is important to understand how to keep your home safe while using your fireplace.

Double Check Safety Devices

If you are planning to use your fireplace this winter, be sure to test your smoke alarms beforehand. If you don’t remember the last time you replaced the batteries, you should do so now. You should be confident that all of your alarms, including a carbon monoxide alarm, are working properly. You should also have a small fire extinguisher on hand in case of emergencies.

Install Safety Screens

If you have young children, or you have young children visiting this holiday season, it is important to have a safety screen installed on your fireplace. Fire screens will keep little hands from reaching into the fire or getting too close to the actual fire itself. The materials surrounding your fireplace, such as glass or metal, can also get extremely hot and will stay hot for hours after the fire is out. Safety screens will also prevent embers from popping out of the fire and into a room, which is especially good if you might leave the room unattended.

Keep Area Clear

If you have a fireplace, you should make sure that the area surrounding your fireplace is cleared out. Many people are guilty of putting gifts around the fireplace to serve as a decoration. Other people often put their Christmas tree right next to their fireplace. You should never put a single thing in close proximity to your fireplace while it’s functioning. You should keep all things, from books, to decorations, to curtains, a safe distance away from your fireplace. Many common household items are flammable and the temperature of the fire itself could cause them to react.

If you are going to use your fireplace this winter, you should do whatever you can in order to make it operate as safely as possible. If you are looking to fireproof your home this winter, let Davis Ulmer assist you. We are your local fire protection company that can assist you in getting the fire protection you need for peace of mind this winter season.  We work with customers in the Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and surrounding areas.  Contact us today for more info.

Brush Up on Cooking Fire Safety Before Thanksgiving

avoid cooking fires on Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is just a week away, and since cooking is the number one cause of home fires and injuries, it is important to take a few moments to think about fire safety this holiday season. With a wide array of dishes to prepare and a whole bunch of family members milling about, it is important to watch your stovetop – and what you place near it – on Thanksgiving Day.

Stay in the Kitchen

Even though Thanksgiving Day is a busy time, it is important to stay in the kitchen, keeping an eye on the stove, while you are cooking. With guests to greet and a table to set, we recommend asking someone close to you to help out with the cooking. Enlist your mom or your sister to join you in the kitchen and make sure that one of you remains in the room at all times when the stove is on. This way, you will be able to play hostess and prevent any kitchen mishaps from getting out of hand.

Keep Flammable Materials Out of the Way

Pay close attention to what you allow near the stove, since wooden utensils, oven mitts, towels and place mats can all catch fire quickly. When you do need to use these items, do so with care and be sure to set them down a safe distance from the flames.

Make the Kitchen a “Kid-Free” Zone

Preparing dinner with kids under foot is always tough, but it is especially difficult on the holidays when there are so many extra little ones running around! Before you get started on dinner, remind everyone that the kitchen is a “kid-free” zone and set them up with plenty of toys, games and snacks in another room. This way, the chances of bumping into things is greatly decreased.

Happy Thanksgiving from Davis Ulmer, we hope you have a safe and enjoyable holiday with your loved ones!

For fire safety advice and information on home and business sprinkler systems, contact us online. We are your full-service fire protection company serving New York and surrounding states.

Little Known Facts about Fires

2738643_SAt Davis Ulmer Sprinkler Company, we strive to provide our clients with as many resources as possible when it comes to preventing and putting out fires. We believe that knowledge is power, and learning and understanding as much as possible about fire could help you better protect yourself and others in your home or business. The following are some interesting and little known facts about fire that we think you should know.

One of the most important facts to understand about fire is that it is not a thing. Rather, it is an event. Fire is the result of volatile vapors combusting with oxygen which results in gas that heats up the fuel, which in turn releases even more of the vapors that started the fire in the first place. Because of this, the event of fire is a cycle that most often that needs to be stopped, because otherwise it will continue to grow.

HOUSE FIRES DOUBLE IN SIZE EVERY MINUTE

Speaking of which, did you know that the average size of a house fire doubles every minute? This means that even the smallest of fires can quickly consume an entire property in less than an hour. This is why it’s so important to act quickly and get to safety when a fire starts.

Finally, the color of a fire is directly related to how much oxygen is fueling the flames. For example, a fire with a low amount of oxygen will typically be yellow, while one that is high-oxygen is closer to blue.

There is so much more to learn about fire, and we’re here to provide you with as much information as possible. Stay tuned for more facts, news, and updates related to fire and fire safety!

Davis-Ulmer Sprinkler Company is your local fire protection contractor based out of New York.  We design, install, and service fire protection equipment for a variety of industries.  We have been in the fire protection business for over 70 years and would love to show you what we can offer to you for fire protection.  Contact us today to find out more!

Unexpected Fire Hazards

bannerIf you’re a property owner, you’re likely aware of the major appliances in your home that are potential fire hazards. However, there are typically dozens of items in every property that can just as easily start a fire that most people never even think about. We strive to give you the tools and knowledge you need to keep your home or business as safe as possible, which is why we’re here to run down some of the most unexpected fire hazards that you may have in your property.

Most people keep printer paper, newspapers, or some other type of paper in their building, but this isn’t always a safe thing to do. For example, if you keep a pile of old newspapers in your bathroom near a heating vent they could potentially catch fire if they get too hot. Paper is highly flammable, so it should be stored in a place that is both cool and dry.

LAPTOP COMPUTERS CAN BE A FIRE HAZARD

Something else to watch out for is your computers, and specifically your laptops. Most laptops, especially older models, overheat if left on for too long. This is especially true if the cooling vents inside are blocked. So, if you set your laptop on your bed and go to do something else for a while, make sure the device is shut off. Most laptops will automatically shut off if they become too hot, but this isn’t always the case.

Besides paper and everyday devices like laptops, you should also be aware of things like dust and dryer lint. While something as innocuous as dust may never seem dangerous, it can be depending on where it gathers. If you have large piles of dust covering a heating source, there is a chance is could catch on fire and even cause the source to overheat.

These are just a few of the many unexpected fire hazards that you may find in your property. For more fire safety tips, keep checking back with our blog!

Davis-Ulmer Sprinkler Company is your local fire protection expert protecting the Northeast region of the United States.  We have been designing, installing, and servicing fire protection equipment for the residential industry for over 70 years.  We will help you learn more about how fire protection equipment can help save you and your loved ones in the event of a fire along with your residence.  Contact us for more information.

Choosing Fire Suppression Systems, Fire Alarms, and Sprinkler Systems

Dependable Fire Prevention and Protection

A benefit to owning a business is the wide array of choices to work with; you ensure that each aspect of your establishment is customized to send the right message to visitors. Through all of decision-making, you’ll find that a few things are not simply black or white; there’s a lot of gray area to fill. This is especially true when lives or company assets are in your hands. With three helpful tips below, you can be meticulous when planning your fire prevention and recovery efforts.

According to the NFPA, unexpected fires are down significantly from the early 90’s, but still very common. Last year, 1,137,500 fires broke out across the United States, with a cumulative total reaching almost $13 million in damages.

The Fire Extinguisher vs. The Fire Suppression System

Many people inquire if they need both, a fire extinguisher and a suppression system, in place (and vice versa). The answer? Yes. Of course, it’s always best to have both, but if you ARE deciding between the two, then think about it like this: who will use the extinguisher when the office is vacant? You need a strong, high quality sprinkler or suppression system to system that works 24/7 to protect your building.

Is the Prevention System Inspection Current?

Another crucial factor is the amount of time since anyone’s touched your sprinkler system. Like all technology, your system needs attention and updating every so often. If you can’t remember  or don’t know when your current system was installed, it’s important to make sure it’s up to the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) standards; don’t wait until the life you’ve just built burns down in front of you.

Who will Install the Fire Prevention System?

Finally, doing a little bit of research is worth the time. Instead of hiring an “expert” friend, or a mutual acquaintance, consider the risks of hiring individuals over companies. Always look into whom you plan to work with, for example, Davis-Ulmer has an esteemed reputation throughout the Buffalo, New York community.

Davis-Ulmer Sprinkler Company has installed fire sprinkler systems in the New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Connecticut area since 1946.  We are your local full-service fire protection company that will help you design, install, and maintain a fire protection system that will give you the protection you want and need.  Our NICET certified technicians will work with you every step of the way to ensure that your system will give you the maximum fire protection possible.  Contact us today for more information.