Sunday, November 5, 2017, marks the end of Daylight Saving Time — a twice-a-year occurrence that we, where we forward an hour in the spring and back an hour in the fall. To remember, think “springing forward” and “falling back.” The change on Nov. 5 this year will occur at 2 a.m.
Benjamin Franklin proposed the notion of making better use of the day’s light while visiting in Paris in 1784 to “encourage the economy of using sunshine instead of candles”. Therefore, the concept of saving daylight is actually rooted in candle wax, not electricity. It’s a myth that the concept was to benefit farmers as they were some of the most outspoken opponents of the law in the U.S., believing that it would disrupt their farming practices.
Today, it is also a good reminder to change batteries in life saving smoke detectors.

The fire extinguishers can become clogged or require excessive force to discharge and can fail to activate during a fire emergency. In addition, the nozzle can detach with enough force to pose an impact hazard.
Kidde toll-free at 855-271-0773 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET Saturday and Sunday, or online at www.kidde.com and click on “Product Safety Recall” for more information.

Recall date – November 2, 2017, Recall number 18-022

Development and Practice of emergency escape plans are vital to all homes

• Draw a map of your home with all members of your household, marking two exits from each room and a path to the outside from each exit.
• Practice your home fire drill twice a year. Conduct one at night and one during the day with everyone in your home, and practice using different ways out.
• Teach children how to escape on their own in case you can’t help them.
• Make sure the number of your home is clearly marked and easy for the fire company to find.
• Close doors behind you as you leave – this may slow the spread of smoke, heat, and fire.
• Once you get outside, stay outside. Never go back inside a burning building

Members of the Oldwick Fire Company conduct a fire extinguisher drill in front of the fire house. Water, dry chemical, carbon dioxide and dry powder [metal] types were used. Fire extinguishers are carried on all apparatus and are often used to extinguish small fires.

On November 10, 2016 Kiddee issued a recall notice for NightHawk combination smoke-carbonmonoxide alarms. The alarm can fail to continue to chirp when it reaches its seven year end of life if the batteries are replaced, leading consumers to believe it is still working. This poses a risk to consumers being alerted to a fire or CO incident in their home.
It is recommended that the units be replaced. Kidde can be contated at 855.239.0490 for additional information.

On Thursday, October 8, 2016, members of the Oldwick Fire Company and Pottersville Fire Company conduct fire awareness at the Tewksbury Elementary School as part of fire education week activities. Members Tyler Priece and Matt Conner don turn out gear including SCBA so students can become familiar with the gear. Former chief Jeff Hayes staffs the pumpkin station.

High snow accumulation and drifting was found to block furnace vents on Farley Road. On January 24, 2016, the Oldwick Fire Company responded to a high Carbon Monoxide alarm. Elevated levels were found within the home.

The cause was found to be blockage of the home high efficiency furnace. The vent exited the home on the exterior side wall rather than historically through a roof chimney.  As a general rule, these vents should be cleared of snow within a three foot radius.

Smoke alarms that are properly installed and maintained play a vital role in reducing fire deaths and injuries.

Smoke alarms save lives. If there is a fire in your home, smoke spreads fast and you need smoke alarms to give you time to get out. Having a working smoke alarm cuts the chances of dying in a reported fire in half. Almost two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

• Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of your home.
• Test your smoke alarms every month.
• When a smoke alarm sounds, get outside and stay outside.
• Replace all smoke alarms in your home every 10 years