Fallston Fire Company

Fallston, MD

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MAKE SURE YOUR HOLIDAYS STAY HAPPY AND SAFE !

 December 16, 2022

FVFAC and the NFPA urge added caution this holiday season, as Christmas Day and Christmas Eve are among the leading days of the year for U.S. home fires.

 

Many hallmarks of the holiday season, including Christmas trees, holiday decorations, and festive meals, present potential fire hazards that contribute to an annual increase in U.S. home fires at this time of year. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Christmas Day and Christmas Eve are among the leading days of the year for home fires. Please read the tips below and follow the links for more info to help insure your families have a fire safe holiday!

“December is a leading month for home fires, in large part because many of the activities we engage in during the holiday season reflect leading causes of home fires year-round,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA vice president of Outreach and Advocacy. “Plus, as colder temperatures impact much of the country, use of heating equipment increases significantly.”

Fortunately, Carli notes, the majority of winter fires can be prevented with a little added awareness and planning.

“By knowing where potential fire hazards exist and taking some basic safety precautions to prevent them, people can enjoy a festive, fire-free holiday season,” said Carli.

The NFPA Winter Holidays page offers a wide variety of tips and resources to reduce the risk of fires, while the latest NFPA statistics underscore the increased risk of fire during the holiday season and beyond:

Christmas trees

  • An estimated average of 160 home fires involving Christmas trees caused two civilian deaths, 11  civilian injuries, and $12 million in direct property damage per year between 2016 and 2020.
  • Some type of electrical distribution or lighting equipment, including decorative lights, was involved in more than two of five (44 percent) of home Christmas tree fires. Nearly one in five Christmas tree fires (19 percent) were started by decorative lights.
  • The majority (74 percent) of Christmas tree fires occur in December and January.

Decorations

  • An estimated average of 790 home fires that began when decorations (other than Christmas trees) caught fire caused an average of one civilian death, 26 civilian injuries and $13 million in direct property damage per year between 2015 and 2019.
  • One in five home decoration fires occurred in December.
  • Year-round, 35 percent of home decoration fires began with candles; in December, the number jumped to 45 percent.
  • In more than two of every five fires (44 percent) involving decorations, the decoration was too close to a heat source such as a candle, cooking or heating equipment.

Candles

  • An estimated average of 7,400 home fires (2 percent) started by candles caused an average of 90 civilian deaths (three percent), 670 civilian injuries (6 percent), and $291 million (4 percent) in direct property damage per year between 2015 and 2019.
  • Candle fires peak in December and January with 11 percent of candle fires in each of these months.
  • In three of every five candle fires, the candle was too close to something that could catch fire.
  • Christmas is the peak day for candle fires with roughly 2.5 times the daily average; Christmas Eve ranked second.
  • Falling asleep was a factor in 10 percent of the home candle fires and 12 percent of the associated deaths.

Cooking

  • Cooking is the leading cause of reported home fires (49 percent) and home fire injuries and the second-leading cause of home fire deaths.
  • Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home cooking fires.
  • Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve.

Fires caused by heating equipment, the second-leading cause of U.S. home fires year-round, peak during the winter months, when temperatures drop and more people use heating equipment to keep their homes warm. Put a Freeze on Winter Fires, an annual NFPA campaign with the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), works to educate the public about ways to stay safe during the colder months, offering tip sheets and other resources to help reduce the risk of heating fires and other winter hazards.

9 Ways You’re a Holiday Decorating Disaster.

Christmas tree disposal
As Christmas trees dry out, they become more and more flammable. Thirty percent of Christmas tree fires were in January.  Although Christmas tree fires are not common, they can grow very fast.

Water Your Tree !

This dramatic video demonstrates what happens when fire touches a dry tree and a properly maintained, well-watered tree. Please share this video on your website and social media networks.

 

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Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Co.
4 weeks ago
Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Co.

Two months into 2023, there have been 21 fire-related deaths, with one occurring in Bel Air last month. Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal has released the TOP 5 FIRE SAFETY ESSENTIALS. Monthly testing of your smoke and CO alarms, practicing a home escape plan, and closing your bedroom door before you doze could save you and your family's life in a fire emergency.Fire Marshal Geraci reminds us that we need these TOP 5 Fire Safety Essentials to surviving a residential fire. Today house fires burn faster and hotter and are more deadly. We must all take the time and ensure that our home is fire safe.

#1.... First off we ask that you have a home escape plan that will allow you and your family members understand how to escape your residence. Knowing the two(2) ways out and coming together to ensure that everyone has escaped. NEVER go back in for any items.

#2.... We ask that you have working smoke alarms in your residence, and we request that each floor has a working alarm and that each bedroom is equipped with an alarm for early detection. YOU must test your alarm monthly and make sure that your children here the beep and understand what the alarm sounds like. As you sound the alarm, and you hear the beep move your feet to safety.

We ask that you inspect the alarm and if you find they are more that 10 years old they MUST be replaced. This includes HARDWIRED ALARMS as well. INSTALL 10 year sealed alarms. This will save your life.

#3.... Carbon Monoxide Alarms are required for your residence if you have any product that produces fossil fuels. If your residence is all electric, you will not need to install one. BUT if you have a gas fed or wood/pellet burning stove or an attached garage or carport we ask that you install the alarms.

#4.... CLOSE BEFORE YOU DOZE is a very important action that you can take when sleeping. Keeping fire at bay and out of the room you are in helps to keeping you safe. Precious moments will help save your life.

#5.... We ask that when the alarm sounds and you are leaving your residence due to fire that you close all of the doors as you leave the building. This will help control the fire and allow you to safely exit to your family's safe place. Meet as a group and report to the firefighters who are there to help if someone is not out of the building.

AND please do not go back into the fire. ONCE OUT STAY OUT....

If you need a smoke alarm, please reach out to your local fire station.
... See MoreSee Less

Two months into 2023, there have been 21 fire-related deaths, with one occurring in Bel Air last month. Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal has released the TOP 5 FIRE SAFETY ESSENTIALS. Monthly testing of your smoke and CO alarms, practicing a home escape plan, and closing your bedroom door before you doze could save you and your familys life in a fire emergency.
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Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Co.
4 weeks ago
Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Co.

Since you had a great time with your sweetheart last month at bingo, why not try your Irish luck for March. Gather your four-leaf clovers and head over to win the pot of gold at the rainbow's end. See you Sunday with your Irish luck. ... See MoreSee Less

Since you had a great time with your sweetheart last month at bingo, why not try your Irish luck for March.  Gather your four-leaf clovers and head over to win the pot of gold at the rainbows end. See you Sunday with your Irish luck.
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Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Co.
4 weeks ago
Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Co.

Fallston units are clearing the scene of reported dwelling fire. On arrival of Joppa Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company Chief Officer light smoke was found along the roof line. Upon crews investigating, it was determined that insulation had ignited during home improvement repairs. Thanks to the great work of responders the hazard was mitigated and homeowners are cleared to return to their home.

Fallston Units Operating: Chief 13 , Tanker 13 , Engine 1311 , Engine 1312

Incident Commander - Chief 8-1

The Bel Air Volunteer Fire CompanyAbingdon Fire Company - MD
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Fallston units are clearing the scene of reported dwelling fire. On arrival of Joppa Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company Chief Officer light smoke was found along the roof line. Upon crews investigating, it was determined that insulation had ignited during home improvement repairs. Thanks to the great work of responders the hazard was mitigated and homeowners are cleared to return to their home. 
Fallston Units Operating: Chief 13 , Tanker 13 , Engine 1311 , Engine 1312 
Incident Commander - Chief 8-1
The Bel Air Volunteer Fire CompanyAbingdon Fire Company - MDImage attachment
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Karen Van Valkenburg Mann Katie Mann

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Monthly Calls

2023Fire & Fire/EMSEMS
Jan52186
Feb44142
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
2023 Total96328

Fire Top Ten Responder

February 2023
Name
Calls
Deputy Chief Dan McKinney44
Sgt. Tom Pritchard33
Asst. Chief Bob Colaianni29
Angelou Karoupis,
Asst. Chief Kris Teal
23
Lt. Matt Garrity20
Will Friend,
Capt. Zach Karn
19
Matt Barlow,
Hoby Howell

18
Chief Scott Blankenship,
Sgt. Kyle Burns
16
EMS Asst. Chief Will Rosenberg15
Sgt. Alex Hilber14

EMS Top Ten Responder

February 2023
Name
Calls
EMS Asst. Chief Will Rosenberg22
Shelby Sahady17
Jenn Chenworth13
EMS Capt. Erick Mitchell12
Ryan Blosser, Darrin Ryan10
Autumn Pafel9
EMS Capt. Ed Steininger8
Chris Aycock,
Jason Cowger,
EMS Lt. Isabelle Staab
6
Lt. Matt Garrity,
Lacey Maheux
5
Cailey Etchison4

Contact Information

Fallston Fire Company
P.O. Box 141
Fallston, MD 21047

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Fax: 410.638.4889

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House 1: 410.638.4890

House 2: 410.692.7866

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