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4 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, October 2,1985 Section Two 4. HIGH HEAT STAGE, FIRE STAGES Figure 1 3. FLAME STAGE 2. SMOKE STAGE 1. INCIPIENT STAGE Time in minutes or seconds. Time in minutes, hours or days guidelines Smoke kills people Smoke causes the majority of fire-related deaths. Hot flames are low on the list of killers during a fire. Smoke contains deadly killer gases such as carbon monoxide and, when smoke is produced, life-sustaining oxygen is consumed. Most fire victims die from these factors, frequently before they awaken. In many fires, extinguished extinguished in early stages, people have been found dead of smoke inhalation without haying suffered any skin burns. A smouldering fire may go undetected for hours, especially when people are asleep. Such a fire will continue continue developing, giving off smoke and gases which may not be visible but which consume oxygen and replace it with toxic gases. In addition to the deadly killer carbon monoxide, smoke carries poisons such as hydrogen cyanide plus irritants such as formaldehyde and acetic acid. Added to this deadly environment are the toxic substances that come from burning synthetic materials commonly found in the home, especially plastics. Oxides of nitrogen, sulphur dioxide, and ammonia are just a few examples. These killer agents can take effect before a sleeper is dUsturbed. An early warning system -- a smoke alarm--is considered one of the most effective effective defences against this situation. Progression of a residential fire Understanding the sequence of events in a residential fire makes it easier to appreciate how smoke alarms can provide a time margin that can save your life. Most fires progress through four distinct stages--first the incipient stage, next the smoke stage, next the flame stage, and finally the high-heat stage as shown in figure 1. Smoke alarms can alert the occupants in these early stages of a fire while conditions are such that a safe evacuation is still possible. How do smoke detectors work? Smoke detectors work by sensing the rising smoke from a fire and sounding an alarm. They can detect smoke far from the origin of the fire. Smoke detectors are most valuable at night, alerting family members to the presence of fire when they are asleep. There are at present two types of smoke detectors on the market--the photo-electric smoke detector and the ionization chamber smoke detector. The IONIZATION DETECTOR contains a radioactive source in a smoke chamber that emits radiation, resulting resulting in a weak flow of electric current. When particles such as those produced by fire entér the smoke chamber, chamber, they reduce the current and trigger the alarm. Figure 2 illustrates this type of detector. Figure 2 oescu"»no«i tin PMOTMUCTIIIC 1*0*1 »t »■* PHOTO-ELECTRIC SMOKE ALARM ItCMT KATTiewG '»« FM01CHUCI*-C 1*0*1 *14** -T/ v i t 1 '• if->c )' 1 : 1 i- *yr y *•*** ,! à y asc; -<jr ■-""V ty> i£y k lT.>S£ Figure 3 r ^> Cl • .V.V* v e V The PHOTO-ELECTRIC DETECTOR contains a chamber with either overlapping or porous covers which prevent the entrance of outside sources of light but which allow the entry of smoke. The unit contains a light source and a special photosensitive cell in the darkened chamber. The cell and light are positioned within the alarm in one of the two manners indicated in Figure 3 so that either the light beam is interrupted by the smoke as in the obscuration type or the beam is deflected into the cell as in the light scattering type. Smoke Alarms are now being marketed that provide dual detection. These units contain both an ionization detection chamber and a photo-electric detection chamber and operate on the same principle as either a single photo-electric or a single ionization alarm. Dual detection smoke alarms offer the advantages of both types in a single unit. Which detector is better, the ionization chamber smoke detector or the photo-electric smoke detector? Both types of detectors are equally effective in the home. If properly installed, they can provide adequate warning for the family. Some differences exist between the two when they operate close to the origin of the fire. Ionization detectors will respond more quickly to flaming fires. Photo-electriq detectors will generally respond faster to smoldering fires. These differences, however, are not critical. The detector you buy should be listed by a recognized recognized testing laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC), Underwriters Laboratories (UL). How are smoke detectors powered and Installed? Detectors are powered two ways--by batteries or by household electric current. Battery-operated detectors are the easiest to install. They require no outlets or connections to household wiring. However, the batteries batteries must be replaced approximately once a year to keep the detector operating property. The cost of replacement replacement batteries is $2 and upwards. All ULC (Underwriters Laboratories of Canada) listed battery-operated smoke detectors are required to sound a trouble signal when the battery needs to be replaced. This "chirp" signal usually lasts seven days. If you are away from home for an extended period of time, it is advisable when you return to check your detector, according according to manufacturer's instructions, to make sure the battery has not lost power. Smoke detectors that operate on household current can be powered two ways. The detector, equipped with a 240-270 cm (8-9 ft.) electrical cord, can be plugged into an existing wall outlet. A detector powered this way should not be operated with an on-off switch, as it may be accidentally turned off. It can also be wired permanently permanently into your home's electrical system. Will a fire disable a detector that is wired directly to the household electrical power? A fire in the home electrical circuit that would interrupt power to a smoke detector is a remote possibility. If an appliance, such as a TV set in the living-room, starts the fire, a smoke detector located outside the bedroom area should sound an alarm before the fire reaches the electrical wiring. This is particularly true if the TV set and smoke detector are on different circuits. Are more alarms desirable? The location of the basic smoke alarm in the vicinity of sleeping areas does not provide sufficient protection for the occupants from a fire starting in their bedroom with the door closed. It may be desirable, therefore, particularly particularly if you smoke, to have additional alarms within each bedroom itself, and in other areas such as basements, basements, family rooms, etc. Research Indicates that substantial Increases In warning time can be obtained with each, properly installed, additional alarm. A closed door can delay the movement of smoke, preventing it from reaching a smoke alarm, and fire confined in a large room often develops great intensity before it breaks out of the room. The basement is one area that can be large, remote from the alarm, and isolated by some type of closure at the top of the stairs such as a door. Basements also account for a significant number of fires. For these reasons, it is recommended that the smoke alarm be placed at the head of the stairs from the basement. A smoke alarm is also recommended at the head of each stairway leading to an occupied area. This location may also serve the purpose of protecting a sleeping area in a two-storey house if the room layout is suitable. Whether or not you choose to add the additional units, at least install a basic smoke alarm. Maintenance Smoke alarms should be cleaned periodically (usually (usually once every six months) as recommended by the manufacturers. This can usually be done by opening the cover and gently vacuuming out the interior of the alarm. The cover can usually be wiped clean with a damp doth. The operation of the smoke alarm should be checked by activating the alarm with smoke at the intervals recommended recommended by the manufacturer to ensure that the detedor is funtiioning. If the smoke alarm is battery operated, replace the battery when it's low (don't just remove it). With no battery a smoke alarm is powerless to save your life. False nuisance alarms Indicate a poor location. Don't disconnect or cover up the detector while cooking -- move It to a better location (you may forget to plug In or uncover the detector and lose your life). Facts • Careless use of smoking materials is the greatest single cause of deaths by fire. • Over 60 per cent of fire deaths occur at home. • Over 40 per cent of accidental fire vitiims are asleep at the time of fire. Most people die from SMOKE and toxic gases rather than fire itself. MOST FIRE DEATHS CAN BE PREVENTED. Protect your family from fire 1. PURCHASE one or rnore smoke deletiors. 2. INSTALL your detectors properly. 3. IDENTIFY escape routes and PRACTISE ESCAPING 4. MAINTAIN yourdetetiors. Contact your local fire department for any special asped of fire protedion. Fire Prevention Canada (Fiprecan) Assoc. 1590-7 Liverpool Court, Ottawa, Ontario K1B4L2 ©SD-1 Meet Our Firefighters Station 1 - Bowmanville GRACE PLAYER Grace is a member of the Answering Service team of the Bowmanville Fire Dept. She has been with the department for nine years. Presented by 42 King Toby's Clothing (ina St. t. Bowmanville Meet Our Firefighters Station 1 - Bowmanville DON FORSEY Don has been a volunteer firefighter in Bowmanville for one year. He is employed at Gus Brown Motors in Whitby. Presented by Abernethy's Paint and Wallpaper 55 King St. W. Bowmanville Telephone 623-5431 McGregor I.D.A. Drugs 5 King St. W. 623-5792 Bowmanville Meet Our Firefighters Station 1 - Bowmanville Meet Our Firefighters Station 1 - Bowmanville DOUG TAYLOR Doug, who is self-employed, has been a firefighter in Bowmanville for 10 years. Presented by Bev's Floral Creations 162 King St. E. Bowmanville Telephone 623-3377 Meet Our Firefighters Station 1 - Bowmanville GRAYDON BROWN Graydon has been a full-time member of the department for 14 years and a part-time firefighter for 16 years. Presented by Tim's Rent-All Ltd. 102 King St. W. 623-4321 Bowmanville IRWIN COLWELL Irwin has been a volunteer firefighter, for eight years. He is an employee of A & P Food Stores in Bowmanville. Presented by Lange's Photo Lab Inc. 50 King St. W. 623-2568 Bowmanville Meet Our Firefighters Station 1 - Bowmanville RON SHACKELTON Ron has been a Bowmanville volunteer firefighter for one year. He is an employee of the Bowmanville Ambulance Service. Presented by Meet Our Firefighters Station 1 - Bowmanville LLOYD FORSEY Lloyd is one of the four captains, having been a volunteer firefighter for 22 years. He is a retired employee of Goodyear. Presented by McGregor Hardware 95 King St. W. 623-2542 Bowmanville Meet Our Firefighters Station 1 - Bowmanville BILL LYLE Bill is one of the four captains and has been a full-time firefighter for 10 years. Prior to that he was part-time for 29 years. Presented by Allouise Fashions Inc. 49 King St. W. 623-5854 Bowmanville