Central County Fire Department is committed to educating the public in simple ways to stay safe. We offer a variety of programs to educate our communities.  Review the safety tips below for more information on how you can be fire-smart.  Fire Safety information is also available in other languages.

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Winter Fire Safety Tips 

CCFD encourages everyone to think about good fire safety practices to keep you and your loved ones safe and sound. 

Fireplace and Home Fire Safety 

More than one-third of Americans use fireplaces, wood stoves, and other fuel-fired appliances as primary heat sources in their homes. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the fire risks when heating with wood and solid fuels. 

Heating fires account for 36% of residential home fires in rural areas yearly. Often these fires are due to creosote buildup in chimneys and stovepipes. All home heating systems require regular maintenance to function safely and efficiently. 

The United States Fire Administration (USFA) encourages you to practice the following fire safety steps to keep those home fires safely burning. Remember, fire safety is your responsibility …Fire Stops With You! 

 

Keep Fireplaces and Wood Stoves Clean 

  • Have your chimney or wood stove inspected and cleaned annually by a  certified chimney specialist. 
  • Clear the area around the hearth of debris, decorations, and flammable materials. 
  • Always use a metal mesh screen with fireplaces. Leave glass doors open while burning a fire. 
  • Install stovepipe thermometers to help monitor flue temperatures. 
  • Keep air inlets on wood stoves open, and never restrict air supply to fireplaces, otherwise, you may cause creosote buildup that could lead to a chimney fire. 
  • Use fire-resistant materials on walls around wood stoves. 

 

Safely Burn Fuels 

  • Never use flammable liquids to start a fire. 
  • Use only seasoned hardwood. Soft, moist wood accelerates creosote buildup. 
  • Build small fires that burn completely and produce less smoke. 
  • Never burn cardboard boxes, trash or debris in your fireplace or wood stove
  • When building a fire, place logs at the rear of the fireplace on an adequate supporting grate. 
  • Never leave a fire in the fireplace unattended. Extinguish the fire before going to bed or leaving the house. 
  • Soak hot ashes in water and place them in a metal container outside your home. 
  • Protect the Outside of Your Home 
  • Stack firewood outdoors at least 30 feet away from your home. 
  • Keep the roof clear of leaves, pine needles and other debris. 
  • Cover the chimney with a mesh screen spark arrester. 
  • Remove branches hanging above the chimney, flues or vents.  
  • Protect the Inside of Your Home 
  • Install smoke alarms on every level of your home. Test them monthly and change the batteries at least once a year. Consider installing the new long life smoke alarms.  Remember to call us when you need help checking your detector in those high ceilings. 
  • Provide proper venting systems for all heating equipment. 
  • Extend all vent pipes at least three feet above the roof. 

For more seasonal safety tips, visit: https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/outreach/  

Source: USFA 

 

 


Monthly Fire Safety Newsletter:

 

 

 

 

March 2024

 


CCFD TV

Fire is Everyone’s Fight

Fire Won’t Wait, Plan Your Escape!

Firefighters Say:
Close Before You Doze!

Fire is everyone’s fight! Practice fire-safe cooking and install and maintain smoke alarms.

Did you know?

  • Three out of five home fire deaths result from fires in properties without working smoke alarms
  • More than one-third (38 percent) of home fire deaths result from fires in which no smoke alarms are present.
  • The risk of dying in a home fire is cut in half in homes with working smoke alarms.

Source: nfpa.org

 

Your ability to get out of a home during a fire depends on early warning from smoke alarms and advance planning. Do *you* have a fire escape plan?

Big thanks to Engine 32-B: Captain Bunnell, Firefighter/Paramedic Eversole, and Firefighter Houser for this fun and informative video.

For more information, visit fpw.org.

 

 

 

 

 

Close Before You Doze – See the dramatic difference a door can make.

Because of synthetic materials, furniture, and construction, fire spreads faster than ever before. Closing doors helps stop the spread of fire.

‘Close Before You Doze’ focuses on straightforward actions and simple behavioral changes which can provide critical help in delaying the spread of fire. This doesn’t require major effort or going out and buying anything.’ -Stephen Kerber Director, UL FSRI

Closing your bedroom door while you sleep could save your life. Please watch this informative video on how quickly smoke and fire can spread.

To learn more about the Close Before You Doze program, please visit the Underwriters Laboratories’ website at https://closeyourdoor.org/.

 


Living With Sprinklers Information Sheet

Click to download

 


Fire Safety Planning

make a fire escape planknow two ways out of every room

have a clear path to your exitsmake sure doors and windows aren't blocked by furniture

choose an outside meeting place where firefighters can see yousmoke is poisonous

get out and stay out when your smoke alarm sounds

 

 


 

Fire Extinguisher Training

Central County Fire Department provides complimentary fire extinguisher training to any business or school within Burlingame or Hillsborough or Millbrae. Requests shall be made at least 2 weeks in advance and will only be approved under specific conditions. Please contact us at 650-558-7600 for more information.

Request CCFD for an Event (Public Education) (Please select appropriate event type on the form)


Fire Safety Tip Sheets

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Smoke Alarms

Preparing for the Heating Season

Fire Escape Plan Tips

Cooking Safety Tips

Garage Fire Safety Tips

Fire Safety Tip Sheets – Foreign Language

Cooking Safety – Chinese

Electrical Safety – Chinese

Escape Planning – Chinese

Smoke Alarms – Chinese

Alarmas de Humo

Incendios por la Electricidad

Incendios de la Cocina

Simulacro de Incendio

Safety Tips for Older Adults and Special Needs Population

Safety Tips for People with Disabilities

Senior Fire Safety Tips

Senior Fall Prevention