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Fire highlights safety needs

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Also by Alex Brousseau:

Snow clearing may improve (December 7, 2007)
Sports restaurant opening Aug. 1 (December 5, 2007)
Fire highlights safety needs (November 30, 2007)
Picking up the pieces (November 16, 2007)
City: Watch out where you park (November 14, 2007)

by Alex Brousseau

Friday, November 30, 2007

A fire Thursday afternoon caused thousands of dollars in damage to the Brighton Square apartment complex and caused three cats to be rushed to the Emergency Veterinarian Hospital.

Although damages amounted to $25,000, the Madison Fire Department reported that there were no injuries. After fire crews appeared on the scene, responding to a call from a resident at 2:21 p.m., the fire was extinguished within 14 minutes, according to an MFD release. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

With the holidays just around the corner, the MFD recently released reminders to students and residents of Madison about how to remain safe from fire and ice this holiday season.

Thanksgiving and the ensuing holiday season is the most dangerous time of year when it comes to fires, which injure 2,600 people and cause more than $930 million in damages every year during the holidays, according to a news release by the MFD.

"We see an increase, mostly because of the cooking fires," said Eric Dahl, MPD's public information officer. "Thanksgiving, for instance, is the worst day for cooking fires. Also, since it's really cold, we’ll see more calls involving heating equipment like fireplaces or old furnaces."

Officials recommend using caution when decorating trees for the holidays. If using a real tree, make sure it is fresh, and if using an artificial tree, make sure it is flame resistant, according to the MFD. The tree stand should be sturdy, hold at least a gallon of water, and always be filled. Also, keep it away from candles, fireplaces or anything that generates fire.

"We see a lot of fires caused by candles because of placing them too closely to things that will burn, like decorations," Dahl said. "If you leave the room, make sure to blow out the candles. Also, be careful with children and pets around candles, to keep them out of their reach or supervise them while the candles are lit."

Also, in regard to lights, Dahl said to check all bulbs and cords to make sure they are in full working condition, and to make sure not to overload any electrical circuits. Also, do not run chords under rugs. Dahl recommended considering switching to LED lights because they produce less heat and use less electricity.

"The best advice (for students) we can give is, know how to get out so that if there is a fire and if the alarm does go off, don't ignore it," Dahl said. "We know there are a lot of false alarms on the buildings on campus, but you can't ignore it, because you never know when it's going to be the real thing."

Along with fire safety, the MFD also warned residents about thin ice in a second news release. Officials say ice should be four to six inches thick before walking on it, and parents should be particularly careful in warning their children to stay off the ice.

Before walking on ice, one should check for thin, clear, honeycomb-shaped or dark ice, which are signs of weak spots. Also, if the shoreline is cracked or squishy, the MFD recommends staying off.

— Bridget Roby contributed to this report.

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