Harvard Fire Chief Bob Mignard offers home safety tips.
The barbeque and outdoor grilling season is upon us and with it the dangers of having an open fire in close proximity to dwellings. According to Kelvin J. Cochran, United States fire administrator, “Grills, hibachis, and barbecues on residential properties continue to be a high fire risk. It is crucial that households be mindful of fire safety when using these pieces of equipment, especially as the summer season approaches.”
The United States Fire Administration recently released a report entitled “Grill Fires on Residential Properties.” According to the report, an estimated 5,700 grill-related fires on residential properties occur annually in the United States, resulting in an estimated average of 10 deaths, 100 injuries, and $37 million in property loss. More than half (57 percent) of grill fires on residential properties occur in the four months of May, June, July, and August, and almost half (49 percent) of these fires occur between the hours of 5 to 8 p.m. In addition, 32 percent of grill fires on residential properties start on patios, terraces, screened-in porches, or courtyards, while an additional 24 percent start on exterior balconies and unenclosed porches. Finally, propane is the power source in 69 percent of all grill fires on residential properties.
The report is available online at: http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/downloads/pdf/tfrs/vi1.pdf.
The Fire Chief reminds residents and businesses in Harvard that each address must have a house number visible from the street. Ice storms, winter snow, wind, and rain take their toll on these simple items. The time spent by an EMT, a police officer, or firefighter looking for a number, or taking their best guess as to whether or not they are at the correct address, is time that could be spent on addressing the problem at hand. To help safety personnel help you, make sure your house or place of business in Harvard is properly marked with a number.
Chapter 53 of the Code of the Town of Harvard spells out the requirements for numbering. It can be found in the town bylaws, which are online at www.harvard.ma.us/Pages/HarvardMA_Clerk/bylaws and are available from the town clerk.
For more information and guidance, contact Chief Mignard by e-mail at rmignard@harvard.ma.us or by cell phone at 978-302-8077.