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Seasonal Safety Tips
OPEN BURNING
* Be sure to follow appropriate rules and regulations. For
Indiana's open burning law, click here.
* Reminder an Open Burning Permit is required from the Fire
Department Headquarters for any open burning.
* For all open fires, be sure to have a fire extinguisher and/or a
garden hose within reach.
* Never let children play near the fire.
* Never leave a fire unattended. All embers should be
extinguished.
SUMMER SAFETY
* Swim with a buddy. Adults should never leave children
unattended near water.
* Dive only in areas clearly marked for diving. Avoid diving
in shallow pools, lakes and ponds.
* Make sure your car has had recent routine maintenance items
taken care of before heading out on a road trip. This
includes oil changes, tire pressure & rotation, coolant levels, etc.
* Always wear seatbelts and use car seats for infants and
children.
* NEVER LEAVE CHILDREN OR PETS ALONE IN
CARS ON HOT DAYS!! Even with the windows down,
temperatures
climb quickly.
* Thirst is a late sign of dehydration. Drink clear fluids,
or sports drinks, frequently on hot days.
* Wear helmets, elbow pads, knee pads and wrist protection when
biking, skateboarding or rollerblading.
* When bike riding, know the rules! Ride with traffic and
not against! Know the proper hand signals for turning and
stopping! Wear light or bright colored clothing so you are easily
seen! Never ride at night! Watch for vehicles turning
in front of you!
* Adults need to know all the rules when operating a boat or other
watercraft. Always wear a PFD (personal flotation
device) when on the water!
CHRISTMAS TREES IN PUBLIC BUILDINGS:
RULES THAT APPLY
TO THE USE OF CHRISTMAS TREES INSIDE PUBLIC BUILDINGS:
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Natural cut trees, where allowed by
this section, shall have the trunk bottoms cut off at least 0.5 inch
(12.7 mm) above the original cut and shall be placed in a support
device complying with Indiana Fire Code (IFC) Section 806.1.2.
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Natural cut trees shall be
prohibited in (Churches, Gyms, Restaurants, Taverns, Libraries,
Schools, Daycares, Nursing Homes, Assisting Living Centers,
Hospitals, Hotels, Apartments, Retail Stores, Mercantile Store and
etc) Group A, E, I-1, I-2, I-3, I-4, M, R-1, R-2 and R-4
occupancies. IFC 806.1
Exceptions:
1. Trees located in
areas protected by an approved automatic sprinkler system installed in
accordance with IFC Section
903.3.1.1 or
903.3.1.2 shall not be prohibited in Groups A, E, M, R-1 and R-2.
2. Trees shall be
allowed within dwelling units in Group R-2 occupancies.
The support device that holds the tree in an upright position shall be
of a type that is stable and that meets all of the following
conditions:
1. The device shall hold
the tree securely and be of adequate size to avoid tipping over of the
tree.
2. The device shall be
capable of containing a minimum two-day supply of water.
3. The water level, when full, shall
cover the tree stem at least 2 inches (51 mm). The water level shall be
maintained above
the fresh cut and
checked at least once daily.
The tree shall be removed from the building whenever the needles or
leaves fall off readily when a tree branch is shaken or
if needles are brittle and
break when bent between the thumb and index finger. The tree shall be
checked daily for dryness.
At least two (2) days prior to placing a
natural cut tree in a public building the fire department having
jurisdiction shall be
notified.
Artificial
decorative vegetation shall meet the flame propagation performance
criteria of NFPA 701. Meeting the flame
propagation performance
criteria of NFPA 701 shall be documented and certified by the
manufacturer in an approved
manner.
The required width of any portion of a means of egress shall not be
obstructed by decorative vegetation.
Candles and open flames shall not be used on or near decorative
vegetation. Natural cut trees shall be kept a distance from
heat vents and any open flame
or heat-producing devices at least equal to the height of the tree.
The use of unlisted electrical wiring and lighting on natural cut trees
and artificial decorative vegetation shall be prohibited. The
use of electrical wiring and
lighting on artificial trees constructed entirely of metal shall be
prohibited.
Extension cords and flexible cords shall not be a substitute for
permanent wiring. Extension cords and flexible cords shall not
be affixed to structures,
extended through walls, ceilings or floors, or under doors or floor
coverings, nor shall such cords
be subject to environmental damage
or physical impact. Extension cords shall be used only with portable
appliances.
IFC 605.5
Extension cords shall be plugged directly into an approved receptacle,
power tap or multiplug adapter and, except for
approved multiplug extension cords,
shall serve only one portable appliance. IFC 605.5.1
The ampacity of the extension
cords shall not be less than the rated capacity of the portable
appliance supplied by the
cord. IFC 605.5.2
Extension cords shall be maintained in good condition without splices,
deterioration or damage. IFC 605.5.3
Extension cords shall be grounded when serving grounded portable
appliances. IFC 605.5.4
Portable, electric space heaters shall not be plugged into extension
cords. IFC 605.10.3
Portable, electric space heaters shall not be operated within 3 feet
(914 mm) of any combustible materials. Portable, electric
space heaters shall be operated only in
locations for which they are listed. IFC 605.10.4
Natural or "real" Christmas trees are allowed in private dwellings or in
the interior of individual apartments however fire officials
offer those same fire safety
recommendations as related to preventing your tree from drying out, the
approved electrical cord
use, lighting of the tree, use
of open flame devices nearby, portable heaters nearby and keeping your
paths of egress
unobstructed. These issues
become even more important in your home, where you sleep and you live
with your loved ones.
And as always, make sure your
smoke detector is in good working condition before installing your new
Christmas tree.
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