Install Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Did you know that a functioning smoke detector cuts your risk of dying in a fire in half, and that a carbon monoxide detector is often your only warning that this deadly poison is present? Smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors are inexpensive devices that save lives, and are mandatory under Vermont state law. Smoke and CO alarms should be installed in a central location outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement.

...and maintain them!

Do you already have smoke and CO detectors in your home? Great! But studies have found that 30% of installed detectors don't actually work. Check the batteries in your alarms each month by pressing the "test" button. Most alarms, especially CO alarms, stop working over time-- in some cases as little as two or three years. Check the back of your alarm for an expiration date to see if it ought to be replaced every time you change the battery. The NFPA suggests replacing smoke detectors every ten years, whether it has an expiration date or not, so if you have no idea how old the detector is, it is probably time to replace it.

Dispose of Fireplace Ashes Properly

Fireplace and wood stove ashes can remain hot for up to four days and often deceptively appear "out," leading to tragic fires when placed alongside combustibles. Always shovel ashes into a metal container with a tight-fitting lid. Place the container on the ground away from your house and allow them to cool for at least four days. Once the ashes have cooled, they can be spread in a garden or flower bed away from the house, taking care not to spread them on dry leaves. Never put ashes in a cardboard box, plastic bag or any other container that can melt or burn, and never store ashes on or near to structures or combustible materials, like your garage, deck or wood pile. Never attempt to vacuum up ashes.

Inspect Your Chimney and Venting Before Heating Season

Once a year it is important to inspect the venting of your wood or pellet stove. Check the chimney and any vent piping for cracks, obstructions, or other damage. Clean out your ash pan and be on the lookout for bits of masonry or ceramic in the debris you remove, as this can indicate internal damage to the chimney. Finally, it is important to check regularly for creosete buildup. Any buildup should be removed prior to burning, as it can combust. If you're not sure how to inspect or clean your chimney, a licensed chimney sweep can help. This oft-overlooked maintenece can prevent a chimney fire, a very dangerous situation that we unfortunately see most every winter in Pawlet.

Heating with oil or gas? It is still important to remove soot accumulation, to inspect vent piping for cracks and gaps that can release dangerous gasses, and to inspect the chimeny for damage and obstructions. Animals and insects making a home in your chimney in the summer can have dangerous consequences once the heating applicance is turned back on in the autumn.

Make Sure Your House Number is Visible from the Road

People often think of house numbers as decorative flourishes or something for the postal service, but in fact house numbers are one of the most important safety features of your home. In an emergency, it's your house numbers that guide first responders to your residence. This can be a problem in Pawlet, where houses can be far from the road and where many people pick up their mail at the post office.

The next time you drive up to your house, take a moment to make sure you have house numbers posted so that they are visible from the road. If your house is set away from the road, put house numbers on a mailbox, gate or fence post where first reponders can see them. If you are installing new house numbers, always use Arabic numerals (1,2,3 and so on) that can be read at a glance in the dark-- never use Roman numerals or write out the number of your house in words.

Have a Pond? Consider Installing a Dry Hydrant

A dry hydrant is a non-pressurized pipe system installed beside a body of water. It allows the fire department to draft water quickly and easily, year round. If you have a pond of another body of water on your property, adding a dry hydrant can make all the difference in the event of a fire, saving firefighters precious minutes, and in turn saving property and even lives. It can also lower your insurance premiums, and enhances the fire safety of your neighbors as well. A dry hydrant on your land is good for your safety, good for your wallet, and good for your community. In Pawlet, dry hydrants are the only emergency water supply infrastructure we have.

If you have a pond or other body of water that you think may be a good candidate for a dry hydrant, contact us. The fire department can help you determine if your site is suitable and may be able to help with labor involved in the installation. In certain cases grant funding may be available to help cover the costs of installing a dry hydrant.

Seek a permit for controlled burns and bonfires

Controlled burns and other large intentionally-lit outdoor fires are a common reason why the Pawlet Fire Department is dispatched. Even on your own land, law requires you to seek a burn permit when there is no snow on the ground for any fire involving flames larger than 18" high. This process is designed to help prevent accidental wildfires and needless emergency response-- passing motorists often mistake controlled fires for wildfires and call 911. Click here to learn more about Vermont's laws on burn permits and when they are required. Need a burn permit? Please contact Dale Decker, Pawlet's forest fire warden.