Carol Baldwin
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Wakaw Recorder
The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency and volunteer firefighters from the Cudworth Hall of the Wakaw-Hoodoo-Cudworth Fire Department, stopped by the Cudworth Wapiti Library on July 25 for a Fire Safety Presentation. The young people shared their knowledge and learned more about Fire Safety in the home.
They discussed what an emergency is and is not, what to do if a fire occurs in their home and the importance of having a plan. They also discussed smoke alarms and learned they should be on every level of their home and in each bedroom.
In an emergency every minute counts. Schools regularly practice fire drills so students will know what to do in case of a fire. It is not something most families do, but the SPSA recommends having fire drills at home, so everyone knows what to do, where to go, and how to ensure everyone is safe. Having a plan and practicing it is especially important when children live in the home. Children may become scared and need clear directions and help to get out of the house. They may not know how to escape or what to do unless an adult shows them. In the plan, discuss and decide, who will help each child get out safely.
Creating a home fire escape plan is a simple yet important safety measure. Identify two ways out of every room in your home, in case one exit is blocked or dangerous to use. A second way out can include an escape ladder for rooms on an upper level or a window in the basement. Have everyone practice getting low and moving to the exits if they encounter smoke. Choose a safe meeting place a safe distance from your home. Have a home fire drill at least twice a year. Children should know what to do if they hear a smoke alarm and no adult is around. Help them practice going to the outside meeting place.
· Teach children to NEVER go back inside a burning building. Once they are out, stay out!
· Teach children to get low and crawl along the floor, where the air is less smoky.
· Show a child how to use the back of their hand to check doors for heat before opening and to use a different way out if the door is hot.
· If a child needs to use an escape ladder, show them where it is kept and practice using it.
· Test your smoke alarms with your kids so they know the sound.
Fire safety plans should include more than just how to get out of the house. For approximately 60 percent of Canadians, pets are part of the family. In fire emergencies, pets can get lost in the chaos. They may hide or try to escape due to fear. The fire plan should include assigning each family member a role, including who will get the pets, and including pet essentials like food, medicine and comfort items in the household fire safety kit.
Place pet rescue alert stickers near the front door indicating the number and type of pets to alert firefighters during rescue operations. If pets are crated while owners are out, the crates, leashes and carriers should be near an easily accessible entrance. As well pets should have collars with up-to-date identification. Microchipping pets can also increase the chances of being reunited if they escape and are lost during an emergency.
With the increased extreme weather events such as droughts, severe thunderstorms, and prolonged intense heat events, fire plans should also account for external fires. High temperatures cause more evaporation, meaning that the environment becomes drier, creating fuel for wildfires. Therefore, extended periods of hot, dry weather cause more severe wildfires. As temperatures continue rising due to climate change, so does the threat of larger, more frequent wildfires. The images of wildfires in British Columbia and Alberta are etched in people’s memories, and with the fire in Jasper National Park fresh on their minds, many people believe that forested areas are most at risk of wildfires, but grassfires can occur anywhere and spread rapidly, travelling up to 22 kph. The fine texture of grass causes it to burn more quickly than brush and trees. Although grassfires are usually less intense and produce fewer embers than bushfires, they still generate significant amounts of radiant heat. The speed at which a grassfire can travel allows it to reach areas with denser fuel surprisingly quickly, especially if it is moving uphill. According to a 2017 article on forbes.com, “The Terrifying Physics of How Wildfires Spread So Fast,” an extra ten degrees of slope will double the speed of a fire.
The taller and drier the grass, the more intensely it will burn and all it takes is one spark to ignite a dry piece of grass. The shorter the grass, the lower the flame height and the easier a fire will be to control. Living in a grassland area with dried-out brown or golden-coloured grass over 10 cm high is a fire risk. By reducing the grass and other fine fuels around buildings and other assets, people can create a defendable space to limit the ability of a moving grassfire to ignite a building through direct contact or radiant heat.
Most structures do not ignite from direct contact with the flames from wildfires, but rather from embers carried on the wind. The same is true of structure fires. The ‘defence zone’ is the first one and a half metres outside a building’s perimeter walls. Involve family members, including children, in clearing away vegetation. Swap flower beds for non-combustible hardscape using flagstone or concrete. Move what burns such as yard trimmings, firewood, propane tanks and other flammables, away from the house or deck, including underneath the deck. Check the deck and replace any rotten or cracked boards. When children are involved proactively, they are less likely to be afraid, and instead feel like they can be active participants in fire safety.
Life skills are valuable lessons children will use throughout their lifetime and fire safety is an increasingly important life skill.
