Cooking Fire Forces Dozens from Apartments
A cooking fire forced dozens of people from the Willows of Springdale apartment complex after resident Kristen Shephard said she was cooking and then fell asleep. Cooking fires often happen when a person starts to cook, walks away from the stove to watch TV, take care of a child or drink too much alcohol and then falls asleep.
The U.S has about 166,000 cooking fires per year. According to the United States Fire Administration, your risk of death from fire increases significantly as you get older. As many as 1,100 Americans ages 65 and older die each year as the result of a home fire.
This fire in Cincinnati demonstrates the risks not just to the person cooking but to apartment dwellers close by as well. The message is, when you cook, stay by the stove. Read more here.
Senior Housing and Senior Centers Need the Guardian Solution
According to the Lohud Journal News, “More than 30 Carmel residents can’t return to their homes after a fire ripped through a senior citizen housing complex early Tuesday morning. No residents were injured in the fire at Hughson Commons on Gables Way, but 32 of them were displaced,” Red Cross spokeswoman Abigail Adams said.
Pick up the paper or turn on the news. About 45 house fires are reported every hour in the U.S., and 60 percent of apartment fires are started by cooking equipment. More than 12 million unintentional home cooking fires go unreported causing 640,000 injuries annually. It just takes minutes for a fire to start https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2FCgtlITUM.
Unfortunately, many fire injuries and deaths are among those over 50. As we age, poor hearing and vision, as well as health problems affecting mobility contribute to putting mature adults in the highest risk group for cooking fires. In addition to the destruction of property estimated at $7 billion per year in the U.S. alone, the National Fire Protection Association reports that 43 percent of people who have died in cooking fires were asleep at the time. It’s easy to see that the growing baby boomer populations is at higher risk because they generally fall asleep early and are more forgetful.
According to US News, between 2000 and 2010, the number of people age 65 to 84 in the U.S. grew by 3.3 million, and the 40 million senior citizens in 2012 will balloon to 89 million by 2050.
This a wakeup call to not just those who live alone or with a spouse now that the kids have grown and moved out, but also for those in the senior housing industry, and the adult children who care for elderly parents. Developers spend millions building beautiful retirement communities with many amenities that cater to people over 50, but do not consider that distraction, forgetfulness and memory loss can pose significant dangers to the residents who cook. We increase cooking safety by requiring that all new senior housing requires, at the very least, a range top suppression system in both private apartments and community kitchens.
Further, with the recession and the concurrent reduction in fire fighter staff seen in cities big and small, it would be equally smart to stop fires before they start. States should require mandatory range top suppression equipment in new buildings or remodels just like sprinklers and earthquake shut-off valves are.
In the meantime, there are some safety precautions that boomers can take to prevent cooking fires:
- Never leave cooking unattended. A serious fire can start in just seconds.
- Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and practice using it.
- Have a pot cover close by to put out a cooking fire quickly.
- Wipe up spills from the stove which could catch fire.
- Always wear short or tight-fitting sleeves when you cook.
- Keep towels, pot holders and curtains away from flames.
- Don’t overfill pans with grease or cooking oil.
- Never use the range or oven to heat your home.
- Double-check the kitchen before you go to bed or leave the house.
- Never leave the kitchen to answer the door, grab the telephone, or change clothes while something is cooking without shutting the gas or electricity off.
- It is dangerous to cook while on certain prescription medications or drinking alcohol.
For more information on the Carmel fire, read this http://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/putnam/carmel/2016/11/15/fire-carmel-senior-complex/93875012/
Charges in Seniors’ Apartment Fire
Sadly, while lives were lost and additional people were injured in this Toronto fire, it was not caused by cooking. That said, it points out how important it is for senior housing to have laws and regulations to protect these elderly people from fires that are so destruction. Zoning laws, construction laws and training must be increased and secured throughout the US and Canada.
This couple married 51 years did not survive.
According to TCH records, the building was last inspected for fire safety in 2013. Under the Fire Code, buildings that are classified as seniors homes must undergo annual fire inspections. However, the building on Nielson Road caters to people 59 years old and older, but is not classified as a seniors home and thus does not have to pass the same, strict provincial fire regulations as a seniors or retirement homes.
You can read more here.
GuardianSSI Exhibiting at Indianapolis NAFED Conference & Expo May 12 – 13
Dallas – May 09, 2016 – Guardian Safety Solutions International, Inc. (GSSI), the leader in the development and manufacturing of superior fire suppression equipment for commercial occupancies
where residential appliances are in use, is exhibiting at the National Association of Fire Equipment Distributors (NAFED). The Sectional Conference & Expo is May 12 – 13, at the Westin Hotel Indianapolis. NAFED’s guiding mission is gathering and disseminating information and ideas that will improve the world’s fire protection and increase the fire protection industry’s competence.
“NAFED is a key player in the fire protection industry showcasing the latest technological advances. That’s why we are showcasing our new Guardian G600, the only current listed system designed to work with an over the stove microwave,” said Paul Rouse, GSSI’s administrative officer. “Our Guardian products are designed to detect and extinguish fires and prevent re-ignition in senior housing facilities, college campuses, churches, fire stations, hospitals and other commercial occupancies,” Rouse said.
“The Guardian fire suppression systems are increasingly accepted nationwide as fire distributors, fire marshals and code officials are educated to the hazard protection advantages the GSSI systems provide,” Rouse added. “The assistance we give our distributors is unrivaled – excellent tech support, a website with online training and the addition of new innovative products.”
Benefits of Guardian systems include automatic operation, continuous 24-hour protection, concealed installation, easy clean-up and proven reliability. For end users, Guardian Fire Suppression Systems offer substantial savings over a traditional commercial system.
Guardian Fire Suppression Systems have been used and supported in more than 400,000 installations worldwide and have been UL listed since 1985. For more information, contact GSSI at 800-786-2178 or visit www.guardianssi.com. “Like” Guardian on Facebook at GuardianSSI and follow on Twitter @GuardianSSI.
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Media Contact:
Susan Tellem, Tellem Grody PR
310.313.3444 x1
GuardianSSI Launches New Guardian G600B System
GuardianSSI Launches New Guardian G600B System
Only Listed Fire Suppression System That Works With Over the Stove Microwaves
Dallas – March 9, 2016 – Guardian Safety Solutions International, Inc. (GSSI) launched its new Guardian G600B fire suppression system, the only UL/ULC listed system that works with over the stove microwaves. GuardianSSI, the leader in the development and manufacturing of superior fire suppression equipment for commercial occu
pancies where residential appliances are in use, showcased the new product at the National Association of Fire Equipment Distributors last week in Las Vegas.
“When a fire occurs, the G600B sensors will activate at a preset temperature sending a signal to the CPU board which releases the valve assembly discharging the system,” said Paul Rouse, GSSI’s administrative officer. “Our Guardian products are designed to detect and extinguish fires and prevent re-ignition in senior housing facilities, college campuses, churches, fire stations, hospitals and other commercial occupancies.”
The specifications for the Model G600B include electronic operation with electric and gas ranges. It works with any standard over the stove microwave/range hood. Each system is UL/ULC listed with a gas or electric fuel shutoff. The G600B has an
updated, integrated self-diagnostic CPU board with a monitored pressure gauge. It features a pull-pin holder for arming the system, an alarm connection for a trouble and activation signal, quick and easy plug connectors and an RF transmitter and receiver for wireless shutoff connections. Benefits of Guardian systems include automatic operation, continuous 24-hour protection, concealed installation, easy clean-up and proven reliability. For end users, Guardian Fire Suppression Systems offer substantial savings over a traditional commercial system.
“The Guardian fire suppression systems are increasingly accepted nationwide as code officials are educated to the hazard protection advantages the GSSI systems provide,” Rouse added. He added that the new 600BC is the only system for mobile applications like RVs and boats.
Guardian Fire Suppression Systems have been used and supported in more than 400,000 installations worldwide and have been UL listed since 1985. For more information, contact GSSI at 800-786-2178 or visit www.guardianssi.com. “Like” Guardian on Facebook at GuardianSSI and follow on Twitter @GuardianSSI.
Media Contact:
Susan Tellem
Tellem Grody PR
310.313.3444 x1
Susan@tellemgrodypr.com
GuardianSSI Exhibiting at NAFED Conference & Expo March 3 – 4 in Las Vegas
Guardian Safety Solutions International, Inc. (GSSI), the leader in the development and manufacturing of superior fire suppression equipment for commercial occupancies where residential appliances are in use, is exhibiting at the National Association of Fire Equipment Distributors (NAFED). The Sectional Conference & Expo, is March 3 – 4, at the Monte Carlo Casino & Resort, Las Vegas. NAFED’s guiding mission is gathering and disseminating information and ideas that will improve the world’s fire protection and increase the fire protection industry’s competence.
“NAFED is a key player in the fire protection industry showcasing the latest technological advances. That’s why we are launching our new Guardian G600B, the only current listed system designed to
work with an over the stove microwave,” said Paul Rouse, GSSI’s administrative officer. “Our Guardian products are designed to detect and extinguish fires and prevent re-ignition in senior housing facilities, college campuses, churches, fire stations, hospitals and other commercial occupancies,” Rouse said.
“The Guardian fire suppression systems are increasingly accepted nationwide as authorities are educated to the hazard protection advantages the GSSI systems provide,” Rouse added. “The support we give our distributors is unrivaled from excellent tech support, a website with online training and the addition of new innovative products.”
Benefits of Guardian systems include automatic operation, continuous 24-hour protection, concealed installation, easy clean-up and proven reliability. For end users, Guardian Fire Suppression Systems offer substantial savings over a traditional commercial system.
Guardian Fire Suppression Systems have been used and supported in more than 400,000 installations worldwide and have been UL listed since 1985. For more information, contact GSSI at 800-786-2178 or visit www.guardianssi.com. “Like” Guardian on Facebook at GuardianSSI and follow on Twitter @GuardianSSI.
# # #
Media Contact:
Susan Tellem
Tellem Grody PR
310.313.3444 x1
Susan@tellemgrodypr.com
Fire Prevention Week 2015 – Protect Yourself Against Deadly Cooking Fires
Cooking fire…
It’s Fire Prevention Week 2015 October 4 – 10, and this year’s focus is on installing smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside every bedroom and on every floor, including the basement and garage, according to Guardian Safety Solution International, Inc. Smoke alarms near in the kitchen and near a shower can give false alarms, so it is best to install photoelectric-type smoke alarms so burnt toast or humidity from a hot shower won’t set them off.
The National Fire Protection Association reports that cooking was involved in 156,400 home fires in 2010. These fires caused 410 deaths, 5,310 injuries and almost $100 million in direct property damage. Those were the reported fires, but it is estimated that more than 12 million unintentional home cooking fires go unreported and cause 640,000 injuries annually.
“Home owners and apartment dwellers are at most risk for fires because of inattentiveness…the phone rings, you answer an email, the baby cries. There are so many distractions in today’s busy world, it’s easy to start to cook a meal and then forget about it,” says Paul Rouse, Guardian’s administrative officer. “Next thing you know, a fire starts on the stove and quickly spreads to curtains and other flammable material.”
In addition to working smoke alarms and a handy fire extinguisher, Rouse recommends installing the Guardian III Model G300B, UL and ULC listed with a fuel shut-off. The Guardian is designed to detect and extinguish cooking fires and prevent re-ignition in private homes, apartments, senior housing, college campuses, hospitals and other facilities. See how the Guardian works here.
Once it detects heat at a pre-determined temperature, the Guardian sends a signal to release an extinguishing agent that suppresses the fire. Guardian will also shut off the gas or electric supply to the stove in order to prevent reigniting. “It makes sense in this busy world to have as much safety equipment as possible available to prevent or extinguish kitchen fires,” says Rouse.
Protecting families worldwide since 1985, GSSI’s mission is to develop and distribute quality safety products that provide customers with peace of mind, while protecting lives and property. Contact GSSI at 800-786-2178 or visit www.guardianssi.com, “Like” on Facebook and follow on Twitter @GuardianSSI.
Cooking Fire Safety on the Menu for Seniors
Bognor Fire Station’s Green Watch helped those over 65 at the UK’s Laburnum Centre, Lyon Street, when the firefighters explained how to reduce the risk of kitchen fires.
According to the Bognor Regis Observer in the UK, “recent figures revealed that around two-thirds of the accidental house fires in West Sussex start in the kitchen, with many caused by careless or unattended cooking.”
As GaurdianSSI always reminds folks, a lapse of concentration can have devastating consequences especially for seniors who have a higher rate of injuries and deaths from cooking fires.
The firefighters covered a range of safety advice including:
. If you are called away take pans off the heat
. Clean toasters, hobs and grill pans regularly to avoid a build-up of crumbs or fat which can easily catch fire
. Keep your cooker top clear and don’t put oven gloves or tea towels down onto a hot cooker after you’ve used them
. Ditch your old chip pan! Consider using a thermostatically controlled deep-fat fryer or swap to oven chips instead
. If you do have a fire in the kitchen, don’t take any risks – get everyone out and dial 999.
. Working smoke alarms really do save lives – make sure you have on each level of your home and test them weekly.
You can find more cooking safety information by visiting www.westsussex.gov.uk/fire.
