What to do when the Smoke Clears - Hay and Spontanious Combustion - School Fire Drills - Montana Arson Laws
Research shows that you cannot smell smoke while you are asleep. That's why having a smoke alarm on every floor and outside every sleeping area is so important. More than 90% of the people who die in fires in Montana, do so in their own home, while they were asleep. A properly installed and working smoke alarm can provide that vital early warning of a nighttime fire in time to allow family members to escape. Be sure your smoke alarm is working. Test it regularly, and vacuum around it monthly. There is no simpler and easier thing you can do to enhance your family's chances in a nighttime fire.
For more information, contact the Gore Hill Volunteer Fire Department at 781-6375 or 788-2972.
Smoke alarms are the residential fire safety success story of the past quarter century. Smoke alarm technology has been around since the 1960s. But the single-station, battery-powered smoke alarm we know today became available to consumers in the 1970s, and since then, the home fire death rate has been reduced by half. Most states have laws requiring them in residential dwellings.
Important: Working smoke alarms are essential in every household. It is necessary to practice home fire drills to be certain everyone is familiar with the smoke alarm signal, and to determine if there are any obstacles to a quick and safe evacuation (including the inability for some to awaken to the smoke alarm signal).
Facts & figures
Source: NFPA's "U.S. Experience with Smoke Alarms and Other Fire Detection/Alarm Equipment."
Installation and maintenance tips
A life-saving test: check your smoke alarms regularly
Sensing systems
Most smoke alarms use one of two common sensing systems for detecting a fire.
Ionization vs. photoelectric
Photoelectric alarms respond slightly faster to smoldering fires; ionization alarms respond slightly faster to flaming fires. Since, as a practical matter; you can not predict the type of fire that will occur; the slight difference is irrelevant. Either type of alarm will detect nearly every type of fire quickly. Some manufacturers offer dual-chamber alarms that use both sensor systems.
NFPA does not test, label or approve any products.
Updated: 11/05
Courtesy of the NFPA, original article can be found here.
What to do when the Smoke Clears
After the Smoke Clears
You just suffered-a major property loss. This information is designed to give you some helpful information on what to expect after a fire. Remember the Fire Department is not only there to help while things are burning, but they can also help you after the smoke has cleared.
The Fire Department's first priority is to save lives. If fire fighters, know someone is inside a burning building, their first actions will be to get that person out as quickly and safely as they can.
Their second priority is to save property. The Fire and Rescue Team is trained to do the least amount of damage possible while fighting a fire. When they break windows or cut holes in the roof, they're trying to ventilate smoke and heat so they can get inside and put out the fire as quickly as possible.
State law places any building on fire under the direct control of the Fire Department until the fire official in charge releases the property back over to the owner or responsible party. A member of our team will be communicating with the owner along the way.
Montana law also requires the Fire Department to determine the cause and origin of every fire that occurs. When the cause and origin of a fire is obvious, control of the property will be returned to the owner as soon as possible. However, if fire investigators are called to the scene to determine the cause, it could be hours or even several days to determine the cause and return control of the property back to the owner.
General Information
Pets
Smoke can damage the lungs of your pet and embers can cause painful bums that may stay hidden under the animal's fur. Please take your pet to a veterinarian as soon as possible after it has been exposed to fire. If your pet is lost at the fire scene, check with neighbor's first then call your local Animal Shelter or the Humane Society.
Perishables
Any food, beverage or medicine exposed to heat or smoke should not be consumed. Medicine can change strength from exposure to heat. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine that's been exposed to prolonged heat. High temperatures also spoil food and beverages, so throw these items away. It's much safer to replace these items than to risk your health by consuming them. If in doubt, pitch it out.
Cash or Negotiables
If burned, handle cash, negotiable and valuable papers with extreme care. Put each item in plastic wrap or a plastic bag to preserve it. Then take everything to your bank or attorney for advice concerning replacement.
Counseling
After suffering losses in a fire, it's not unusual to experience feelings of anxiety; depression, sadness or anger. These are common responses to a traumatic event. If you or your family members need support, call you family doctor, one of the listed ministers, or the American Red Cross.
Insurance Information
If You are Insured
If you are insured, contact your insurance company or agent as soon as possible after the fire. If you're renting the property, you should also contact the owner. Your insurance company might be able to help in making immediate repairs, securing your property, or helping with temporary housing. If you can’t contact your insurance carrier and need help boarding up the property, call a general contractor or fire damage restoration company. Look in your yellow pages under Contractors -- general, or fire and water damage restoration.
If You Are Not Insured
If you are not insured, or if your policy will not cover the loss, contact your family lawyer or the Internal Revenue Service for directions. You might be eligible, for casualty loss assistance.
If you are not insured and need help, the American Red Cross is available to assist. They're available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and can help with food, clothing, temporary housing and other needs. Call the American Red Cross Chapter in your area.
Vehicle Fires
If You Are Insured
Contact your insurance agent who will help with your claim and explain your coverage. If your vehicle is damaged in a structure fire, call both your home and automobile insurance companies.
If You Are Not Insured
If the vehicle is repairable, a listing of repair facilities can be found in the yellow pages of your local telephone directory under auto repairs and service.
If towing is required, check the yellow pages under road service.
If your vehicle is a total loss, it might be of some value to a salvage company. Again, check the yellow pages under automobile salvage.
Fire Department Procedures
To make sure a vehicle is completely out, it might be necessary for fire fighters to take the following actions:
1. Cut or disconnect the battery cables to prevent electrical shorts.
2. Remove padding from seats and upholstered areas to ensure nothing is left smoldering.
3. Force entry into the engine, passenger and / or trunk areas.
We understand how you feel after suffering this loss and hope this information is helpful during the recovery. If you have questions, need more information, or cannot find the help you need, call us at the Fire Department and t will assist you in locating the right person or agency that can provide help.
The members of the Gore Hill Volunteer Fire Department are committed to providing you with the best possible service. We welcome your comments.
Keeping Hay from Spontaniously Combusting
By Dennis Cash and Rob Johnson
MSU Extention Special and MSU Ravalli County Agent
7/21/99 Contact: Dennis Cash (406) 994-5688; Rob Johnson (406) 375-6245
BOZEMAN - A hay fire isn't a minor incident. It can damage property and
threaten life.
It is not uncommon for a fire to occur when transporting hay, like the fire July 18 in Helena. Such fires are most likely started by overheated exhaust pipes or a thoughtless passerby throwing a cigarette out a car window. However, hay fires on farms are much more likely to be caused by spontaneous combustion. Such fires damage or destroy buildings and equipment in addition to the hay consumed. In 1998, the Montana Fire Marshall's office recorded 148 agricultural product fires that resulted in one injury and over $797,000 of damage. The reporting system does not say how many of these were hay fires.
Oddly enough, wet hay is more likely to lead to a spontaneous combustion fire than dry hay. If hay is put into a barn or stack when it has more than about 22 percent moisture, not only does the hay lose forage quality, but it has an increased risk of spontaneous combustion.
High moisture hay stacks can have chemical reactions that build heat. Hay insulates, so the larger the haystack, the less cooling there is to offset the heat. When the internal temperature of hay rises above 130 degrees Fahrenheit (55
degrees C), a chemical reaction begins to produce flammable gas that can
ignite if the temperature goes high enough.Hay fires generally occur within six weeks of baling. Heating occurs in all hay above 15 percent moisture, but generally it peaks at 125 to130 degrees F, within three to seven days, with minimal risk of combustion or forage quality losses. Temperature within a stack then declines to safe levels in the next 15 to 60 days, depending on bale and stack density, ambient temperature and humidity, and rainfall absorbed by the hay.
To avoid hay fires, small, rectangular bales should not exceed 18 to 22 percent moisture, and large round or rectangular bales should not exceed 16 to 18 percent moisture for safe storage. In addition, you should check your hay regularly. If you detect a slight caramel odor or a distinct musty smell, chances are your hay is heating. At this point, checking the moisture is too late, and you'll need to keep monitoring the hay's temperature.
What do you do if you suspect that your hay is heating?
A simple probe inserted into the haystack can accurately monitor temperature. You can make a probe from a 10-foot piece of pipe or electrical tubing. Sharpen the pipe or screw a pointed dowel to one end, then drill several 1/4-inch diameter holes in the tube just above the dowel. Drive the probe into the hay stack and lower a thermometer on a string into the probe. The thermometer should be left for 10 minutes in several areas of the stack to ensure an accurate reading.
Watch for the following temperatures:
--150 degrees F (65 degrees C) is the beginning of the danger zone. After this point, check temperature daily.
--160 degrees F (70 degrees C) is dangerous. Measure temperature every four hours and inspect the stack.
--At 175 degrees F (80 degrees C), call the fire department. Meanwhile, wet hay down and remove it from the barn or dismantle the stack away from buildings and other dry hay.
--At 185 degrees (85 degrees C) hot spots and pockets may be expected.
Flames will likely develop when heating hay comes in contact with the air. 212 degrees (100 degrees C) is critical. Temperature rises rapidly above this point. Hay will almost certainly ignite. Take precautions. Pockets may have already burned out under the hay surface.
Before entering a barn, place long planks on top of the hay. Do not attempt to walk on the hay mass itself. Always tie a rope around your waist and have a second person on the other end in a safe location to pull you out should the surface of the hay collapse into a fire pocket. Hay treated with preservatives may produce hydrogen cyanide gas at 240 degrees F, so extreme caution should be taken when fighting a hay fire if hay has been treated with such preservatives. Hay treated with preservatives containing ethoxyquin and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) produce hydrogen cyanide gas at around 240 degrees (115 degrees C). This gas is deadly. Additives containing primarily propionic acid to not produce hydrogen cyanide during a fire.
In the past, farmers sprinkled salt on wet hay as it was stacked to prevent spoilage, but salt does not prevent spontaneous combustion. Dry ice, liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide gas pumped into the hay can prevent combustion by eliminating the oxygen from the hay mass. Hay fires from spontaneous combustion occur infrequently in the arid western U.S., but can be a hazard for new hay or old stacks. Good storage practices will avoid spontaneous combustion and ensure higher quality hay.
Drill Location: ____________________ Drill Date & Time: __________ / ____________
1. Is the Principle is the only one in the school who knows there will be a drill?
2. Has emergency dispatch been notified that the drill will occur and told the time?
3. Has the Principle selected at pull station at random and activated it?
4. Does the alarm sound, and is it heard throughout the building?
5. Do teachers clearly and calmly instruct students to leave the building immediately?
6. Do teachers close classroom doors upon exiting?
7. Do teachers take their roll sheets and accompany students?
8. Do teachers select an appropriate alternate exit when the primary exit is obstructed?
9. Do teachers move their children to a safe location outside the building (100 feet away from the building and any driveway which might be used by emergency vehicles).
10. Does someone in the office call 911 and report that the fire alarm is sounding and give the location, their name and phone number?
11. Is the building completely evacuated within three minutes or less?
12. Does each teacher take roll and know who, if anyone is missing and who they might have in excess of expectations?
13. Does someone collect attendance from each teacher and report it to the Principle?
14. Do teachers maintain accountability for their student for the duration of the drill?
15. Does the Principle report student accounting to the Incident Commander?
16. Do people re -enter the building only after authorization by the Incident Commander and Principle?
17. Is the fire alarms system reset?
18. Is emergency dispatch notified that the drill is completed by the Principle?
The Montana Law Regarding Fire Investigations & Arson:
Regarding the conduct of investigations
50-63-202. Fire chief or sheriff to conduct investigation. If the fire occurs within a municipality, organized fire district, or fire service area, the chief of the fire department shall make the
investigation. If the fire occurs outside a municipality, organized fire district, or fire service area, the county sheriff shall make the investigation.
Regarding the filing of reports
50-63-203. Reports to be filed with department of justice. (1) If it appears that the fire was of suspicious origin, if there was a loss of human life, or if it is determined that a criminal investigation is necessary, the official responsible for the investigation shall notify the department of justice and the appropriate law enforcement agency within 24 hours and shall file a written report of the cause with the department within 10 days.
(2) If the property was insured, as soon as any adjustment has been made, a person representing the insurance company shall notify the department of the amount of adjustment and the apparent cause and circumstances of the fire on forms furnished by the department.
(3) Each official responsible for investigating fires shall file a fire incident report on each fire with the department. Reports shall be on forms and shall contain information prescribed by the department. These reports shall be sent to the department on a monthly basis or at intervals
determined necessary by the department.
Regarding Evidence
(2) "Evidence" is the means of ascertaining in a judicial proceeding the truth respecting a question of fact, including but not limited to witness testimony, writings, physical objects, or other things presented to the senses.
26-1-102. Definitions -- kinds of evidence. (1) "Circumstantial evidence" is that which tends to establish a fact by proving another and which, though true, does not of itself conclusively establish that fact but affords an inference or presumption of its existence.
(2) (a) "Conclusive evidence" is that which the law does not permit to be contradicted.
(b) No evidence is by law made conclusive unless so declared by statute.
(3) "Corroborative evidence" is additional evidence of a different character to the same point.
(4) "Cumulative evidence" is additional evidence of the same character to the same point.
(5) "Direct evidence" is that which proves a fact without an inference or presumption and which in itself, if true, establishes that fact.
(6) "Prima facie evidence" is that which proves a particular fact until contradicted and overcome by other evidence.
26-1-605. Entries in official books and records prima facie evidence. Entries in public or other official books or records made in the performance of his duty by a public officer of this state or any other person in the performance of a duty specially enjoined by law are prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.
Hearsay exceptions.
The following are not excluded by the hearsay rule if the declarant is unavailable as a witness:
Present sense impression. A statement describing or explaining an event or condition made while the declarant was perceiving the event or condition, or immediately thereafter. Ex: “Holly Cow, look at that gasolene, it’s really burning ferociously!”
Excited utterance. A statement relating to a startling event or condition made while the declarant was under the stress of excitement caused by the event or condition.
Former testimony. Testimony given as a witness at another hearing of the same or a different proceeding, or in a deposition taken in compliance with law in the course of
the same or another proceeding,...........
Statement under belief of impending death. A statement made by a declarant while believing that the declarant's death was imminent, concerning the cause or circumstance of what the declarant believed to be impending death.
Statement against interest. A statement which was at the time of its making so far contrary to the declarant's pecuniary or proprietary interest, or so far tended to
subject the declarant to civil or criminal liability,.....
Regarding Fire Setting
45-6-101. Criminal mischief. (1) A person commits the offense of criminal mischief if the person knowingly or purposely:
(a) injures, damages, or destroys any property of another or public property without consent;
45-6-102. Negligent arson. (1) A person commits the offense of negligent arson if he purposely or knowingly starts a fire or causes an explosion, whether on his own property or property of another, and thereby negligently:
(a) places another person in danger of death or bodily injury, including a firefighter responding to or at the scene of a fire or explosion; or
(b) places property of another in danger of damage or destruction.
(2) A person convicted of the offense of negligent arson shall be fined not to exceed $500 or be imprisoned in the county jail for any term not to exceed 6 months, or both. If the offender places another person in danger of death or bodily injury, he shall be fined not to exceed $50,000 or be imprisoned in the state prison for any term not to exceed 10 years, or both.
45-6-103. Arson. (1) A person commits the offense of arson when, by means of fire or explosives, the person knowingly or purposely:
(a) damages or destroys a structure, vehicle, personal property (other than a vehicle) that exceeds $500 in value, crop, pasture, forest, or other real property that is property of another without consent;
(b) damages or destroys a structure, vehicle, crop, pasture, forest, or other property that the person owns or has a possessory interest in, with the purpose of obtaining a pecuniary or other gain through fraud or deception; or
(c) places another person in danger of death or bodily injury, including a firefighter responding to or at the scene of a fire or explosion.
(2) A person convicted of the offense of arson shall be imprisoned in the state prison for a term not to exceed 20 years or be fined an amount not to exceed $50,000, or both.
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