Quiambaug's Role In Irene And Generator Safety

Hurricane Irene
As you could imagine it was a rather busy weekend for the . As with the other local fire departments and ambulance services, Quiambaug's work started mid-week in the form of planning and preparing. After several town meetings, staff gatherings, and policy reviews the fire company was prepared for the worst. 

As we rolled into Saturday around lunchtime Quiambaug assisted the police department in issuing evacuation notices to the low-lying, flood prone areas. 

Once the storm got underway we responded to many downed trees, power lines, and flooded areas. As soon as the storm passed we patrolled the district looking for any unsafe situations and made ourselves available to the district residents to answer questions or provide a quick means of power for emergency needs. We were happy to answer questions for residents as without power most people felt cut off from the rest of the world. The 12 firefighters on duty for the storm did their best to keep residents informed of the latest progress.

Hopefully we are done with the weather extremes for quite sometime. However, one thing the Quiambaug Fire Company offers which doesn't get much publicity or use is our public safety awareness sector. Next time there are warnings of weather extremes or other form of disaster give the firehouse a call at (860) 245-9801 or email info@quiambaugfire.org and ask us about planning for it. We have firefighters trained in disasters that can provide documentation and other resources to help you prepare for such an event. There are also sites like http://72hours.org that can help as well. In addition to pre-incident planning, you are welcome to get a hold of us after the storm for assistance with things like checking on family members while you're away, safety inspections, basement pump outs, and more.

Fire/Life Safety Tip of the Week - Generator Safety
While the power outages are decreasing every hour, there are still many streets where generator noise fills the air.  The tips below come from the US Fire Administration regarding generator safety.  Please make sure you are using your generators safely to avoid turning a bad situation into a fatal one.

• Follow the manufacturer's instructions and guidelines when using generators.

• Use a generator or other fuel-powered machines outside the home. CO fumes are odorless and can quickly overwhelm you indoors.

• Use the appropriate size and type power cords to carry the electric load. Overloaded cords can overheat and cause fires.

• Never run cords under rugs or carpets where heat might build up or damage to a cord may go unnoticed.

• Never connect generators to another power source such as power lines. The reverse flow of electricity or 'backfeed' can electrocute an unsuspecting utility worker.