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Gloucester Fire and Building Departments Offer Deck and Grilling Safety Tips

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, June 14, 2019

Media Contact: Kelsey Bode
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Gloucester Fire and Building Departments Offer Deck and Grilling Safety Tips

GLOUCESTER — Chief Eric Smith and Building Commissioner Bill Sanborn would like to remind residents to make sure their decks are structurally sound and their grilling stations adhere to safety protocols this summer.

Decks that are not properly built or maintained can collapse and cause significant injuries, as well as property damage.

“We’re encouraging residents to take a few minutes as summertime approaches to examine their decks and porches,” Sanborn said. “A deck in need of repair poses a significant danger to you and your loved ones, and it’s imperative that these structures are looked after.”

Sanborn has several tips for residents looking to perform a deck safety check:

  • Stand several yards away from your deck to view whether it appears to be uneven, leans away from the building or dips toward one corner.
  • Check the railings and make sure they are sturdy.
  • Check for loose boards on the deck and make sure that all balusters are properly secured.
  • Look for any rotten wood, rusting fasteners, wood joist separating from band joist or broken joists. Check that the blots that hold the deck to the house are tight and secure.
  • Do not overload your deck with furniture, people, sport equipment, etc.
  • If you do not feel comfortable performing the inspection or find that your deck needs repair, contact a construction specialist to answer your questions and make the necessary repairs.

The North American Deck and Railing Association also offers a checklist for deck safety checks.

Chief Smith would also like to remind residents to make sure they’re practicing safe grilling habits this year.

“A lot of people love grilling in the warmer weather, but failure to be vigilant while using your grill or storing it improperly is tremendously dangerous,” Chief Smith said. “Grills can be a serious fire hazard, and we’re asking residents to be responsible.”

The Massachusetts Department of Fire Services has several tips for grilling safely in the coming weeks and months:

Safety First

  • Propane and charcoal grills should only be used outdoors.
  • Place grills away from the house, deck railings and out from under eaves of overhanging branches.
  • Grills should only be used on first floor porches, decks, or patios if there is an outdoor stairway to the ground, or the porch is at ground level.
  • Keep children and pets at least 3 feet away from the grilling area. Children should never play near grills or propane cylinders.

Gas Grill Safety

  • Make sure the lid of a gas grill is open when you light it. Propane can build up inside and when ignited, the lid may blow off.
  • Check that all connections are tight before turning on the gas.
  • Clean the grease trap every time you grill.
  • Check the propane tank hose for potential leaks by applying a light soap and water solution to the hose using a brush or spray bottle. See if any bubbles appear around the hose. If no bubbles appear, the grill is safe to use.
  • If you smell gas while cooking, turn the grill off and move away from it. Call 911 from a safe location. Do not move the grill.
  • Store propane cylinders upright in an outdoor, shaded area. Cylinders should not be used, stored or transported where they can be exposed to high temperatures.

Charcoal Grill Safety

  • Use only charcoal starter fluid. Never used gasoline or kerosene to start a fire in a grill and never add lighter fluid to burning briquettes or hot coals.
  • Always use charcoal grills in a well-ventilated area. Charcoal briquettes emit carbon monoxide, which can be deadly.
  • Properly dispose of grill ashes. Allow the coals to burn out completely and then cool for 48 hours before disposal. If you must dispose of ashes before they are completely cooled, thoroughly soak them in water before putting them in a metal container.

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Gloucester Firefighters Battle House Fire on Blynman Avenue

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Gloucester Fire Department
Eric Smith, Fire Chief
8 School St.
Gloucester, MA 01930

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, May 28, 2019

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Gloucester Firefighters Battle House Fire on Blynman Avenue

The Gloucester Fire Department responded to a single-alarm fire on Blynman Avenue at approximately 3:45 a.m. Tuesday. (Courtesy Photo Gloucester Fire Department)

GLOUCESTER — Chief Eric Smith reports that the Gloucester Fire Department responded to a fire at a multi-family home on Blynman Avenue early Tuesday morning.

Gloucester firefighters responded to a report of a fire at 18 Blynman Ave. at approximately 3:45 a.m.

Upon arrival, firefighters saw fire coming from the right side of the first floor. All six adults and three dogs living in the two-story home had been alerted to the fire by smoke detectors and had evacuated the building prior to the fire department’s arrival.

Firefighters were able to prevent the fire from spreading past the first floor, and put it out within 10 minutes of arrival. The majority of damage from the fire was contained to a bedroom on the first floor, where the fire originated. The second floor also sustained smoke damage.

“Thanks to the quick response of our firefighters, we were able to contain this fire and prevent it from spreading any further,” Chief Smith said. “Fortunately everyone in the home was immediately alerted to the fire by smoke detectors, and as a result no one was injured and we were able to respond swiftly.”

Fire officials estimate that the home sustained approximately $75,000 in damage.

The Gloucester Fire Department is investigating the fire, and an initial investigation indicated that the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit.

All six residents and three dogs were displaced by the fire, and are being assisted by the Red Cross.

First responders cleared the scene at 6:30 a.m.

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Gloucester Fire Department Extinguishes Two-Alarm Fire

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Gloucester Fire Department
Eric Smith, Fire Chief
8 School St.
Gloucester, MA 01930

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, March 26, 2019

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

GLOUCESTER — Chief Eric Smith reports that Gloucester firefighters responded to a two alarm fire today.

At 7:55 a.m., the Gloucester Fire Department was dispatched to 106 R Washington St. for a report of a house fire. Upon arrival, firefighters observed flames emerging from the home and immediately struck a second alarm due to the strong possibility that the fire could extend quickly to the rest of the building.

Firefighters worked quickly to extinguish the flames and there were no injuries to any of the occupants. A cat was located alive inside the building and was returned to its owners.

“All of the crews on scene did a great job to quickly contain the fire and limit the damage to the area where it originated,” Chief Smith said.

Crews from the Rockport, Essex and Manchester-by-the-Sea Fire Departments responded to the scene. Beauport EMS also responded to the scene to provide support to the four Gloucester engines, ladder truck and rescue vehicle that responded. Gloucester’s Deputy and Assistant Chiefs were also on-scene.

Members of the Beverly, Ipswich and Hamilton Fire Departments provided station coverage during the response.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Gloucester Fire Department and State Fire Marshal’s Office.

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Gloucester Police and Fire Departments Attend Municipal Drone Training

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, March 15, 2019

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Gloucester Police and Fire Departments Attend Municipal Drone Training

GLOUCESTER –Police Chief John McCarthy and Fire Chief Eric Smith are pleased to share that members of the Gloucester Police and Fire Departments attended a training on municipal drone use earlier this week.

Police Lt. Joe Fitzgerald and Fire Lt. Kevin Gargan attended a Salem State University workshop on Monday, March 11, on municipal applications of drones. The day-long workshop included lectures, discussion and field work with hands-on training.

The city of Gloucester is currently exploring the possibility of drone usage as a resource and shared asset to the Police and Fire Departments as well as the Department of Public Works.

“This training provided a great base knowledge of municipal drone use to Lt. Fitzgerald and Lt. Gargan,” Fire Chief Smith said. “As Gloucester examines the possible benefits of municipal drone use for several departments, it is great to have multiple city employees furthering their knowledge of how these devices function, the necessary steps for a municipality to pursue a drone program, and the possible benefits these devices may offer.”

The training was lead by Salem State University Geography Professor Stephen Young, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) professional Richard Ames and Peabody Police Sgt. Christos Zamakis, who is currently studying drone use for police departments as he pursues a master’s degree in geo-information science at Salem State University.

“This training was comprehensive, and we greatly appreciate Salem State’s work in offering this workshop to support municipalities as we navigate this complex, new territory,” Chief McCarthy said. “Drones may become an invaluable resource to the city of Gloucester in the future, and it was great to give members of the police and fire departments the chance to expand their knowledge and gain some experience with these devices.”

Participants in the training learned about the current uses of drones for municipalities, how public safety departments and public works professionals can use drones, the different drone models currently available, necessary software to fly drones within Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements, how to obtain a remote pilot’s license, how to acquire proper insurance, and how to set up a drone project and fly a drone.

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