Press Releases Archives - Taunton Fire Department

Taunton Fire Reminds Residents to Check Smoke and CO Detectors During Daylight Saving Time

November 1, 2019 by Benjamin Paulin Leave a Comment

Daylight Saving Time Ends Nov. 3 at 2 a.m.

TAUNTON – Chief Timothy Bradshaw and the Taunton Fire Department encourages residents to test their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors when setting their clocks back for daylight saving time.

Daylight saving ends Sunday, Nov. 3 at 2 a.m.

“Testing and changing batteries in smoke and carbon detectors is a simple, and life-saving habit that can help prevent fires from happening,” said Chief Bradshaw. “If your detectors are not working, or if you don’t have detectors at all, please call the Taunton Fire Department for assistance.”

According to the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF), working smoke alarms decrease the risk of dying in home fires by nearly half. Additionally, in many reported home fires in which smoke alarms were present but did not operate, the batteries had been removed or the alarm was disconnected due to dead battery alerts or nuisance alarms.

The Taunton Fire Department also asks that all business owners not only change their clocks, but also change the batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and replace the batteries on wall mounted emergency lights and exit signs. All businesses should have emergency backup lighting as a safety feature to provide temporary lighting in case of power failure.

In order to keep your family and home safe, Taunton Fire recommends that residents follow safety tips outlined by IAFF:

Install smoke alarms inside each bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement. On levels without bedrooms, install alarms in a central location or near the stairway to the upper level. Smoke alarms should be installed at least 10 feet from cooking appliances to minimize false alarms.
CO alarms should be installed in a central location outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home and in other locations where required by applicable laws, codes or standards.
For the best protection, interconnect all smoke alarms. When one smoke alarm sounds they all sound. CO alarms can also be interconnected.
Test smoke and CO alarms at least once per month using the test button.
Smoke alarms with non-replaceable 10-year batteries are designed to remain effective for up to 10 years. If the alarm chirps warning that the battery is low, replace the entire smoke alarm right away.
Smoke and CO alarms with replaceable batteries need a new battery at least once per year. Replace batteries during daylight saving time or if the alarm chirps warning that the battery is low.
When replacing a battery, follow the manufacturer’s list of usable batteries on the back of the alarm. Manufacturer instructions are specific to the batteries that must be used and the alarm may not work properly if a different kind of battery is used.
Replace all smoke alarms according to the date on the back or when they reach 10 years old. Replace CO detectors according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Make sure everyone in the home understands the sound of a smoke and CO alarm and knows how to respond.

For more information on smoke detector and CO alarm safety, contact the Taunton Fire Department at 508-821-1452.

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Taunton Police and Fire Departments Offer Halloween Safety Tips

October 30, 2019 by Leah Comins Leave a Comment

TAUNTON– Police Chief Edward Walsh and Fire Chief Timothy Bradshaw would like to offer residents some important safety tips as Halloween approaches to ensure everyone celebrates safely and responsibly.

“Halloween is fun for the whole community and we look forward to seeing everyone out in their costumes and enjoying the evening,” Chief Walsh said. “Before going trick-or-treating, we encourage parents to make sure their child’s costume fits properly so that kids can see and walk safely.”

The Taunton Police and Fire Departments recommend that residents follow safety tips outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services:

Dressing Up

Wear well-fitting masks, costumes and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips and falls. Consider adding reflective tape to kids’ costumes and bags to help drivers see them.
If temperatures are cold during trick-or-treating time, be sure to have your kids wear long sleeves and warm clothing under their costume.
If a child is wearing a mask instead of make-up, make sure the eye holes are large enough to see through clearly. Consider non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as a safer alternative to masks. Always test make-up in a small area of skin first and always remove make-up before bedtime to prevent possible skin and eye irritation.
When shopping for costume pieces, look for and purchase ones that are labeled as flame retardant.
Swords, knives and other costume accessories should be short, soft and flexible. A child may be easily hurt by accessories if he or she stumbles or trips.

Trick-or-Treating

Children under 12 should always be accompanied by an adult. Avoid trick-or-treating alone.
If your older children are going out without parental supervision, go over ground rules first and set a curfew. Have them travel in a group, with a cell phone and flashlight. Make sure children know how to call 911 if they have an emergency.
Pedestrian injuries are very common on Halloween. Remind kids to stay in a group. They should walk on sidewalks whenever possible, or on the far edge of the road facing traffic. Crosswalks should be used whenever possible and children should always look both ways before crossing the street.
Only go to homes with a porch light on. Never go into a home or car for a treat.
Examine all of your kids’ treats for choking hazards and tampering. Do not eat treats that have been opened, even partially. Avoid eating homemade treats made by strangers.

Keeping Your Home Safe for Trick-or-Treaters

Make sure your home is well-lit inside and out and that there is a clear path to your front door.
Keep all decorations like cornstalks and hay away from heat sources and lit candles.
Use battery-operated tea lights instead of candles in jack o’lanterns.
Remember to put matches and lighters away in a high, locked cabinet so children cannot access them or be tempted to relight jack o’lanterns by themselves.

“We would like to remind homeowners to keep Halloween decorations away from open flames,” Chief Bradshaw said. “Decorations such as cornstalks or crepe paper are extremely flammable. These decorations should be kept away from any flame or heating source such as lit jack o’lanterns. Children should also be taught to stay away from jack o’lanterns lit with candles.”

As always, any suspicious person or vehicle should immediately be reported to Taunton Police by dialing 911.

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Taunton Fire Department Offers Safety Tips During National Fire Prevention Week

October 7, 2019 by Matthew Reid Leave a Comment

TAUNTON — With National Fire Prevention Week kicking off this weekend, Chief Timothy Bradshaw and the Taunton Fire Department would like to remind residents about safety precautions to take to prevent house fires and the appropriate actions to take in the event of a fire.

National Fire Prevention Week, organized by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) begins this year on Sunday, Oct. 6 and ends on Saturday, Oct. 12. The annual campaign seeks to educate and provide the public with valuable safety recommendations and steps they can take to prevent possible fires and react properly in the event of a fire.

The theme of the 2019 National Fire Prevention Week is “Not Every Hero Wears a Cape. Plan and Practice Your Escape!” in an effort to remind people of the critical importance of creating and practicing an escape plan should a fire start.

According to the NFPA, a person may only have a two-minute window to escape from a fire after a smoke alarm is activated.

“From young children to adults, it is important for all residents to know how to prevent a fire emergency and to have a plan in case there is an emergency,” Chief Bradshaw said. “National Fire Prevention Week is not only used to provide important safety tips, but also information residents need to know in case a fire or emergency does happen.”

The Taunton Fire Department wishes to share the following safety tips provided by NFPA:

Home Fire Escape Planning and Practice

Create a home escape plan, and make a map. Share that plan with all members of your household. Designate a minimum of two ways to get out of each room, if possible.
Teach children how they can escape, should they need to get out of the home on their own.
Make sure all doors and windows to the outdoors are easy to open.
Designate an outside meeting place a safe distance away from the home where everyone in your household should meet in the event of a fire.
Practice a fire drill at home with your entire household, once at night and once during the day time, twice a year. Make sure everyone in your household practices using different routes to exit your home.
In the event of a fire and while practicing fire drills, close doors behind you as you leave.
If you are evacuating and there is smoke, get low and proceed beneath the smoke.
If the smoke alarm sounds, exit the building and call 911 once you are outside the building. Never go back inside while the fire is ongoing.

Smoke Alarms

Smoke alarms can mean the difference between life and death in a fire. Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half. Install smoke alarms in every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of the home, including the basement.
Test smoke alarms at least once a month using the test button.
Make sure everyone in the home understands the sound of the smoke alarm and knows how to respond.

Cooking

Unattended cooking is the leading cause of fires in the kitchen. Always stay in the kitchen when you are frying, boiling, grilling or broiling food. If you are simmering, baking, slow cooking or roasting food, check it regularly and do not leave the home while food is cooking.
Keep anything that can catch fire away from your stove top.

Heating

Heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fires during the winter months. Space heaters are most often involved in home heating equipment fires.
All heaters need space. Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet (1 meter) away from heating equipment.
Have a 3-foot (1-meter) “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters.
Purchase and use only portable space heaters listed by a qualified testing laboratory.
Have a qualified professional install heating equipment.
Maintain heating equipment and chimneys by having them cleaned and inspected by a qualified professional at least once a year.

Taunton Fire Department Responds to 3-Alarm Fire at Multi-Family Home

August 13, 2019 by Benjamin Paulin Leave a Comment

Firefighters Rescue Man from Second-Floor Balcony

Media note: At 10:45 p.m., Chief Bradshaw will be speaking to the media in the parking lot of Eye Health Vision Centers, 64 Winthrop St., Taunton.

To view a video of the fire click here.

TAUNTON — Chief Timothy Bradshaw reports that the Taunton Fire Department is responding to large fire at a multi-family home on Harrison Street Tuesday night.

The first responding firefighters used a ladder to rescue a man from a second-floor balcony as the fire burned close by. The man’s condition is unknown at this time but he was conscious and alert at the time of rescue and did not require medical assistance.

At approximately 8:20 p.m., the Taunton Fire Department was called to 46 Harrison St. for a report of a house fire.

Upon arrival, firefighters saw large flames and heavy smoking coming from the second floor and roof of the 2.5-story wood-frame home.

Incident commander Deputy Chief Eric Dumont, quickly called for all available Taunton Fire apparatus to respond to the scene and struck a second alarm for fire departments from surrounding communities to respond. The Raynham, Dighton, Norton and Rehoboth fire departments were providing assistance.

As the fire continued to quickly spread throughout the 6-apartment building, Chief Bradshaw struck a third alarm, seeking additional manpower at the scene.

As of approximately 10:30 p.m., the roof had collapsed into the building and crews were still battling the fire. There are about 35 firefighters, eight engines and two ladder trucks on scene at this time.

All residents of the home are believed to have made it out of the building safely. All residents will be displaced as a result of the fire and the Taunton Emergency Management Agency was responding to the scene to assist.

One Taunton firefighter was treated at the scene for a heat related condition and is expected to be okay.

Harrison Street and Winthrop Street (Route 44) will both be closed while the scene remains active. The Taunton Police Department is on scene assisting and directing traffic.

The scene is expected to remain active for several hours and residents and drivers are asked to seek alternate routes.

The Taunton firefighters that rescued the man from the balcony were Tony Burton, John Gulan and Sarah Riendeau.

Further information will be provided when it becomes available.

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Taunton Police and Fire Departments Remind Residents that Use of Fireworks in Massachusetts is Illegal

July 1, 2019 by Benjamin Paulin Leave a Comment

TAUNTON — Police Chief Edward Walsh and Fire Chief Timothy Bradshaw would like to remind Taunton residents as the Fourth of July approaches that the use of fireworks is illegal in the state of Massachusetts.

It is illegal to use, possess, or sell fireworks of any kind in Massachusetts, including Class C fireworks, which are sometimes falsely called “safe and sane fireworks.” Class C fireworks include sparklers, party poppers, snappers, firecrackers, spinners, cherry bombs and more. Residents are also prohibited from purchasing fireworks elsewhere and transporting them into the state.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, during the month surrounding the Fourth of July, approximately 280 people nationwide go to the emergency room seeking treatment for injuries caused by fireworks every day.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, fireworks are also the cause of 18,500 fires on average each year.

This does not mean residents cannot enjoy fireworks displays over the course of the summer. However, Chief Walsh and Chief Bradshaw recommend that residents only attend celebrations put on by a licensed professional to ensure safety.

Residents should also remember to:

Watch fireworks displays from a safe distance.
Call 911 if anyone gets injured by fireworks.
Set a positive example for children by not using illegal fireworks. If kids see adults using them, they may not realize the dangers and could be encouraged to pick up matches or lighters.
Be careful around even the smallest fireworks. Sparklers burn at 1,800 degrees and could easily cause severe burns and injuries.

Anyone who has questions about fireworks or fireworks safety should contact the Taunton Fire Department at 508-824-4024 or the Taunton Police Department at 508-824-7522.

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