December 2011 - DFS Briefs - Monthly Updates from the Department of Fire Services

                                    

 

In our November issue of DFS Briefs, we focused on our new public awareness campaign on cooking safety.  In this issue, as we are now into the Winter Season, I wanted to remind you of the information available on the Keep Warm, Keep Safe campaign, already in its fourth season.  Heating caused more than 14,000 fires over the past five years and is the number two cause of home fires in Massachusetts.  Already we have had incidents of people perishing in their homes from the use of unvented space heaters that use fuels such as kerosene or liquid propane gas.  These are illegal in Massachusetts because of the enormous risk of both fire and carbon monoxide poisoning.  Help us in spreading the word in your community with the information and many resources that are available on our website www.mass.gov/keepwarmkeepsafe.   

In this issue you will also find an advisory on how to code blown-in insulation fires in MFIRS/NFIRS, a detailed memo on our new streamlined license system which gives you the ability to look up real-time data on any license, permit, or registration issued by our office.  See also the safety flyers on Ice and Cold Water Safety. Please be sure to avail yourself to all the important information contained in the December 2011 DFS Briefs.

If you have comments, questions and suggestions about DFS Briefs, then please email me at Stephen.Coan@state.ma.us