As college students move in to new apartments this week, now is a good time for them to check and make sure they have working fire alarms.
We all were tragically reminded of the importance of this early Wednesday morning, when a four-alarm fire destroyed an apartment building on Myrick Street in Allston, Mass., a community popular with college students. After it took about five-and-a-half hours to put the blaze out 11 college students and young professionals who lived in the building were displaced .
Fire investigators said it could have been much worse because the two-and-a-half story house had inadequate smoke detectors and sprinkler protection, according to Boston Fire Commissioner Joe Finn. Damage to the building was estimated at around $1 million.
“We’re very fortunate last night that we didn’t have a loss of life,” Finn told WBZ NewsRadio 1030. “I think the fact that the tenants who were on that third floor weren’t home is probably the reason why, because I think if they were home, they never would have made it out.”
Fire inspectors think the fire started in a rear bathroom, but they were still trying determine the cause. The fire commissioner said investigators found several issues with the house.
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Merry and Bright: Holiday Electrical Safety Tips
/by American Alarm Blogging TeamWe’ve compiled a list of safety tips to help you keep the lights on:
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Preventing Retail Chaos and Organized Crime on Black Friday
/by American Alarm Blogging TeamIn episode 2 of our Loss Prevention Podcast Series, National Retail Federation’s Vice President of Loss Prevention, Bob Moraca, speaks about his take on organized retail crime, loss prevention strategies and how retailers can prepare themselves for the chaos and potential hazards of the upcoming Black Friday shopping mania.
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Food Safety Tips for a Happy, Healthy Thanksgiving
/by American Alarm Blogging TeamYou’re looking forward to enjoying awesome food and drink, great conversation and maybe even a football game or two. You’re hoping that your guests will leave with great memories. The last thing you want is for everyone to remember a holiday filled with tummy aches – or worse.
Thankfully, there are some very steps you can take to prevent a foodborne illness from hitting your Thanksgiving guests. Read more →
Fire Safety for Religious Properties
/by American Alarm Blogging TeamFrom 2007 to 2011, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 1,780 structure fires in religious and funeral properties each year, according to a 2013 report from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
Most of those fires, however, involved religious properties, with just four percent taking place in funeral parlors. On average, those fires resulted in two civilian deaths, 19 civilian injuries, and $111 million in property damage per year, the NFPA noted. Read more →
Home Safety Seasonal Checklist
/by American Alarm Blogging TeamWhether springing forward or falling back, Daylight Saving Time is the perfect opportunity for a home safety seasonal checkup. Here’s a quick checklist.
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5 Tips to a Scary Safe Halloween
/by American Alarm Blogging TeamNew England has a lot of spooky fun to offer up during Halloween. From haunted hayrides to witch tours through Salem, there are lots of ways to get your scare on. Whatever fun you’re brewing up this year, it’s important to keep safety in mind. Here are five safety tips to abide by this Halloween.
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Fall Fire Safety Tips
/by American Alarm Blogging TeamDon’t forget, when you turn your clocks back on November 6 to signal the end of daylight savings time, remember to change the batteries in your smoke detectors and your carbon monoxide detectors if they are not hardwired.
You should also replace CO alarms every five years and smoke alarms every 10 years so be sure to check their expiration dates when you change the batteries.
Here are some other fall fire safety tips that you should keep in mind:
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5 Tips to Protect Yourself Online
/by American Alarm Blogging TeamAnother way is to safeguard your online identity. Whenever you connect to the Internet you are at risk of falling victim to a hacker who can steal your credit card numbers, passwords, tax information or even completely disable your device.
Follow these five tips to help you protect yourself online:
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September Is College Campus Fire Safety Month
/by American Alarm Blogging TeamWe all were tragically reminded of the importance of this early Wednesday morning, when a four-alarm fire destroyed an apartment building on Myrick Street in Allston, Mass., a community popular with college students. After it took about five-and-a-half hours to put the blaze out 11 college students and young professionals who lived in the building were displaced .
Fire investigators said it could have been much worse because the two-and-a-half story house had inadequate smoke detectors and sprinkler protection, according to Boston Fire Commissioner Joe Finn. Damage to the building was estimated at around $1 million.
“We’re very fortunate last night that we didn’t have a loss of life,” Finn told WBZ NewsRadio 1030. “I think the fact that the tenants who were on that third floor weren’t home is probably the reason why, because I think if they were home, they never would have made it out.”
Fire inspectors think the fire started in a rear bathroom, but they were still trying determine the cause. The fire commissioner said investigators found several issues with the house.
Read more →
After School Safety Tips for Kids Home Alone
/by American Alarm Blogging TeamThe truth is, no matter how sensible you think your kids are, you are still going to worry about them. If leaving your kids home alone is your only option, there are steps you can take to keep them safe.
If your child will be home alone after school you should: