Please join us for our Community Blood Drive Proudly Hosted by Manlius Fire Department. This will take place in the community room of our wonderful station from 2:30PM to 7:30PM. Please call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org and enter: MANLIUSFIRE to make your lifesaving appointment today!
Water is a vital component of our daily lives – we consume it every day, but we also need it for our safety during emergencies such as fires. To illustrate how OCWA helps protect people against fire emergencies, we are happy to bring you a three-part series that covers: 1) how we communicate with local fire departments, 2) our proactive hydrant inspection/maintenance program and 3) our integrated water transportation network.
We’ll begin the series with how we stay in touch with fire departments in our five-county service territory during major fires.
When a structure fire occurs, OCWA is automatically notified of the exact location by 911 emergency services or fire control so that we can begin to evaluate how best to provide the necessary flow of water to hydrants in the area. From our 24/7 Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) centers, we are able to monitor and manage water levels of our entire water system in real time. If firefighters require additional water to certain areas, they can contact OCWA through 911 or fire control and we will deliver as much flow and pressure as possible via SCADA. In addition, the incident commander can request that an OCWA employee come directly to the scene to provide real-time guidance on how to obtain optimal flow from our system. 
Once the fire is extinguished, OCWA will typically send out field maintenance personnel to inspect the fire hydrants used. This not only ensures that hydrants are ready for use again, but also confirms whether excess water has been pumped out. This is necessary because water that has not been pumped out will freeze during the winter months and the affected hydrants will be inoperable for use unless properly thawed.
When a major fire occurs, it is not at all unusual for residents and businesses in the affected area to experience low water pressure when using appliances or fixtures. This is normal, as water in the area is typically diverted to the water system being used to fight the fire. Water pressure will revert to normal levels once the fire has been extinguished and less water is being used.
Using resources proactively enhances communication and information-sharing so that fire departments can know their water systems better and prepare for major fires.
One way in which we accomplish this is by our Water System Engineering Department providing free trainings to fire departments upon request that cover topics such as water systems, operating concepts and pressure zones. These trainings help fire departments to better understand the pressure, pipe size and flow of fire hydrants (as these vary) and identify high-risk areas in their service territory. Through these trainings, firefighters can more effectively use their water resources wherever a fire is located as well as prevent pipe breaks from pulling more water than a fire hydrant can handle.
Our long-standing commitment is to have ongoing coordination and communication with fire departments and emergency response personnel within the five counties we proudly serve. Through our technological capabilities and proactive approach, we are better able to serve 500,000+ residents and businesses in our five-county service area.
Nearly half a million Kidde smoke detectors are being recalled due to a very dangerous flaw: They don’t detect smoke.
The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced Wednesday that more than 450,000 Kidde smoke detectors are being recalled in the U.S., along with 40,000 in Canada.
Kidde says models PI2010 and PI9010, sold as “Kidde Dual Sensor (Photoelectric and Ionization) Smoke Alarms,” have a yellow protective cap “in limited instances” that may have been left on one of the two smoke sensors in affected products during the manufacturing process, which could limit the alarms’ ability to detect smoke. As a result of the oversight, owners could be at risk if a fire breaks out in their home.
According to Consumer Reports, the affected products were sold nationwide at Home Depot, Walmart, Amazon and other department, home and hardware stores between September 2016 and January 2018.
To find out if your smoke detector is recalled, CNET says the model should have a “pill shape” with model numbers PI2010 or PI9010 on the back. If it matches, consumers are encouraged to look inside to see if there’s a yellow cap, which would be blocking the smoke sensor; the cap will be visible without disassembling the detector.
If your unit is affected, please register for a replacement, Kidde says.
Photos and detailed instructions about how to check your detector are available on Kidde’s website.
All other Kidde smoke detectors are unaffected by the recall.
No injuries have been reported in connection with the affected products, Kidde said.
“As customer safety is our first priority, Kidde has worked closely with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and other relevant authorities to voluntarily initiate a recall and ensure that affected smoke alarms are replaced with different models as quickly as possible,” the company said in a statement.
Red Cross partners with firefighters to prevent deadly house fires
Teams will provide smoke alarms and education to neighbors
Posted: May 01, 2017 12:02 AM EDT
Updated: May 01, 2017 12:02 AM EDT
FAYETTEVILLE (WSYR-TV) – Some local fire departments are joining forces with the American Red Cross to reduce the number of deadly house fires.
Crews in Fayetteville, Kirkville, Manlius and Minoa have joined the program that offers home visits for families.
The partnership is the first of its kind in Central New York, providing both smoke alarms and education to neighbors.
“You reduce your risk of death by 50 percent in a fire if you have a working smoke detector. So, right there, it’s a small investment, that makes a huge impact if there was a fire,” says Fayetteville firefighter Jeffrey Jones.
For more information about Home Fire Campaign visits call 315-234-2299.
