All posts by Michael McLeieer

Holiday Fire Safety Tips 2024 MI SAFE, Safety, WXMI Fox 17,
20
Dec 2024

When a home catches fire, families have less than two minutes to get out safely, that’s why FOX 17 partnered with E.S.C.A.P.E. Inc. to help get more smoke alarms into homes across West Michigan. To date, the Keep Michigan Safe initiative has provided more than 1,000 smoke alarms to viewers, and their local fire departments have helped install them correctly. The Red Cross has also been instrumental in helping protect people with smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

Fires increase dramatically in the winter months, and the holiday season provides its own unique dangers. Don’t burn real candles, use the battery-powered versions to eliminate risk. Make sure to unplug/turn off holiday light displays when you leave the house and overnight. Don’t put gifts or decorations in the way of exits and escape routes. Close bedroom doors at bedtime to help prevent fires from spreading.

For more information on fire prevention tips, or to reach out about getting a smoke alarm installed, head to escapeinc.org, fox17online.com/safe or call toll free (844) 978-4400.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are links to holiday fire safety tips stories which aired live on Fox 17 and WKZO AM 590 and FM 106.9.

Thanksgiving Fire Safety Tips 2024 MI SAFE, WKZO, WXMI Fox 17
26
Nov 2024

Fox 17 Morning News 8:20 a.m. Interview 11/25/2024

Fox 17 Morning Mix 10:05 a.m. Interview 11/26/2024

WKZO AM 590 and FM 106.9 9:10 a.m. Interview 11/25/2024

Enjoy Thanksgiving and Prevent a Home Fire

Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires

The kitchen is the heart of the home, especially at Thanksgiving.  From testing family recipes to decorating cakes and cookies, everyone enjoys being part of the preparations.  Kids especially love to be involved in holiday preparations.  However, keeping fire safety top of mind in the kitchen during this joyous but hectic time is important, especially on Thanksgiving Day when there is a lot of activity and people at home.

According to the United States Fire Administration, Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires and frying food increases the risk.  The average number of reported home fires in the United States on Thanksgiving Day is more than double the average number of home fires on all other days.  According to the National Fire Protection Association, Thanksgiving Day fires in residential buildings occurred most frequently from noon to 3 p.m., when many people most likely were preparing Thanksgiving dinner.  These fires then declined throughout the evening.

As you start preparing your holiday schedule and organizing that large family feast, remember to play it safe!  E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire Safety offers a few simple tips so you can enjoy time with your loved ones and keep yourself and your family safer from fire.

Turkey:

If you are roasting your turkey, make sure you set a timer.  This way, you won’t forget about the bird as you watch the parade or football game.

Deep frying a turkey may be delicious but it also can be dangerous.  If you are frying your turkey,

    • Use a fryer with thermostat controls.  This will ensure the oil does not become over heated.

     

    • Thaw your turkey completely.  Ice on the bird will cause the oil to splatter.

     

    • Don’t overfill the pot with oil.  If you do, the oil will overflow when you add the turkey causing a fire hazard.

     

    • Keep children and pets at least 3-feet away from the fryer to protect against burn injuries.

     

    • Also, always use the fryer outdoors on a sturdy, level surface away from things that can burn.

     

Stuffing and Potatoes:

Stand by your stove when you are boiling your potatoes or frying onions for the stuffing.  It’s best to stay in the kitchen when you are frying, boiling or broiling.  If you are in the kitchen, it’s easier to catch spills or hazardous conditions before they become a fire.

 

 

Vegetables:

  • Keep the area around the stove clear of food packaging, paper towels, and dish cloths; anything that can burn.

 

  • Be sure to clean up any spills as they happen.

 

  • Be prepared!  Keep a large pan lid or baking sheet handy in case you need to smother a pan fire.

 

  • Turn pot handles towards the back of the stove so you don’t bump them.

 

By following these safety tips, you will have a delicious and fire safe Thanksgiving!  Remember to let the firefighters have dinner with their families, not yours.

 

It’s Fire Prevention Week 2024 E.S.C.A.P.E., Fire Prevention Month, MI SAFE, WXMI Fox 17
06
Oct 2024

October 6, 2024 – It’s Fire Prevention Week (October 6 – 12)!  This year’s theme is Smoke Alarms:  Make Them WORK For You! ™

Working smoke alarms significantly increases your chances of surviving a deadly home fire.  Roughly three out of five fire deaths happen in homes with either no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

 

Here are some links to stories from our media partners to Keep Michigan S.A.F.E.

Download the home fire escape map pictured below here

 

 

 

OSHA Standard Uncategorized
30
May 2024

OSHA Proposed Emergency Response Standard

On February 5, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to modernize the agency’s “Fire Brigades” standard with a proposed new “Emergency Response Standard.” This NPRM’s publication triggered the beginning of a public comment period that is scheduled to conclude June 21, 2024 (now extended to July 21, 2024).

While many of the proposed provisions would be helpful and improve the safety of emergency responders, many of the new requirements would be very burdensome, and in many cases impossible, for volunteer fire and emergency service departments to comply with. If the standard is adopted in its current form, many departments would be forced to shut their doors or else operate outside of the federal standard, leaving themselves open to fines, citations, and huge civil liability exposure.

Nothing in the proposed standard is final at this stage, so now is the time to take action. It is critical that members of the fire and emergency services submit a public comment explaining what should be changed in the proposed standard and why. Here are resources to help you better understand the standard and how to submit an effective comment.

05/31/2024 Michigan State Firemen’s Association Webinar and Resources

View the Proposed Standard

Take Action

Additional Resources

Michigan Resources

Sample Letters and Comments

For more information including current updates, visit https://www.nvfc.org/osha-standard/

Read More
Be Fire Safe on Black Friday and Throughout the Holiday Season E.S.C.A.P.E., Safety, WKZO,
24
Nov 2023

Interview with Firefighter Michael McLeieer, president and founder of E.S.C.A.P.E. Inc. on the WKZO Morning Show – 11/24/2023 7:50 a.m.

When most people think about the holidays, family festivals and good cheer with friends likely come to mind. What few of us consider is that the holidays also present an increased risk of home fires. Home fires during the holiday season often involve Candles, Christmas trees, holiday decorations and lights. By taking some preventative steps, using common sense and following some simple rules, most home fires can be prevented during the holidays and beyond.

Candles

  • Candles are widely used in homes throughout the holidays; December is the peak month for home candle fires.

 

  • More than half of all candle fires start because the candles had been too close to things that could catch fire.

 

  • When burning candles, keep them at least 1-foot away from anything that can burn (create a 1-foot circle of safety), and remember to blow them out when you leave the room or go to bed.

 

  • Use candle holders that are sturdy, won’t tip over and are placed on uncluttered surfaces. Avoid using candles in the bedroom, where two of five U.S. candle fires begin, or other areas where people may fall asleep.

 

  • Never leave a child or pets alone in a room with a burning candle.

 

  • Consider using flameless candles, which look and smell like real candles.

 

Christmas Trees, Holiday Decorations and Lights

  • U.S. fire departments annually respond to an average of 250 structure fires caused by Christmas trees. Nearly half of them are caused by electrical problems, and one in four resulted from a heat source that’s too close to the tree.

 

  • If you have an artificial tree, be sure it’s labeled, certified or identified by the manufacturer as fire-retardant. If you choose a fresh tree, make sure the green needles don’t fall off when touched; before placing it in the stand, cut 1-2” from the base of the trunk. Add water to the tree stand and be sure to water it daily.

 

  • Make sure your tree is not blocking an exit and is at least three feet away from any heat source, like fireplaces, space heaters, radiators, candles and heat vents or lights.

 

  • Use lights that have the label of an independent testing laboratory, and make sure you know whether they are designed for indoor or outdoor use. Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords, or loose bulb connections. Connect no more than three strands of mini-string sets and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs.

 

  • Plug decorations directly into outlets. Avoid using and overloading extension cords and power strips.

 

  • Never use lit candles to decorate the tree.

 

  • Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving the home or going to bed.

 

Give the Gift of Safety – smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, escape ladders.

 

E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire Safety reminds you by following these simple yet important safety tips, everyone in your family will have a “fire-safe” holiday season!

For more holiday fire safety tips, visit www.escapeinc.org or call toll free 1-844-978-4400.

Other Holiday fire safety tips links:

Thanksgiving Fire Safety: How to avoid disaster in the kitchen E.S.C.A.P.E., Safety, WXMI Fox 17,
21
Nov 2023


Thanksgiving is all about the food, and the kitchen can be a chaotic place as families get all the goods ready for the feast. This also makes Thanksgiving the most common time for cooking fires; when there are more than double the average of any other day.

To avoid disaster this holiday season, E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire Safety offers a few simple tips so families can enjoy time with loved ones and keep themselves safer from fire.

If you are roasting your turkey, make sure you set a timer. This way, you won’t forget about the bird as you watch the parade or football game.

Deep frying a turkey may be delicious but it also can be dangerous. If frying a turkey:

  • Use a fryer with thermostat controls. This will ensure the oil does not become overheated.
  • Thaw your turkey completely. Ice on the bird will cause the oil to splatter.
  • Don’t overfill the pot with oil. The oil will overflow when adding the turkey causing a fire hazard.
  • Keep children and pets at least 3 feet away from the fryer to protect against burn injuries.
  • Also, always use the fryer outdoors on a sturdy, level surface away from things that can burn.

Stuffing and Potatoes:

  • Stand by the stove when boiling potatoes or frying onions for the stuffing. It’s best to stay in the kitchen when frying, boiling, or broiling. It’s easier to catch spills or hazardous conditions before they become a fire.

Vegetables:

  • Keep the area around the stove clear of food packaging, paper towels, and dishcloths; anything that can burn.
  • Be sure to clean up any spills as they happen.
  • Be prepared! Keep a large pan lid or baking sheet handy in case you need to smother a pan fire.
  • Turn pot handles towards the back of the stove so you don’t bump them.

By following these safety tips, families can have a safe, fire-free Thanksgiving!

 

Thanksgiving fire safety tips on WKZO AM 590 and FM 106.9 E.S.C.A.P.E., Safety, WKZO,
21
Nov 2023

Thanksgiving Day is a time to spend with family and friends.  It’s also the peak day of the year for home fires.  Michael McLeieer, president and founder of E.S.C.A.P.E. Inc. spoke with Ken Lanphear on the WKZO Morning Show on Tuesday 11/21/2023 at 7:50 a.m. and shared several tips to prevent a home fire.

 

Practicing safe cooking this Thanksgiving and avoiding home cooking fires E.S.C.A.P.E., Safety, WXMI Fox 17,
20
Nov 2023

The kitchen is an important place as we move through the week of Thanksgiving. It makes keeping fire safety in mind important, especially when there is a lot of activity and a lot of people in the home.

The United States Fire Administration says Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires and frying food increases the risk. The average number of reported home fires in the United States on Thanksgiving Day is more than double the average number of home fires on all other days. According to the National Fire Protection Association, Thanksgiving Day fires in residential buildings occurred most frequently from noon to 3 p.m., when many people most likely were preparing Thanksgiving dinner.

Michael McLeieer with E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire Safety joined FOX 17 to share some simple tips to keep everyone safe.

Turkey:

  • If you are roasting a turkey, make sure you set a timer so you don’t forget about it as you watch the parade or football game

Deep frying a turkey:

  • Use a fryer with thermostat controls to make sure the oil does not become overheated
  • Thaw your turkey completely. Ice on the bird will cause oil to splatter
  • Don’t overfill the pot with oil
  • Keep children and pets at least three-feet away from the fryer to protect against burn injuries
  • Always use the fryer outdoors on a sturdy, level surface away from anything that can burn

Stuffing and Potatoes:

  • Stand by your stove while boiling tomatoes or frying onions. it makes it easier to catch spills or hazardous conditions before they become a fire.