SAFETY
Prevention · Preparedness · Protection

The Best CallIs The OneWe Never Get.

Most home fires are preventable, and most fire deaths happen in homes without working smoke alarms. Here is what we want every North Syracuse household to know.

 
In an emergency, get out and dial 911 — never re-enter a burning building.
Start Here

Smoke Alarms.

A working smoke alarm roughly halves your risk of dying in a home fire. It is the single highest-value thing in this entire guide.

  • One smoke alarm inside every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level including the basement.
  • Test every alarm monthly by pressing the test button until it sounds.
  • Replace batteries at least once a year — daylight saving time is an easy reminder.
  • Replace the whole alarm every 10 years, even if it still chirps on test.
  • Never remove a battery to silence nuisance cooking alarms. Move the alarm or use a photoelectric model instead.
Two Minutes To Get Out

Home Escape Plan.

Modern furnishings burn fast. You may have as little as two minutes from the first alarm to get everyone out.

  • Draw a floor plan with two ways out of every room — usually a door and a window.
  • Pick one meeting place a safe distance out front, like a specific mailbox or streetlight.
  • Practice the plan twice a year, once in the dark, with everyone in the house.
  • Make sure windows and screens open easily and security bars have quick releases.
  • Once you're out, stay out. Call 911 from outside and tell crews if anyone is still inside.
Around The House

Where Fires Actually Start.

Cooking

Cooking is the leading cause of home fires. Stay in the kitchen while frying, keep towels and packaging clear of burners, and keep a lid nearby to smother a pan fire. Never move a burning pan or put water on a grease fire.

Heating

Keep anything that burns three feet from space heaters, wood stoves, and furnaces. Plug heaters directly into the wall — never into a power strip — and shut them off when you leave a room or go to bed. Have chimneys inspected annually.

Carbon Monoxide

CO is odorless and invisible. Install CO alarms outside each sleeping area and on every level. Never run a generator, grill, or vehicle in an attached garage or near a window. If an alarm sounds, get everyone outside and call 911.

Electrical

One heat-producing appliance per outlet. Replace cords that are cracked, warm, or frayed, and never run them under rugs. Warm outlets, flickering lights, or repeated breaker trips mean it's time for an electrician.

Extinguishers

Keep an ABC-rated extinguisher on each level and in the kitchen. Remember PASS: Pull, Aim at the base, Squeeze, Sweep. Only fight a small, contained fire, with your back to a clear exit — and only after everyone else is out and 911 is called.

Lithium Batteries

Charge e-bikes, scooters, and power tools away from exits and never overnight while you sleep. Use only the manufacturer's charger, and stop using any battery that swells, smells, or overheats.

Year-Round

Season By Season.

Winter

Space heaters, chimneys, and candles drive our busiest fire season. Clear snow away from hydrants near your home so crews don't lose minutes digging.

Spring

Check that dryer vents are clear of lint, and follow New York's open-burn restrictions — residential brush burning is prohibited March 16 through May 14.

Summer

Keep grills at least ten feet from the house and off porches. Check propane hoses for leaks with soapy water before the first cookout.

Fall

Change smoke and CO alarm batteries, service the furnace before the first cold night, and keep leaves away from outdoor heat sources.

 
We'll Come To You

Need Help Or A Station Visit?

We can talk through alarm placement, walk a family through an escape plan, or host your group at the firehouse. Call the station at (315) 458-1920 during business hours.

Call The Station Volunteer With Us →
Station Address
109 Chestnut St., North Syracuse, NY 13212
Contact
Non-emergency: (315) 458-1920
Emergencies: dial 911
Serving Since
1913 · 110+ years, 100% volunteer