To obtain a fire or EMS record, please call (281) 452-5782, ext. 2 and speak with Sharon Drake during business hours Monday through Thursday 7am – 5pm or Friday 8am – noon. Requests may also be faxed to (281) 860-0019.

Ventilation of a building is one of the most important, yet least understood, firefighting tactics. Fire conditions inside a building usually involve high temperatures and poor to zero visibility. In addition to slowing the attack of the fire, this heat and smoke is damaging all of the contents of the building. Depending upon conditions, heat and smoke can create very dangerous conditions resulting in backdraft (smoke explosion) or flashover (extremely rapid ignition). Smoke is really nothing more than unburned fuel; almost all of the constituents of smoke are combustible. High temperature smoke is particularly dangerous. By opening a large hole in the roof heat and smoke can quickly be removed from the structure. This rapidly improves conditions inside the building.

We are not currently participating in this event, but can point you in the right direction. Please contact Amy Spoerle with Harris County ESD #1. Aspoerle@hcec.com (281) 449-3131

• For Current Burns Bans in Harris County, click here.
• The outdoor burning rule prohibits outdoor burning anywhere in Texas, but allows exceptions for specific situations in which burning is necessary and does not pose a threat to the environment. For a guide to outdoor burning including information about how to answer “Can I Burn?” please download the following document.

Smoke detector batteries should last at least one year under normal conditions.

Residential fire deaths have decreased steadily as the number of homes with smoke detectors has increased. Reports from the National Fire Protection Association on residential fire deaths show that people have nearly a 50 percent better chance of surviving a fire if their home has the recommended number of smoke detectors.

Smoke detectors that are 10 years old are near the end of their service life and should be replaced. A smoke detector monitors the air 24 hours a day. At the end of 10 years, it has gone through over 3.5 million monitoring cycles. After this much use, components may become less reliable. This means that as the detector gets older, the potential of failing to detect a fire increases. Replacing them after 10 years reduces this possibility.

Please consider the following safety tips to ensure your Holidays are safe.

Holiday Fires:

The year-end holiday season of Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s Eve is also fire season, a prime time for residential fires. Decorative lights, candles, parties where people drink and smoke, and, most of all, the onset of the heating season, increase the likelihood of a fire. Turkey fryers are one of the more common causes of accidental fires this time of year. Please use your fryer according to the manufacturer’s instructions away from any combustibles such as your house. Using a turkey fryer in a garage is not safe.

Choose Fire-Safe Toys:

When buying children’s presents, avoid toys made of highly flammable materials, and be sure that all electric toys bear the label of an independent testing laboratory.

Give Space Heaters Their Space:

Keep space heaters at least three feet (one meter) away from furniture, bedding, walls, clothing and other things that can burn. Always use the proper fuel for liquid-fueled heaters, be sure they are vented properly, and refill them only in well-ventilated areas and when they are cool. Make sure the type of space heater you use is legal in your area and bears the label of an independent testing laboratory.

Holiday Lights:

Be sure all indoor and outdoor holiday lights bear the label of an independent testing laboratory. Throw away any sets of lights with cracked or frayed cords or loose or damaged sockets. Do not overload electrical outlets or run extension cords under carpets, across doorways, or near heaters. Be sure extension cords aren’t pinched behind or under furniture, and unplug all decorative lights before leaving your home or going to bed. Never use electric lights on a metal Christmas tree.

Party Safety:

Use only flame-retardant or noncombustible materials for costumes and decorations. Use chafing dishes with caution. Provide smokers with large, deep non-tip ashtrays, and keep an eye on anyone who is drinking and smoking.

Watch Children:

Use only lighters with a child-resistant feature. Keep all matches and lighters out of children’s reac,h up high and preferably in a locked cabinet. Teach young children to stay away from candles, fireplaces and space heaters. Teach and supervise older children to light candles and fireplace fires safely.

Christmas Trees:

Choose a freshly cut Christmas tree. If you’re not cutting it yourself, buy a tree thats not shedding its needles. Cut the trunk at an angle and install the tree in a large, deep, non-tip stand well away from fireplaces, exits and heat sources. Be sure your tree has a constant supply of water; check the level daily. Remove your tree promptly if it becomes dry. Store it well away from your home until you can dispose of it. If you use an artificial tree, be sure its flame-retardant.

Fireplaces:

Have your chimney inspected by a professional at least once a year and have it cleaned if necessary. Always use a fire screen, and burn only material appropriate for fireplaces. Never burn trash or paper in a fireplace; burning paper can float up your chimney and onto your roof or into your yard. Remove ashes in a metal container. Because they may rekindle, never store ashes in your home.

Candles:

Before you light them, put candles in non-tip candle holders. Never burn candles near a Christmas tree or combustible decorations or displays. Keep candles well away from curtains and other combustibles, and never put candles in windows or near exits. Don’t leave candles burning unattended or within the reach of small children. Extinguish candles before you leave a room or go to bed.