Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, highly toxic gas that is undetectable to the human senses.  It is a by-product of combustion, present whenever fuel is burned, like wood, natural gas, gasoline, diesel fuel, coal, charcoal, propane, kerosene, etc.

What you need to know

• All single family and two-unit homes (both new and existing) must install a CO alarm on every floor level, near sleeping areas
• New construction must be hard-wired with a battery back-up
• Existing homes may install any type of CO alarms; battery, plug-in, or combination smoke/CO devices
• A carbon monoxide detector required under this section shall bear an Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL) listing mark
• The law took effect February 1, 2011
• Alarms should be installed in accordance with directions from the manufacturer.

Exceptions

• CO alarms are only required in new and existing homes that have any fuel burning appliance, which includes stoves, ovens, grills clothes dryers, furnaces, boilers, water heaters, fireplaces and heaters OR an attached garage
• Alarms do not need to be installed in the attic, garage or storage area of homes

Maintenance

• Test alarms monthly
• Replace alarms according to manufacturer instructions
• Check batteries and replace twice per year
• Alarms should never be disconnected or unplugged
• Batteries should never be removed for other uses

This information based on Wisconsin Act 158 and Wisconsin Department of Safety & Professional Services.

Wausau Fire Department has a limited number of carbon monoxide detectors available for City of Wausau homeowners.  Please call 715-261-7900 for more information or to see if you qualify.

A grease fire happens when your cooking oil becomes too hot.  When heating, oils first start to boil, then they'll start smoking, and THEN they will catch on fire.  Most vegetable oils have a smoking temperature around 450 degrees Fahrenheit, while animal fats, like lard or goose fat will start smoking around 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

If your oil gets too hot and catches on fire, do the following:

• Turn of the heat!  Don't try to move the pot. You might accidentally splash yourself or your kitchen with burning oil. And that would be bad.
• Cover the fire with a metal lid!  Fire cannot exist in the absence of oxygen. With the lid on (and the heat off), the fire should quickly consume all the oxygen and put itself out. Use a metal lid since glass will shatter.
• Pour on baking soda!  Baking soda will extinguish grease fires, but only if they're small. It takes a lot of baking soda to do the job.
• Spray the pot with a Class B Dry Chemical Fire Extinguisher!  This is your last resort, as fire extinguishers will contaminate your kitchen. Still, it's better than the alternative if the fire is getting out of control.
• Get out and call 911!  If the fire does break out of control, don't try to be a hero. Get out and find a phone to call 911.

DO NOT DO THE FOLLOWING:

• Do Not Use Water - Pouring water can cause the oil to splash and spread the fire. The vaporizing water can also carry grease particles in it, also spreading the fire.
• Do Not Move the Pot or Carry It Outside - Throwing the pot outside might seem logical in the frenzy of the moment. But trying to move the pot might splash burning oil on you, your home, and anything outside.
• Do Not Throw Any Other Baking Product On the Fire - Flour might look like baking soda, but it won't react the same. Only baking soda can help put out a grease fire.

As our parents always told us when we were young....practice makes perfect!  That is why firefighters, police officers, and other emergency personnel train and practice their duties every day to make sure they do their job to the absolute best of their ability in every circumstance. 

It is also VERY important to families, especially with children, to have an escape plan from their home in case an unfortunate incident would ever happen. 

Your ability to get out of a burning house safely depends on advanced warning from working smoke detectors and advanced planning of an escape plan.

NFPA: How to make a home fire escape plan and safety tips (pdf)

Fireworks are something that many people, kids and adults alike, look forward to year after year.  Unfortunately, emergency rooms across the United States treat an average of 8,800 people for fireworks related injuries yearly.  Fireworks are also responsible for an average of 1,100 home and 300 vehicle fires per year.  More fires are reported on Independence Day than on any other day of the year and fireworks are responsible for half of these fires.

FAQ

What are the laws in the City of Wausau for lighting off fireworks?

• If it leaves the ground or explodes and goes boom, it is not allowed in the City of Wausau without a permit (link to permit - pdf).
• Please review the Wisconsin Fireworks Law 2014 for more clarification on what is allowed and what is not within the City of Wausau.

Did you know that smoke alarms are only good for 10 years then you have to get new ones?

Here is why alarms are only good for 10 years;

• 10 years of dust and dirt have accumulated inside your smoke detector.
• Even if your smoke detector has never sounded, it has performed over 3.5 million “air sensing” cycles over 10 years.
• The most common type of smoke alarm (ionization) utilizes a radioactive substance that breaks down which can make your alarm less sensitive to smoke.
• Photoelectric smoke detectors use a beam of light to detect smoke which also loses its effectiveness over time.

It is also extremely important to test your smoke detectors monthly to make sure that are in working order.  Un-tested detectors are half as dependable as tested ones.  To test your detectors do the following: 

• Hold the test button in on the alarm until it beeps.  Do this once a month to all alarms.
• If the alarm fails to sound, replace the battery to see if that remedies the problem.
• NEVER use real smoke to test an alarm such as cigarette smoke or smoke from a match or candle.  Smoke contains carbon which can deposit inside your smoke detector essentially making it “dirty” inside.
• Replace any alarms that fail to sound immediately if they are found to be faulty.
• When replacing alarms, make sure both smoke alarm sensing technologies (Ionization and Photoelectric) are present in your home.

The Wausau Fire Department has a limited number of smoke detectors available at no cost to City of Wausau homeowners.  You must meet certain qualifications.  Please call 715-261-7900 for more information.