Firefighter Exam Announcement:

The city of ithaca has announced an open-competitive exam for firefighter.

Applications will be accepted until May 7, 2008. The Examination will be held June 14, 2008. Click HERE for more information.

A terrible fire in Ccean Isle Beach, NC has claimed the lives of seven college students. The fire happened on 28 October, 2007. The North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner Dr. John Butts said that the students all died of smoke inhalation/carbon monoxide poisoning. Toxicology results indicated that six of the seven students had been drinking heavily.

Butts said there were smoke detectors in the house and that witnesses said the alarms did activate.

The house did not have a sprinkler system.

Read more about the fire HERE.

6-18-2007: A terrible fire in Charleston, South Carolina has led to the death of at least nine fire firefighters. This story continues to unfold. See the latest by clicking HERE.

The blaze swept through a furniture warehouse in a disaster the Charleston mayor described Tuesday as "difficult to fathom or quantify."

"Nine brave, heroic, courageous firefighters of the city of Charleston have perished fighting fire in a most courageous and fearless manner, carrying out their duties," Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley said at a morning news conference. "To all of their loved ones, our heart goes out to them."

03-08-2007: A tragic fire in New York City has led to the death of at least eight children and one adult. The fire was in a four story apartment building in The Bronx.

Initial reports suggest that a space heater may have been related to the cause the fire. Please use space heaters safely.

Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission offer two good resources on safe use of space heaters.

03-07-2007: We are seeing some bitter cold weather this week. Cold weather can play a role in your own health and safety.

The Centers for Disease Control has a guide for Extreme Cold: A Prevention Guide to Promote Your Personal Health and Safety and another on Carbon Monoxide Poisoning.

The American Red Cross also publishes an online guide: Severe Winter Weather Brings Added Safety Warnings.

02-14-2007: Heavy snow covers Ithaca. Ithaca's Fire Fighters continue to serve our community throughout the storm. Please note the City of Ithaca has declared a Snow Emergency. Travel safely and only if you must. The American Automobile Association (AAA) has useful tips on driving safely in winter weather.

Don't Let a Snow Forecast Also Forecast Your Heart Attack: Check out these Heart-Health Tips from the American Heart Association.

Please help clear snow away from fire hydrants. The Ithaca Fire Department wants to remind everyone that if there is a fire hydrant near your property, please take a few moments and shovel the snow away from it. Clearing the snow away from a hydrant increases its visibility and can save precious time when firefighters need to hook up to the hydrant in a hurry.

 

01-02-2007: Candles are becoming an increasingly prevalent cause of home fires. According to the NFPA, candles started fires in 18,000 homes in 2001, a 15 percent rise from 2000, and more than triple the number in 1990. The National Candle Association has lots of good information on how to use candles safely.

10-24-2006: The Ithaca Fire Department Fire Prevention Bureau (FPB) would like to help people who rent within the City and Town of Ithaca understand more about smoke detectors and what to do if they sound. Please check out the FPB's Smoke Detector Fact Sheet.

10-21-2006: The United States Fire Administration has a great Kids Fire Safety site.

10-21-2006: FEMA has a "FEMA For Kids" site you may be interested in.

10-21-2006: We have added some fire safety info on our Public Education Page.

10-20-2006: Check out our coverage of IFD's Annual Memorial Service HERE.