Garland Fire Department demonstrates extinguishers, smoke-detector program at senior commission meeting

Jerry Cliff, with the Garland Fire Department, told the Garland Senior Citizens Commission that many people do not feel comfortable using a portable fire extinguisher and reviewed basic fire-safety steps and local programs.

"If you don't feel comfortable using it, it's useless," Cliff said, urging residents that extinguishers are a small, early-stage tool and not a substitute for evacuation. He and Philip Crawford demonstrated the PASS technique — "pull, aim, squeeze, sweep" — and advised users to stand about 6 feet from a small, beginning fire with their back to the exit so nothing blocks the escape route.

Cliff described common fire classes (A for combustibles, B for flammable liquids, C for energized electrical equipment) and recommended a multipurpose home extinguisher commonly sold as a "2A:8:10 BC" unit, which he said weighs about 8 pounds, sprays roughly 6 feet and discharges for about 60 seconds. He cautioned that extinguishers are a "Band-Aid" for very small fires and that once an extinguisher no longer controls a blaze, people should drop it and evacuate.

The presenters also reviewed maintenance and disposal: check the gauge to ensure the indicator is in the green; many units are recommended for replacement every 10 years; small home units often cost roughly $30–$50 new and may be less costly to replace than to refill. Cliff said local companies refill larger units but that for an individual household a new extinguisher is often the economical choice.

On smoke detectors, Cliff said Garland Fire will install smoke detectors at no cost for residents who are elderly, disabled or on fixed incomes and that the department offers both hardwired and battery-backed installation. He gave a department contact for scheduling: (972) 781-7100 and said the fire marshal's line (781-7148) will connect callers to the staff member who schedules installs. He advised residents to test detectors monthly and replace units that are more than 10 years old.

Cliff and Crawford also discussed newer linked smoke-detector systems that sound all alarms in a house when one sensor triggers, the nuisance of false activations in older hardwired systems, and the department's recommendation that homes have multiple detectors — in living areas, outside sleeping areas and in common rooms. They noted the department will respond to alarm calls to verify conditions and that, in the event of a building alarm, occupants should evacuate to a safe distance because emergency responders will arrive.

The presenters gave monthly call statistics from the fire department during the meeting, which the department recited aloud: 2,453 EMS runs; 1,761 treated; 1,774 patients; 1,075 transports; 32 fire calls; 49 hazmat calls; 324 public-service calls; and 116 false alarms. The presenters said there were no recent reported fatalities in the monthly summary they provided.

Cliff closed by stressing public education as the key to lowering residential-fire rankings, noting Garland's position on a national residential-fire list had improved over several years and encouraging seniors to use department services and to keep evacuation paths clear.

Ending: The commission did not take action during the presentation but welcomed follow-up: residents were told to call (972) 781-7100 to request free smoke-detector installation or to ask questions about extinguisher refilling and recycling at local transfer stations.