Brooklyn Colonial Club offers fire safety tips

October 25, 2017 By John Alexander Brooklyn Daily Eagle

From left: Firefighter Julius Pontecorvo, Colonial Club President Brian Chin, Vice President Roy Olsen and firefighter George Tabeek demonstrate fire safety tips. Eagle photo by John Alexander

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Did you know that baking soda is the best way to put out a grease fire?

At the most recent Colonial Club of Bay Ridge meeting on Oct. 19, FDNY firefighters Julius Pontecorvo and George Tabeek informative tips about what to do in order to keep your family and household safe during a fire.

Pontecorvo said that smoke and carbon monoxide detectors must be tested once a month and asked, “Does anyone know how many beeps are for smoke and how many are for carbon monoxide? The answer is three for smoke and four rapid beeps for carbon monoxide.”

Pontecorvo implored everyone to open their windows, call 911 and get out immediately if they hear the beeps. He illustrated the point by mentioning that he lost two friends in college to carbon monoxide poisoning, and said that if you fall asleep you might not wake up.

He also demonstrated a new product called Smoke Check, which tells you if your smoke detectors are working properly. He said that it costs about $8 and can easily be purchased online.

Pontecorvo also implored attendees to keep ABC fire extinguishers handy in case of an emergency. He suggested that one be kept in every room if possible. These extinguishers control Class A, Class B and Class C fires, which include trash, wood and paper, liquids and gases and electrical.

Other helpful tips Pontecorvo offered were that you never want to use water or an extinguisher on a kitchen or grease fire, but to use baking soda instead.

And if you do get burned, Pontecorvo warned, don’t use butter. It will only sizzle and boil. Put water on the burn instead.

Pontecorvo identified one of the biggest hazards as the dreaded space heater, which can cause a fire if left on overnight. Bed sheets or curtains can easily catch fire if the space heater is placed too close to them. Space heaters, he advised, should be kept at least 3 feet away from the bed.

And candles are another culprit. He cited a tragic fire that took place on Staten Island last winter as result of lit candles. “A child knocked a candle over while his father was in the shower. The house caught fire and the 42-year-father perished in the blaze,” said Pontecorvo. He explained that pets love the smell of candles and can easily knock them over.

“Don’t overload your outlets,” he added. “That’s another major cause of fires. “And if you are going to use an extension cord temporarily for the day, don’t forget to unplug it at night. And never run the cord underneath a rug. We find many fires are caused this way.”

Tabeek stressed the importance of having a fire escape plan in case of an emergency. He said window ladders are a good idea to have for every room, especially as a second and third floor means of escape. And he said they should be tested out and not just kept in a box waiting for an occurrence to happen.

The Colonial Club of Bay Ridge has a long history of presenting insightful and informative talks about community events and topics that pertain to its membership. The club is composed of civic leaders and professionals who play an active role in their neighborhood.

The Colonial Club holds its bimonthly meetings at restaurants in Bay Ridge.