New program in South Milwaukee gives seniors free, lightweight fire extinguishers
A small kitchen fire broke out in the apartment of an elderly South Milwaukee woman during the summer of 2022.
The woman attempted to use a fire extinguisher, but she couldn’t operate it because the extinguisher was too heavy, according to South Milwaukee Fire Chief John Litchford.
It’s this story, along with residents of Marquette Manor, a senior living facility in South Milwaukee, inquiring about lighter and smaller extinguishers that led the South Milwaukee Fire Department to launch the Fire Safety for Seniors program.
“The fire service has a long history of identifying concerns and needs,” Litchford said. “Then, we work toward finding a solution. The close connection we have with our community allows this.”
What is the Fire Safety for Seniors program?
This new initiative provides senior citizens with a free, lightweight fire extinguisher ― specifically a 2½-pound, Class A, B and C extinguisher.
Fire extinguishers come in various weights with 5-pound and 10-pound extinguishers being some of the most commonly mounted inside apartment complexes and commercial businesses. However, some extinguishers can weigh 20 pounds or more.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, fire extinguishers are classified by what types of fires they will handle. Class A focuses on ordinary combustible materials like wood, paper and cloth. Class B extinguishers are for flammable liquids, combustible liquids, flammable gases, petroleum greases, tars, oils and more. Class C is for energized electrical equipment fires.
There are additional classes, but most residential or commercial extinguishers typically cover these three categories.
The initiative kicked off with a Fire Safety for Seniors event at Marquette Manor earlier this summer, according to a Sept. 12 news release from the City of South Milwaukee. At the event, 75 fire extinguishers were distributed to seniors.
As of Sept. 13, the fire department has delivered over 120 extinguishers, according to Litchford.
“The South Milwaukee Fire Department provides excellent service to our citizens,” South Milwaukee Mayor Jim Shelenske said in a statement. “I am proud of this innovative idea that addresses a need in our community. Thanks to this program, our seniors will be safer.”
How can someone get one of these extinguishers?
Senior citizens (65 or older) can submit a request on the fire department website, www.smfdwi.org, or call 414-768-8191, according to the release.
Can anyone purchase an extinguisher from the city?
No, the city won’t sell them directly to residents. Litchford said they are “the same ones that are sold in stores.”
“These extinguishers are not unique, and we don’t have any customization,” he said.
How do you properly use a fire extinguisher?
A pamphlet on the Fire Safety for Seniors program from the South Milwaukee Fire Department goes over the "PASS" protocol:
P: Pull the pin.
A: Aim at the base of the fire.
S: Squeeze the lever.
S: Sweep the fire.
It's recommended to stand 6 to 8 feet back from the fire while spraying the fire.
Outside of using an extinguisher, a pot lid or similar object can be used to extinguish a small cooking fire by suffocating it. Be sure to turn off the heat source.
To avoid fires, the department recommends using a timer while cooking, staying in the kitchen if frying, grilling or broiling food, and remaining in the home if baking, roasting or boiling food to check it regularly.
What is the annual cost of the program?
“We don’t have an annual cost, as of yet,” Litchford said. “However, what we have seen is that the extinguishers sell for around $30.”
Paul Davis Fire Restoration donated 150 extinguishers to the South Milwaukee Fire Department after receiving a donation from Precision Electric, Litchford said.
Since that initial donation, the department has received grants from the Bucyrus Foundation and Warm Up Winter ― two local nonprofits.
“These grants will help to continue safety programs in South Milwaukee,” Litchford said.
Are any other fire departments offering a similar program?
Litchford reached out to several fire departments nationwide but didn’t find any similar programs.
“Not to say there isn’t one; I didn’t find anything like this,” he said.
But since the initiative launched, Litchford said other fire chiefs have expressed interest in creating similar programs.
Who came up with the idea?
“There was more than just a single person who spearheaded this program,” Litchford said. “It was a team effort at the start. The community showed the department an issue and a need, and we worked together to create partnerships with local companies and nonprofits.”
Litchford highlighted the South Milwaukee Professional Firefighters Local 1633 working with the department to help get the program off the ground.
Contact Erik S. Hanley at erik.hanley@jrn.com. Like his Facebook page, The Redheadliner, and follow him on Twitter @Redheadliner.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: New program gives seniors lighter, easier-to-use fire extinguishers
