October - Vermont Division of Fire Safety - Vermont.gov

State of Vermont Department of Public Safety
OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL, STATE FIRE ACADEMY AND THE STATE HAZ-MAT TEAM
October 2012
Students get fired up for the 2013
Fire Safety Calendar Poster Contest
Each year in recognition of fire prevention month, the
Division of Fire Safety sponsors a statewide fire safety poster
contest. The poster contest is open to all third grade students.
At the end of October panels of judges choose
thirteen posters to appear in the next fire safety calendar.
Thousands of calendars are printed and delivered to
schools throughout the state.
Students should prepare posters of original art work based
on monthly fire prevention topics. The division has a list of
topics for each month on our web site. Posters should be on
white paper not exceeding 12 by 20 inches in size with the
students name, teachers name and school on the back. The
finished posters must be mailed to the Central Office or
dropped off at one of the Division’s regional offices by
October 24, 2012. The poster contest is open to all third
grade students in Vermont.
Here’s How
www.nfpa.org
Inside this issue:
The 2013 Fire Safety
Calendar
The Proposed 2012 Vermont
Fire & Building Safety Code
Fire Prevention Week 2013 2
Fire Safety at the Fair 3
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1
The Vermont Fire Safety Calendar Program provides an opportunity for students bring fire safety messages
to parents and families and functions to remind everyone to be fire safe every day during the year.
Students can work on the posters before or after fire prevention week, depending on your schedule.
Educators have advised that third grade students are at a good
point in their development to understand and promote the issues
regarding fire safety. Posters topics should be selected from the
themes listed below. Art teachers recommend that big, bold,
designs and messages show up the best and attract the interest
of the students.
For additional information on the Vermont Fire Safety Calendar
Program, or to get involved in supporting the program as a
sponsor, contact the Division of Fire Safety, Berlin office, at
1-800-640-2106. Or visit www.firesafety.vermont.gov
Urgent! Request for Support
of the 22nd Fire Safety
Poster Calendar Project
2012 VT Fire & Building
Safety Code Update Workshops
Registration Form
Code Corner
Wood Stove Safety
Administrative Penalties 5
Calendar of Events 6
Has Your Home Been Tested
For Radon?
To be added to the monthly
newsletter email
mailing list contact Laura at
Laura.curtisspalmer@state.vt.us
3
4
5
7
The 2012 Vermont Fire & Building Safety Code has
been through the public comment period and has been
submitted to LCAR (Legislation Committee on
Administrative Rules) for approval. LCAR will review
rules on October 18, 2012 with a possible effective
date of November 5, 2012
A Draft of the proposed 2012 VT Fire and Building
Safety Code is currently available on the
Division of Fire Safety web site
www.firesafety.vermont.gov

PAGE 2 OCTOBER 2012
Vermont Department of Public Safety
Division of Fire Safety
Micheal D. Greenia Fire Safety Education and Information Coordinator 1311 US Route 302 Barre VT 802.479.7587 mgreenia@dps.state.vt.us
About Fire Prevention Week
The National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) annual awareness campaign, Fire Prevention Week, is slated for October
7-13. The non-profit fire safety organization is reminding the public to, ‘Have 2 Ways Out’, the theme for this year’s effort which
focuses on the importance of having multiple escape routes in the event of a fire.
Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, the tragic
1871 conflagration that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more
than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. The fire began on October 8, but
continued into and did most of its damage on October 9, 1871.
According to popular legend, the fire broke out after a cow - belonging to Mrs. Catherine
O'Leary - kicked over a lamp, setting first the barn, then the whole city on fire. Chances are
you've heard some version of this story yourself; people have been blaming the Great
Chicago Fire on the cow and Mrs. O'Leary, for more than 130 years. But recent research by
Chicago historian Robert Cromie has helped to debunk this version of events.
While the Great Chicago Fire was the best-known blaze to start during this fiery two-day
stretch, it wasn't the biggest. That distinction goes to the Peshtigo Fire, the most devastating
forest fire in American history. The fire, which also occurred on October 8th, 1871, and roared
through Northeast Wisconsin, burning down 16 towns, killing 1,152 people, and scorching 1.2
million acres before it ended.
Plan Ahead
Since 1922, Fire Prevention
Week has been observed on
the Sunday through Saturday
period in which October 9 falls.
Here are dates for future FPW
campaigns:
2013: October 6-12
2014: October 5-11
2015: October 4-10
Historical accounts of the fire say that the blaze began when several railroad workers clearing land for tracks unintentionally
started a brush fire. Before long, the fast-moving flames were whipping through the area 'like a tornado,' some survivors said. It
was the small town of Peshtigo, Wisconsin that suffered the worst damage. Within an hour, the entire town had been
destroyed.
Those who survived the Chicago and Peshtigo fires never forgot what they'd been through; both blazes produced countless
tales of bravery and heroism. But the fires also changed the way that firefighters and public officials thought about fire safety.
On the 40th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire, the Fire Marshals Association of North America (today known as the
International Fire Marshals Association), decided that the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire should henceforth be observed
not with festivities, but in a way that would keep the public informed about the importance of fire prevention. The
commemoration grew incrementally official over the years.
In 1920, President Woodrow Wilson issued the first National Fire Prevention Day proclamation, and since 1922, Fire Prevention
Week has been observed on the Sunday through Saturday period in which October 9 falls.
The NFPA has been the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week since 1922. According to the National Archives and Records
Administration's Library Information Center, Fire Prevention Week is the longest running public health and safety observance
on record. The President of the United States has signed a proclamation proclaiming a national observance during that week
every year since 1925. Visit www.firepreventionweek.org for more safety information.
Reproduced from NFPA's Fire Prevention Week website, www.firepreventionweek.org. ©2012 NFPA.

PAGE 3 OCTOBER 2012
Fire Safety at the Fair
During the summer months the Division of Fire Safety Public Education Section
and numerous local fire departments and Safe Kids Vermont, set up fire safety
information displays at several county fairs around the state.
We believe that we should never pass up educational opportunities and county
fairs and local town events present a great opportunity to talk to folks and answer
questions about how everyone can prevent fires and keep their families safe.
Each year the DFS provides our fire safety house trailers and other outside display
equipment to numerous events around the state, these events range from fire department
open houses to farmers markets to senior meals. These resources help
the local fire departments and community groups convey fire safety and injury prevention
messages to Vermonters of all ages.
URGENT!
Request for Support of the 22 nd Annual
Fire Safety Poster/2013 Calendar Project
Please send your donations to support the 2013 calendar to
L. Brown & Sons Printing Inc.
14-20 Jefferson Street,
Barre, VT 05641
All money collected will be used for the printing costs of the calendar.
Distribution of the Calendars is paid for by Vermont Division of Fire Safety.
We ask that all contributions be submitted by November 16th.
And please make your checks payable to L. Brown & Sons Printing Inc. and include Fire Safety Calendar on the memo line of the check.

PAGE 4 OCTOBER 2012
Vermont Department of Public Safety
Information Technology Solutions
2012 Vermont Fire and Building
Safety Code UPDATE
DATES & LOCATIONS
October 10 – S Burlington
Holiday Inn
1068 Williston Rd, S Burlington
October 17 – DFS Berlin
Central Office
1311 US Route 302, Berlin
October 23 – Vermont Fire
Academy
93 Davison Drive Pittsford
October 24 – Holiday Inn
Express
Exit 7 of I-91 in Springfield
The Division of Fire Safety has designed a special
workshop that is designed for architects and contractors
and building inspectors. This workshop will cover
the changes and updates of the 2012 Vermont codes.
This workshop is being offered in four regional areas of the state and all sessions will
start at 9:00 am. This workshop meets the requirements for continuing education
credits and credit from AIA is currently pending. This is a free workshop but preregistration
is required.
WORKSHOP REGISTRATION FORM
Location attending please select one
Name
To REGISTER on-line for this training please visit:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/YKQCX5S
Or return the paper form to the address below
Business / Department
Address
Job Title
Phone
Email
Division of Fire Safety
October 10 – S Burlington Holiday Inn October 17 – DFS Berlin Central Office
October 23 – Pittsford Vermont Fire Academy October 24 – Holiday Inn Express Springfield
Return to
Vermont Division of Fire Safety
1311 Us Route 302 Suite 600
Berlin Vermont 05641-2351

PAGE 5 OCTOBER 2012
Code Corner
Wood Stove Safety and Installation
Chimneys for Wood Stoves ~ Chimney Fires
Submitted by Butch Sutherland Regional, Manager Rutland Office.
Choosing a Stove: Getting the right size stove for your home is an important consideration when
purchasing your stove. A stove that is too large can dangerously overheat a room and cause
combustible materials to ignite. Burning smaller, less hot fires in a too-large stove can lead to
dangerous buildup of creosote, a flammable chemical substance that forms when wood burns,
possibly resulting in a chimney fire.
Installation: Have your stove professionally installed and follow the manufacturer’s Installation
instructions. Safe clearances around the stove are important during installation and must be
considered when choosing a space for the stove. Make sure that there is at least 18 inches in
front of the stove and 12 inches on the sides and back (always check the manufactures
instructions) make sure that all flammable materials are at least 36 inches from the stove.
Masonry Chimneys: Most chimneys in new and existing homes are constructed of
non-combustible masonry materials. This may be brick, concrete block or many types of stone
are used. Masonry chimneys should be lined with a clay flue tile. The walls of a chimney less
than 30 feet high must be a least 4 inches thick. If stone is used a 12-inch minimum thickness is
needed.
A chimney may have more than one flue. Two flues may be placed side by side and must be separated at least 2 inches apart.
Each chimney flue must have its own clean out door at the bottom of the flue liner.
Masonry chimneys must be separated from combustible materials by at least 2 inches on all sides. All framing and other
combustible materials in walls, floors, ceiling and roofs must stop at least 2 inches from the chimney. This 2-inch space can be
filled with any non-combustible material.
One frequently asked question about chimneys for wood stoves is “Can a stove be connected to an existing flue that serves
another appliance?”. The NFPA recommends that each stove be connected to a separate flue. This reduces interference
between units and increases the efficiency of each stove.
• NFPA 211 9.8.2 2006 Unless listed for such connections, solid fuel-burning appliances shall not be connected to a
chimney flue serving another appliance.
• NFPA 31 6.5.19 2006 Solid fuel burning appliances shall not be connected to a chimney flue serving another appliance
burning other fuels, unless specifically listed for such connections.
• NFPA 54 12.6.5.1 2006 An appliance shall not be connected to a chimney designed to burn solid fuel.
A list of certified chimney sweeps can be found on our web site, www.firesafety.vermont.gov
For additional information you may contact your local fire department or the Div of Fire Safety office in your area.
Administrative Penalties Paid
ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY PAYMENTS RECEIVED
FROM 09/01/2012—0930/2012
SITE City PAYMENT VIOLATOR
NAME AMOUNT NAME_________________
11 Mill Street Apts. Northfield $300.00 Fernandaz Family
Northend Hardwoods Lyndonville $150.00 New England Alarm
Sunset Farm Woodstock $500.00 Darrek Daoust
Sunset Farm Woodstock $100.00 Thomas Hague
Sunset Farm Woodstock $100.00 Darrek Daoust
Lilac Inn Brandon $100.00 Wedding Tents Events
Alderbrook Office Condo Essex $300.00 Peck Electric
Carris Reels West Rutland $500.00 Carris Reels
Rental House So.Hero $50.00 Norton Trust
301 Depot Street Manchester $100.00 Covenant Fire Protection

PAGE 6 OCTOBER 2012
State of Vermont Dept of Public Safety
CALENDAR OF
www.vtfiresafety.org
October 2012
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
FIRE PREVENTION WEEK
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Date Event Location
27 & 28
Executive Skills Series: Exercising
Leadership Within Communities
Pittsford - VFA
6 & 7 Central VT Regional Fire School U-32 High School
6 Flashover U-32 High School
27 & 28
Executive Skills Series: Exercising Leadership
Within Communities
Pittsford - VFA
27 & 28 Leadership I for Fire and EMS: Strategies Pittsford - VFA
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 31
~ NATIONAL EVENTS ~
Oct 7 to 13, 2012 ~ Fire Prevention Week
Oct 8, 2012 ~ Columbus Day
Oct 31, 2012 ~ Halloween
~BOARD DEADLINE REMINDER~
If you have a board agenda item, it needs to be received at the
Central Office no later than 2 weeks prior to the board meeting.
(for all boards – Access, Electrical, Elevator & Plumbing)
Board Meeting Dates
Electrical Licensing Board Meeting ~ October 9, 2012
Elevator Board Meeting ~ October 16, 2012
Access Board ~ October 29, 2012
November 2012
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
1 2 3
Date Event Location
10 & 11 Flammable Gas Control Plymouth
17 Hazardous Materials Awareness
Middlebury
Ambulance
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30
~ NATIONAL EVENTS ~
Nov 4, 2012 ~ Daylight Savings Time Ends
Nov 6, 2012 ~ Election Day
Nov 11, 2012 ~ Veterans’ Day
Nov 22, 2012 ~ Thanksgiving Day
BOARD MEETING DATES
Plumbers’ Board Meeting - November 6, 2012
Access Board ~ November 26, 2012

PAGE 7 OCTOBER 2012
Website and online form:
http://healthvermont.gov/enviro/rad/radon.aspx
http://healthvermont.gov/enviro/rad/documents/radonrequest.pdf

State of Vermont
Division of Fire Safety
1311 US Route 302—Berlin Suite 600
Barre, VT 05641-2351
WWW.FIRESAFETY.VERMONT.GOV
To be added to the monthly newsletter
email mailing list contact Laura at
Laura.curtisspalmer@state.vt.us
REMEMBER …. Smoke Detectors, Fire Sprinklers and Carbon Monoxide Detectors Save Lives
Vermont Department of Public Safety
Division of Fire Safety
OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL & STATE FIRE ACADEMY
Central Office
1311 US Route 302— Suite 600
Barre, VT 05641-2351
Phone (802) 479-7561 Fax (802) 479-7562
Toll Free (800) 640-2106
Barre
1311 US Route 302— Suite 500
Barre, VT 05641-7301
Phone (802) 479-4434 Fax (802) 479-4446
Toll Free 1-888-870-7888
HAZMAT Response Team
Phone (802) 479-7586 Fax
(802) 479-7562 Toll Free
(800) 641-5005
Regional Offices:
Vermont Fire Academy
93 Davison Drive
Pittsford, VT 05763
Phone (802) 483-2755 Fax (802) 483-2464
Toll Free (800) 615-3473
Rutland
56 Howe Street, Building A-Suite 200
Rutland, VT 05701
Phone (802) 786-5867 Fax (802) 786-5872
Toll Free (888) 370-4834
Springfield
100 Mineral Street, Suite 307
Springfield VT 05156-3168
Phone (802) 885-8883 Fax (802) 885-8885
Toll Free 1-866-404-8883
Williston
372 Hurricane Lane, Suite 102
Williston, VT 05495-7151
Phone (802) 879-2300 Fax (802) 879-2312
Toll Free (800) 366-8325
DIVISION OF STATE POLICE—FIRE INVESTIGATION
Waterbury—103 South Main Street, Waterbury, VT 05671-2101— (802) 244-8781—Fax (802) 241-5371