SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – It will be a smoky week in Syracuse, but there’s no cause for panic.
Summer is already hot enough, but the extra cover from the smoke will add to the stress people face in this week’s heat. Despite the added risk, District Fire Chief Matt Craner and his team are prepared.
Craner says there are plenty of things to watch out for when it comes to staying safe from the sun.
“The bigger thing for us during these heat waves is more in the emergency medical realm,” Craner said. “We respond to calls for help related to medical problems, medical emergencies and any time we have a heat wave like this, we could see a potential increase in those calls just from people being outside. May be not realizing people getting dehydrated, experiencing effects of being out in the heat too long.”
Blasts of heat are nothing out of the normal for Craner and his crew. This week’s heat wave is set to be the fifth already this summer, according to Syracuse.com.
“So far, we’re averaging seven to eight fires a month, which is very busy for us,” Craner said. “And strictly for June and July, we’ve been to 15. So far, those numbers are comparable to what we did last year, we’ve definitely seen an increase over the last couple months, it’s been a very busy year for fires this year.”
One factor of fire safety prevention that often gets overlooked is smoke detectors. The Syracuse Fire Department will install smoke detectors in one- and two-family homes in the city free of charge. Residents can make appointments through the fire prevention bureau’s website, and on the fire department page.
Craner also has advice for practicing fire safety outdoors.
“Don’t leave grills unattended if you’re cooking outside,” Craner said. “A lot of people like those portable fire pits, making sure those are far enough away from the home. If you’re having a fire inside the city, make sure you’re burning only seasoned firewood, you have a hose or a fire extinguisher handy.”
