The Fire Prevention Division of the Morrisville & Fire/Rescue Department consists of the Fire Marshal, Deputy Fire Marshal, Assistant Fire Marshal, part-time inspectors, and part-time plan reviewer. The division conducts over 4,000 fire inspections annually and reviews and approves site plans for new construction in regards to emergency access and fire suppression.

The Fire Prevention team is committed to ensure all residents and visitors to the Town of Morrisville have a safe environment to live, work and play.

Fire Extinguishers

Types of Fire Extinguishers

There are five primary types of fire extinguishers, each designed to put out different kinds of fires.

 There are also multipurpose fire extinguishers that might be labeled “B-C” or “A-B-C.” Most home improvement stores carry multipurpose fire extinguishers that cover class A through class C.

When to Use a Fire Extinguisher

Fire extinguishers can be helpful on a small fire. Consider providing a checklist to help people prepare to use a fire extinguisher on a potential fire. For example:

• Have I alerted others in the building that there’s a fire?
• Has someone called the fire department?
• Am I physically able to use a fire extinguisher?
• Is the fire small and contained in a single object (like a pan or a wastebasket)?
• Am I safe from the fire’s toxic smoke?
• Do I have a clear escape route?

Use a fire extinguisher when all of these questions are answered “yes.” If you’re unsure about whether or not it’s safe to use a fire extinguisher, and for all other situations, alert others, leave the building, and call 9-1-1 from a mobile or neighbor’s phone. It is not recommended that children use fire extinguishers.

How to Use a Fire Extinguisher

When operating a fire extinguisher, remember the word P-A-S-S:

• P: Pull the pin. Hold the extinguisher with the nozzle pointing away from you and release the locking mechanism.
• A: Aim low. Point the extinguisher at the base of the fire.
• S: Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly.
• S: Sweep the nozzle from side-to-side.

Fire Extinguisher Maintenance

• Easy access in an emergency. Be sure nothing is blocking or limiting your ability to reach it.
• Recommended pressure level. Many extinguishers have gauges that show when the pressure is too high or too low.
• Working parts. Make sure the can, hoses and nozzles aren’t damaged, dented, or rusted.
• Cleanliness. Remove any dust, oil, or grease that might be on the outside of the extinguisher.
• Guidelines and Instructions. Some extinguishers need to be shaken monthly; others need to be pressure tested every few years. Consult the manufacturers’ instructions for specifics.

Home Fire Extinguisher Disposal

• Look on the label of the fire extinguisher for the manufacturer name
• Go to the manufacturer’s website to see if the extinguisher has a recall
  • If the extinguisher has a recall, contact the manufacturer to provide instructions on safe handling and disposal of the fire extinguisher
• If the fire extinguisher does not have a recall, take the following steps to properly empty the extinguisher and dispose of it properly
  • Take the fire extinguisher outside to a well-ventilated area
  • Wear protective eyewear (plastic goggles, safety glasses, etc) and a mask to protect your eyes and lungs. Some fire extinguishers can contain contents that irritate the eyes and lungs
  • Keep pets and children away from the fire extinguisher
  • Place a large, plastic trash bag on the end of the fire extinguisher hose. Secure the bag to the end of the hose with a rubber band, and secure the bag with one hand at the same location
  • Hold fire extinguisher upside down, so the base is pointing towards the sky
  • Pull the pin and squeeze the handles together. This will cause the extinguisher agent inside the extinguisher to be released into the plastic bag
  • Keep handles depressed until nothing more comes out of the extinguisher
  • Carefully remove the plastic bag from the end of the extinguisher hose, close and seal the bag and place into the regular trash
  • Place the extinguisher in a cool, dry place and check the pressure gauge periodically
  • Once the pressure gauge needle on the fire extinguisher is below zero, the fire extinguisher may be placed in your regular trash for disposal
• To dispose of a fire extinguisher by visiting a Wake County convenience center, please visit Wake County Government Convenience Centers for specifics

Residential Sprinkler Systems

According to FEMA, fire kills more people in the United States than all natural disasters combined. On average 4,000 people perish in fires each year. Tens of thousands are seriously hurt, coping with burn and smoke inhalation injuries for the rest of their lives. Fire does not discriminate. Leading causes of fires in both old and new homes are directly related to human behavior, such as:

• cooking (both attended and unattended)
• heating fires (including space heaters)
• careless smoking
• children playing with matches and lighters

If one sprinkler goes off, don't they all go off?

That is Hollywood’s version. Only the sprinklers over the fire will activate. Sprinklers in each room react to temperatures individually; usually between 155 and 165 degrees Fahrenheit. So, a fire in a kitchen will activate only the sprinkler(s) in that room and 90 percent of fires are stopped by a single sprinkler head. A home fire sprinkler system is like having a firefighter on-duty 24 hours a day. Residents have more time to escape while fire sprinklers limit the growth and spread of fire, heat and toxic smoke.

Is there any chance the sprinklers will go off accidentally?

The modern systems that are used are manufactured and tested to the highest standards and are designed to be installed in the home. The chances of an accidental actuation have been estimated at 1:16,000,000 (one in sixteen million).

Why do I need sprinklers if I have a smoke detector?

Smoke detectors will save lives by providing a warning of smoke existence, but they can do nothing to extinguish a growing fire. Too often, battery operated smoke detectors fail to function because the batteries are dead or have been removed. Detectors must be maintained in good working order to help save your life. The combination of smoke detectors and sprinkler systems can reduce the loss of life by 98.5 percent, which is an increase of 48.5 percent over smoke detectors alone.

Do sprinklers cause water damage?

Sprinklers are designed to start putting water on a fire while it is still small and in the early stages of development before it gets to the flashover point. If the fire can be extinguished in the early stages, not only will it reduce water damage, but it will reduce fire damage too. Not nearly as much water is required for a residential sprinkler that flows 10 to 25 gallons per minute. The fire department uses hoses that flow 250 gallons per minute or more. The property loss in a home with residential sprinklers is only a fraction of the loss in a home with no sprinklers.

If I burn the toast and the smoke alarm goes off will the sprinkler activate?

Sprinklers are activated by heat. Smoke from any source including cooking will not activate the sprinkler. Smoke, cooking vapors or steam cannot cause the sprinklers to activate sprinklers only operate in response to the high temperature of a fire.

Aren't sprinkler systems ugly?

Sprinklers can be neatly concealed with no more than a 3/4 inch cap showing. Custom caps and covers are available in a range of colors. Ceiling and sidewall mount sprinkler heads blend into your home decor, and yet are effective fire protection.

Helpful Links

• North Carolina Department of Insurance - Information regarding insurance
• North Carolina Office of State Fire Marshal - North Carolina Fire Code Information
• North Carolina Fire Marshal Association - Stay informed on laws, codes and trends
• U.S. Fire Administration- Public Education, Safety and Fire Prevention Information
• North Carolina Building Codes
• Town of Morrisville Fire Watch Requirements
• Town of Morrisville Hazardous Materials Inventory Statement
• Town of Morrisville Fire Safety, Evacuation and Fire Drill Requirements
• Town of Morrisville Extension Request to Abate Fire Code Violations
• Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition
• Fire Sprinkler Initiative