A woman and child escaped from a flat fire after being alerted by a smoke alarm

The fire started in the lounge, where a heater was switched on. One hose reel and four sets of breathing apparatus were used by fire crews.

The fire caused 50% fire damage to the lounge, North Wales Fire and Rescue Service said.

Gwyn Roberts, operational manager with North Wales Fire & Rescue Service, said that the incident demonstrated the benefits of having a working smoke alarm.

He said: “I can’t stress enough how important it is to have working smoke alarms in the home. These alarms provide an early warning signal which is crucial in helping people to escape safely, and this was a key factor in this incident.

“I also urge people not to leave heaters near any flammable materials, as fire can spread in minutes. ”

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is offering visitors to necplus.org an opportunity to be the first to preview the 2011 edition of the National Electrical Code® (NEC) at no cost. Visitors selecting a one-day preview from necplus® will have first access to the 2011 edition of the NEC.

“The release of the 2011 edition of the NEC is highly anticipated by everyone involved with electrical installations because it sets the standard for safety,” said Mark Earley, NFPA’s chief electrical engineer. “We wanted to offer everyone who depends on this information an opportunity to be the first to preview the full document, before the printed version is available.”

The 2011 NEC includes hundreds of changes that will directly affect electrical installations nationwide, expanded coverage of alternative energy sources and green technologies, and new requirements focused on protecting electrical personnel from deadly hazards.

necplus offers online access to the most current, comprehensive NEC content available along with Q&As, articles, NFPA staff commentary, diagrams and pictures of the code in action, UL White Book links, and the reason behind any code changes.

In addition to serving as the source for public education materials on electrical safety and research on fires involving electricity, NFPA has a long history of commitment to electrical safety as developer and publisher of the National Electrical Code (NEC) since 1911. The NEC sets the standard for the safe use of electricity and electrical installations. It is the most widely used code for the built-environment in the world. The 2011 NEC is the 52nd Edition of the code and 2011 will mark 100 years of NFPA sponsorship.

About the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
NFPA is a worldwide leader in providing fire, electrical, building, and life safety to the public since 1896. The mission of the international nonprofit organization is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education.

Radon Test Kits available for $12.75 (Click Here)

Did you know…that according to the EPA, radon is the leading cause of lunch cancer deaths among nonsmokers in America, claiming about 20,000 lives each year?

Radon is an odorless, invisible, widespread radioactive gas which is a natural by-product of decaying uranium in the ground. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, radon is the second leading contributor to lung cancer. Outdoors, radon exists in low concentrations that are generally not a health concern. In enclosed spaces however, such a basements, radon can accumulate and may be cause for concern.

Passed by voice vote, the bill (HR 1796) would adopt as mandatory federal rules the American National Standards Institute’s standards for carbon monoxide alarms and gas and vapor detectors. The Consumer Product Safety Commission would be required to put those standards in place.

Carbon monoxide poisoning results in more than 400 deaths and 20,000 emergency room visits annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In addition to setting federal standards based on the industry guidelines, the bill would create a program to issue grants to state and local governments that require carbon monoxide alarms in homes. The grants would help pay for developing training materials and buying and installing alarms in schools and the homes of low-income and elderly people.