The winter holidays are a wonderful time for family get-togethers and celebrations. They are also a time when fire departments nationwide see a significant increase in preventable home fires. Hundreds of people are injured needlessly each winter season as a result of fires involving Christmas trees, candles and unattended cooking. By taking some simple precautionary steps everyone can enjoy the ... (Full Story & Photos)

Many families find that portable electric space heaters are an excellent secondary source of heat. Carefully read the operating instructions. These instructions contain important information about how to use the product safely and maintain it properly. Do not use the heater unless you’ve carefully read the instructions. Inspect your heater and its electrical cord and plug before use. Never use ... (Full Story & Photos)

Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires with more than three times the daily average for such incidents. Unattended cooking was by far the leading contributing factor in cooking fires and fire deaths. Cooking causes half (52%) of all reported home fires and nearly two of every five (36%) home fire injuries, and it is a leading cause of home fire deaths (17%).

On Thanksgiving day alone, ... (Full Story & Photos)

The Montgomery County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution enacting a 30-day countywide ban on open fires, effective Saturday, November 16, 2024 at 12:00 p.m.
Open fires are defined as the ignition and subsequent burning of any combustible material (garbage, leaves, grass, twigs, litter, paper, vegetative matter involved with land clearing, or any sort of debris) outdoors in either ... (Full Story & Photos)

Careless cooking starts more residential fires than any other cause. It is easy to develop bad cooking habits, so don’t get burned. Practice kitchen safety and cook smart!

• Never leave food cooking unattended.
• Cook with the lowest effective temperature.
• Do not store cooking fat on the stovetop. A burner on the stovetop could be turned on and start a grease fire.
• Plug-in appliances only when ... (Full Story & Photos)

In lieu of the recent drought that our region and community are experiencing, Upper Merion Township Department of Public Safety would like to remind all residents that open burning of leaf waste is prohibited under the Township Code 91-4 C (2). By definition Leaf Waste is Leaves, garden residues, shrubbery, tree trimmings and similar materials, but not including grass clippings per Township Ordinance.

Furthermore, ... (Full Story)

As the Fall season quickly approaches and the trees begin to shed their leaves, residents will be piling up their leaves along the curb line in anticipation of Upper Merion Township’s Leaf Collection program.

Kindly be mindful of the fire safety tips below.

1. Do not park your vehicles over the leaves. The hot catalytic converters, tailpipes, etc. on the undercarriage of most vehicles can
... (Full Story & Photos)

Halloween is meant to be spooky and fun but it’s also important to keep it safe for your children, friends and yourself. Below are a few safety tip to practice for Halloween!

• Use glow sticks or battery-operated candles for jack-o’-lanterns and other Halloween decorations.
• When choosing costumes, stay away from long trailing fabric.
• Provide children with flashlights to carry for lighting or ... (Full Story & Photos)