Campville FD launches ‘Close Before You Doze’ campaign to save lives

The Campville Fire Department is reaching out across the community to deliver an important message it believes can save lives during a house fire. To do this, firefighters are meeting with students and area residents to share the “Close Before You Doze” fire safety campaign, a public education initiative aimed at teaching people an important practice to contain a house fire and enhance safety. 

On Oct. 20, Campville Fire Department member Lee Dunham took the campaign to the students at the Owego Elementary School, and performed “fire safety” demonstrations and brought his fog machine to show how smoke can fill rooms in a home on fire. He also talked about the importance of closing doors and windows before going to sleep at night. 

Also, students from Don Shultz’s technology class built a model that will now be used at various fire safety events regionally. The model, according to Shultz, is designed with a purpose to educate the public on the importance of safe fire prevention practices and how to be better prepared if a structure is compromised by toxic smoke. 

“Close Before You Doze” is the message that is communicated using this visual teaching aid, and Lee will be using the model for his demonstrations. 

Dunham is an Owego Free Academy graduate, and he is a former member of the district’s Board of Education.

The department is partnering with UL Firefighter Safety Research Institute (FSRI) on the safety campaign, which is based on research that shows fire is spreading faster than ever before. With less time to escape a fire, UL FSRI found that the simple behavioral change of closing your door could have a potentially life-saving impact by slowing the fire. 

People once had an average of 17 minutes to escape a burning home after the activation of a smoke alarm. Today, that time has dropped to three minutes or less due to materials used in furnishings, homes incorporating more open layouts and lightweight construction materials, all contributing to fires spreading much quicker.  

UL FSRI research reveals closed doors dramatically decrease heat and CO levels versus open doors, providing trapped occupants more time to react and escape if they can do so safely.

The “Close Before You Doze” campaign features a consumer-facing website that includes safety tips, fire facts, news and a pledge, where participants can commit to closing their doors before they doze. A closed door provides a layer of protection between you and a fire, which is especially important at night when family members may be vulnerable with little time to react.

“As a fire department, we understand the importance of closing your door to slow the spread of fire. We felt compelled to deliver that message to residents who normally keep doors inside their home open,” said Lee Dunham, Campville Fire Department member and New York State fire instructor. 

He added, “It is a very simple behavioral change that can make a big difference. The evidence is crystal clear that a closed door can help save your life, your possessions and your family.”

“Open door versus closed door could mean life or death,” said Steve Kerber, UL director of Firefighter Safety Research. “It’s important that when everyone goes to sleep at night that they sleep with their doors closed. Lives will be saved if more people hear the message to close your door.” 

Visit www.CloseYourDoor.org for additional information and to learn more about the UL FSRI “Close Your Door” campaign.