The City of Kaukauna Fire Department is encouraging all citizens to please shovel around their nearest fire hydrant. During and after snow storms, snow from the roadway gets plowed onto curbs and piles up quite high. Please shovel a 2-foot wide path around your fire hydrants from the road so firefighters can have immediate access to connect their supply hoses.

Fire Pit Burning

The City of Kaukauna Fire Department has established a set of guidelines in order to use a fire pit.

Guidelines for Fire Pit Burning:

1. The size of the pit must not exceed 4' X 4' X 3' high.
2. The fire pit must be a minimum of 25' from any combustibles and 10' from the lot line.
3. Fire pits must be attended at all times while burning.
4. A fire extinguisher or hose must be accessible to the fire pit at all times while burning.
5. If the wind speed is greater than 10mph, burning is prohibited. Wind speed information can be obtained by calling the Fire Department.
6. Upon completion of burning, the fire must be completely extinguished.

7. All burning must be done in a safe and nuisance free manner as specified by the Kaukauna Fire Department.

Open Burning Guidelines

1. An annual permit is required.
2. The permit can be issued at any time during the calendar year and expires on December 31st of the year issued.
3. On the day you intend to burn, you must contact the Kaukauna Fire Department at 766-6320 and inform them of your intent. Please have your permit number readily available.
4. Burning can be done between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 30 minutes before sunset.
5. Burning will not be conducted without a permit and/or if wind conditions exceed 10 mph. You may contact us to find out the current wind conditions.
6. A fire extinguisher or hose must be on site of the burning.
7. The size of the pile of material to burn must not exceed 4ft by 4ft by 3 ft high.
8. Material to be burnt shall be at least 25 ft. from any combustibles other than grass.
9. Material to be burnt must be 10 ft. off the property line.
10. Property owners or renters may burn yard waste. This does not include business and industry. Yard waste is defined as leaves, grass clippings, yard and garden debris, and brush, including clean, woody vegetative matter smaller than six inches in diameter.
11. Burning is to be attended at ALL times.
12. Upon completion of daily burning, the fire must be completely extinguished.

If you have any questions regarding the above guidelines, please contact the Kaukauna Fire Department at 766-6320, ext. 0.

Carbon Monoxide Alarms - 2011 State of WI Law

Effective February 1, 2011 new requirements in 2009 Wisconsin Act 158 relating to carbon monoxide alarms will go into effect. The new law requires the installation of carbon monoxide alarms in all family homes licensed for 3-4 persons and community-based residential facilities licensed for 5-8 persons built before October 1, 2008 and have fuel burning appliances.

Owners are requires to install carbon monoxide alarms in the basement of the facility and on each floor level except the attic, garage, or storage area of each dwelling unit. For the aforementioned homes and facilities, there is no mandatory type of power source for the alarms. This condition allows for installed carbon monoxide alarms to be powered by battery, electrical outlet plug-ins or wiring to the buildings electrical service, with backup battery power supply.

For more information, please view the following websites:

• WI Department of Health Services - Carbon Monoxide Alarms
• WI Department of Health Services - Carbon Monoxide Fact Sheet

Child Fire Safety

Children playing with fire causes hundreds of deaths and injuries each year. Preschoolers and kindergartners are most likely to start these fires, typically by playing with matches and lighters, and are most likely to die in them.

Facts & figures

• In 2006, children playing with fire started an estimated 14,500 structure fires that were reported to U.S. fire departments, causing an estimated 130 civilian deaths, 810 civilian injuries and $328 million in direct property damage.
• Nearly two-thirds (63%) of all fatal victims of fires by playing are children 5 years old and younger.
• Nearly two out of every three child-playing fires -- and four out of five associated deaths and injuries -- involve matches or lighters.
• The items ignited by home fire-play are principally mattresses, bedding or clothing.

Smoke Alarms

Facts & figures

A 2008 survey found that 96% of U.S. households had at least one smoke alarm, yet in 2003-2006, no smoke alarms were present or none operated in two out of the five (41%) of the reported home fires.

Almost two-thirds of reported home fire deaths in 2003-2006 resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

When smoke alarms fail to operate, it is usually because batteries are missing, disconnected or dead.

Home Escape Planning

Fire can spread rapidly through your home, leaving you as little as two minutes to escape safely once the alarm sounds. Your ability to get out depends on advance warning from smoke alarms, and advance planning - a home fire escape plan that everyone in your family is familiar with and has practiced.

Facts and figures

• Only one-fifth to one-fourth of households (23%) have actually developed and practiced a home fire escape plan to ensure they could escape quickly and safely.
• In 2006, there were an estimated 396,000 reported home structure fires and 2,580 associated civilian deaths in the United States.
• One-third of American households who made an estimate thought they would have at least 6 minutes before a fire in their home would become life-threatening. The time available is often less. And only 8% said their first thought on hearing a smoke alarm would be to get out!

Vehicle Fires

During 2007, U.S. public fire departments responded to an estimated 266,500 highway-type vehicle fires. These fires claimed 520 lives and caused $969 million in direct property damage. Highway vehicles include cars, trucks, motorcycles and other vehicles commonly driven on roads or highways.

Facts and Figures

One (17%) of every six reported fires involves a highway-type vehicle and 13% of all civilian fire deaths.

On average, more than 30 highway vehicle fires were reported per hour.

In 2004, more people died from highway vehicle fires than from apartment fires. Three times as many vehicle fires were reported as apartment fires.

Cars and other passenger vehicles account for the vast majority of highway vehicle fires and associated losses. In 1999-2002, only 13% of highway vehicle fire actually occurred on highways; 37% occurred on streets, roads or driveways, and 15% were in parking lots.

More than two-thirds of highway vehicle fires resulted from mechanical or electrical failures or malfunctions. Collisions or rollovers caused only 3% of these fires but 57% of the associated deaths.

Motor vehicles contain multiple gallons of highly flammable gasoline and other combustible liquids, including motor oil, power steering fluid, transmission fluid and brake fluid. Leakage of these fluids is the leading item first ignited in highway vehicle fires (1999-2002).

Source: National estimates based on NFIRS and NFPA survey

Grilling Safety

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), U.S. Fire Departments responded to an average of 7,900 home fires involving grills, hibachis or barbecues per year. The following safety tips will help you, and your family, enjoy a safe, memorable grilling season.

Safety Tips:

1. Position the grill a minimum of 10' from homes and combustibles such as siding, deck railings and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
2. Do not grill underneath tarps or tents.
3. Periodically remove grease or fat build up in trays below grill so it cannot be ignited by a hot grill.
4. Keep children and pets away from the grill area: declare a three-foot "safe zone" around the grill. The grill area should be set apart from lawn games, play areas and foot traffic.

Facts & figures

• Gas grills have a higher fire risk than charcoal grills; leaks and breaks are the leading cause, accounting for two-fifths (41%) of the gas grill structure and outdoor fires.
• Gas-fueled grills caused an estimated 2,800 home structure fires and 4,400 home outdoor fires in 2005.
• Charcoal grills have a higher risk than gas grills of death due to unvented carbon monoxide; most of these deaths do not involve fire.
• Charcoal-fueled or other solid-fueled grills caused an estimated 600 home structure fires and 500 home outdoor fires in 2005.
• Placing combustibles too close to heat is the leading cause for charcoal grill home fires.
• Over one-third (35%) of all gas grill and charcoal grill home structure fires begin on an exterior balcony or unenclosed porch.
• Flammable or combustible gas or liquid, including gas fuel, is the leading item first ignited for home gas grill fires.
• Structural member or framing and exterior wall covering or finish, are the leading items first ignited for home structure charcoal grill fires.

Source: NFPA's "Selections From Home Fires Involving Cooking Equipment, Grills" report by John R. Hall, Jr., February 2008.

Fire Department Tours

Group tours are available for all age groups by calling the Department and scheduling a time and date. Individual tours are available by stopping in at the Department between 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday.