"The community needs to understand the risks and consequences," he added.

On May 15, thirteen people were displaced following a fire at a two-and-a-half-story residential building on Main Street. There were no injuries to civilians or firefighters. Nearly all of the residents displaced were immigrants.

On May 24, Danbury firefighters tackled an attic fire at a residence on Montgomery Street. There were no injuries to civilians or firefighters. Eleven residents were displaced, also all immigrants.

The fire marshal's office is investigating the cause of both blazes.

According to the Danbury Fire Department, despite challenging conditions and access issues in the rear of the building, the May 15 fire was brought under control by firefighters in under 45 minutes, and the May 24 was brought under control by firefighters in 30 minutes.

Tribuna reached out to Danbury Fire Chief Richard Thode, and Terence Timan, Fire Marshall for the city, and asked them to share some essential safety tips with the community.

Danbury comprises 44 square miles, and our resident population is over 82,000, with over 100,000 commuters, students, and shoppers in the city daily. On any given day, the Danbury Fire Department might respond to a structure fire or a hazardous material situation, assist a mother with unlocking her car, or provide medical assistance at a motor vehicle accident.

"The most important fire safety tip I can pass along is lithium-ion batteries. These batteries are in more and more of the items we use every day. Battery-operated scooters, bikes, yard tools, and drills all have these batteries. Even our laptop computers and cell phones have these batteries," said Chief Thode, adding, "Please make sure that you charge them only when someone is home. Do not leave them in a charger overnight. When the charging is complete, disconnect the charger from the battery for storage. Do not let the battery just sit in the charger. They can unexpectedly overheat and start an intense fire that is not easily put out."

The Danbury Fire Marshal's Office reviews all plans for any type of construction to make certain that it meets the required life-safety standards; they also perform state-mandated inspections of all types of occupancies, including residential properties three-family or larger, and conduct fire prevention education.

"Possibly the most important thing we do to keep people safe is public education. The more we can educate people about the dangers of fire, the better prepared they will be. Not just what to do in the event of an emergency, but also how to prevent them from happening," Danbury Fire Marshall Terence Timan explains. "My office is always happy to speak with any group about fire safety and believes that the better prepared the individual is, the better prepared the community will be."

When it comes to the cause of fires, Timan stated that Danbury is not much different from the rest of the United States. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of fires, followed by electrical fires, usually caused by overloaded outlets or the improper use of extension cords and heating/cooling equipment. Outdoor fires involving leaves and debris, as well as improperly discarded smoking materials, are also a concern.

Here are some fire safety tips all Danbury residents should keep in mind:

• Install the correct number of smoke alarms. Test them once a month and replace the batteries at least once a year.      
• Teach children what smoke alarms sound like and what to do when they hear one. 
• Ensure that all household members know two ways to escape from every room of your home and know the family meeting spot outside of your home.
• Establish a family emergency communications plan and ensure that all household members know who to contact if they cannot find one another.
• Practice escaping from your home at least twice a year. Press the smoke alarm test button or yell "Fire" to alert everyone that they must get out.
• Make sure everyone knows how to call 9-1-1.
• Teach household members to STOP, DROP and ROLL if their clothes catch on fire. 

Remember These DOs and DON'Ts

• DO keep items that can catch on fire at least three feet away from anything that gets hot, such as space heaters.
• Smoking materials are the leading cause of residential fire deaths in the United States.

So, if you smoke:

• DO take precautions: Smoke outside; choose fire-safe cigarettes; use deep, sturdy ashtrays and douse cigarette and cigar butts with water before disposal.
• DON'T ever smoke in bed, when drowsy or medicated, or if anyone in the home uses oxygen.
• DO talk to children regularly about the dangers of fire, matches, and lighters and keep them out of reach.
• DO turn portable heaters off when you leave the room or go to sleep.
• DO use flashlights when the power is out, not candles.
• DON'T leave a burning candle unattended, even for a minute.

Safety tips for items containing lithium-ion batteries:

Safety Tips

• Purchase and use devices that are listed by a qualified testing laboratory.
• Always follow the manufacturer's instructions.
• Only use the battery that is designed for the device.
• Put batteries in the device the right way.
• Only use the charging cord that came with the device.
• Do not charge a device under your pillow, on your bed, or on a couch.
• Do not keep charging the device or device battery after it is fully charged.
• Keep batteries at room temperature when possible. Do not charge them at temperatures below 32°F (0°C) or above 105°F (40°C).
• Store batteries away from anything that can catch fire.

Battery Disposal

• Do not put lithium-ion batteries in the trash.
• Recycling is always the best option.
• Take them to a battery recycling location or contact your community for disposal instructions.
• Do not put discarded batteries in piles.

Signs of a Problem

Stop using the battery if you notice these problems: odor, change in color, too much heat, change in shape, leaking, or odd noises. If it is safe to do so, move the device away from anything that can catch fire. Call 9-1-1.

The problem

• These batteries store a large amount of energy in a small amount of space.
• Sometimes batteries are not used the right way; batteries not designed for specific use can be dangerous.
• Like any product, a small number of these batteries are defective. They can overheat, catch fire, or explode.

To learn more about fire safety and how to prevent fires, reach out to the Danbury Fire Marshall's office at 203-796-1541 or visit www.danbury-ct.gov/200/Fire-Marshal.