Fire Prevention & Education

The Fire Marshal's Office (FMO) is the core of community fire safety and fire education programs. The FMO is responsible for the daily inspections of industrial and commercial facilities and the implementation of a company fire prevention and pre-fire program. The FMO is also responsible for plans checking, permit approvals, and new construction inspections.

Another duty of the FMO is to investigate how a fire started.  By state law, all fires have to be investigated to determine the cause and origin.  If the fire is criminal in nature the police department becomes involved.  As with the Mount Holly Police Department, the FMO works side by side with the Mount Holly Utility department to ensure an adequate amount of water is available to fight fires. The FMO is located at the Headquarter Station (433 Killian Avenue, Mount Holly) and is staffed by the Fire Marshal.

SAFETY AND PUBLIC EDUCATION

The Department provides a variety of safety and public education programs.
Visits to the fire station are a popular activity for children. Visits may be arranged by telephone, (704) 822-2927 and talking with the on-duty Fire Captain.

A Fire Station "Open House" will be an annual event at Station 34. We are planning on holding future Open Houses in September.
Department personnel visit classrooms at local schools with a fire prevention message each October during National Fire Prevention Week.

You will often find firefighters at many Mount Holly events including, Springfest, Mount Holly Nights, the Mount Holly Christmas parade, National Night Out.

If you are interested in requesting a program from the Mount Holly Fire Department, use this form at least 2 weeks in advance. After submittal, a City of Mount Holly Fire Department Fire Educator will contact you for additional information. Programs include fire extinguisher demonstrations, community events, fire/life safety, fire drills, school events, and more.
GRILLING SAFETY
SAFETY FOR GAS GRILLS

Since the Clean Air Act of 1990, propane has been a popular fuel source for many households', especially for gas-powered barbeque grills. Propane tanks burn more cleanly, are less expensive, and cook faster than other fuel sources. As with any fuel source, though, it's important to take precautions when operating your propane tanks and gas grills.

Follow these eight tips and keep safety first during your next cookout.

1. Inspect the cylinder of your propane tank for bulges, dents, gouges, corrosion, leaks, or evidence of extreme rusting. Also, examine the hoses on your grill for brittleness, leaks, holes, cracks, or sharp bends. If you find any of these problems, it is time to replace the equipment.
2. Be sure to keep propane tanks upright, and move gas hoses away from dripping grease and hot surfaces.
3. Never use cigarettes, lighters, or matches near your gas grill, whether it's in use or not. You can't be sure that there's not a slight gas leak somewhere in the unit, so it's always better to be safe than sorry.
4. Propane tanks require sophisticated valve equipment to keep them safe for use with grills. Never try to remove the valve from your propane tank, because you'll risk an explosion. In addition, always close the tank valve when you're finished using it.
5. Never bring your propane tank indoors, and never store spare gas containers under or near your grill. Don't store other flammable liquids, such as gasoline, near propane tanks. Keep your barbeque covered when it's not in use to prevent hazardous situations.
6. If you must transport your propane tank for any purpose, be sure you choose a relatively cool day. Keeping containers or any other grill parts that are under pressure in a hot car will cause an increase in the pressure of the gas, which could cause an explosion.
7. Never dispose of your propane tank by throwing it in the trash. Check to see if there are municipal programs for collection in your area. If your grill uses a disposable tank, take care to use up all the residual gas before discarding it.
8. Don't cook on wooden decks in the event of a fire emergency grill on decks is very dangerous. It is recommended to move grills 20 feet away from structures.

Even though you don't have to be concerned about propane gas leaks with charcoal grills, you do need to take precautions against another kind of gas; carbon monoxide. Because charcoal produces carbon monoxide, which is highly toxic, you should never burn your charcoal grill inside your home, a tent, a vehicle, or any other enclosed area.

Keep the following four safety tips in mind when using your charcoal grills:

1. Operate charcoal grills only outdoors, never inside an enclosed area. Even if you've finished grilling, and you assume all the coals are extinguished, they're still producing carbon monoxide, so keep your charcoal grills outside at all times.
2. Don't wear loose clothing, especially long sleeves, while grilling.
3. Charcoal grills tend to flare up, so keep a fire extinguisher handy.
4. Use charcoal lighter fluid to light new coals only; don't use it on coals that are already lit.

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