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Fire Safety

By the Minutes: Supporting the Community’s Fire Protection

Ixonia Fire Department's first hand pumper, "Heritage of Ixonia"

Ixonia’s first hand pumper with chemical unit attached. Photo used with permission from the book Heritage of Ixonia, by Carl and Alida Jaeger.

By HOWARD WIEDENHOEFT

As trendy as barns have become for dance venues, the idea is hardly new. In fact, in 1923 the following resolution was passed at the Watertown Mutual Insurance Company’s annual meeting:

“Whereas during the summer months many barns are used for dances and whereas such undertaking is hazardous to said barn and other nearby buildings because of the use of cigarettes and smoking in general. Be it resolved the buildings and other property on such a farm is not insured from 12 o’clock noon the day of the dance and 48 hours after.” [Read more…] about By the Minutes: Supporting the Community’s Fire Protection

Daylight Savings Emphasizes Fire Safety for Modern Homes

Modern homes need extra fire safety measures

Daylight Savings Time ends this Saturday, October 6, meaning it’s time to change your clocks and your smoke detector batteries. It also means it’s time to review fire safety within your home. We often consider older homes to be more susceptible to fire, but did you know modern homes have actually proved to burn faster than old homes?

In her article for National Underwriter magazine, Sheila Courtney, director of risk management at PURE, says homes today burn an estimated eight times faster than in past decades. Changes in building materials, open-concept floor plans, and larger homes all play a factor in the shorter time it takes for a home to become engulfed in flames.

Courtney offers the following advise to homeowners:

Building or Renovating Your Home

  • Use only traditional building materials. Concrete, steel, masonry, solid wood and other traditional building materials have a lower burn rate than manmade materials like particle board, composite wood and veneers. For the home’s frame, use either concrete or solid wood with metal studs. For walls and siding, select a fire -rated material like stucco or fiber cement.
  • Choose a more fire-resistant window. Tempered glass is four to five times stronger than standard glass and it’s more heat resistant. For window framing, steel offers the best fire protection, followed by woad and aluminum. Vinyl is the least effective.
  • Install a dry sprinkler system with a centrally connected waterflow alarm. In the event of fire, this will automatically turn on and alert a central station. And unlike a wet system, the pipes of a dry sprinkler system do not contain water, so the risk of a burst pipe is eliminated. A sprinkler system can be installed at any time but it’s much more costly to retrofit an existing home with one than to add it during the building process.

Living in Modern Homes

  • Keep flammable items away from fireplaces and heaters, and exercise caution around lit candles.
  • Install smoke detectors at least once per every 1, 000 square feet and on each level of the home, including stair landings and hallways.
  • Heat sensors should be placed in the kitchen, laundry room, garage and mechanical uses.
  • Space out furniture in rooms to slow the spread of fire, and have your chimney professionally inspected each year.

If you have further questions on insurance for your newly constructed home or practicing fire safety, contact Forward Mutual.

5 Autumn To-Do’s to Secure Your Outbuildings for Winter

Autumn on the Farm

Last week we offered five easy chores for securing your home for winter. This week we’d like to extend that to-do list to your outbuildings.  These are quick and easy chores and taking care of them now will make your winter much easier and safer.

1. Winterize Watering

Does your livestock drink from heated  buckets, troughs or automatic watering systems when the temperatures turn cold? If so, you’ll want to check this equipment now to be sure everything’s in working order. Examine cords for cracks and heating elements for proper connections. Now is also a good time to drain lines that might freeze in winter and store any hoses you might have around the barnyard.

2. Trim Trees and Clear Dead Branches

Just as you want to protect your home from windblown and fallen branches, so you should do the same for your barns. Wisconsin’s snow, ice and wind can be hard on trees. When winter-laden branches fall on your buildings, they become damaging and expensive.

3. Tidy Your Yards

Clear your driveways, barnyards and yard of any items that could get buried under the snow or entangled in a snow blower.

4. Replace Broken Windows and Repair Doors

Livestock need ventilation even in winter, however they appreciate getting out of the cold, driving winds. Solid windows and well-fitting doors will protect not only your animals but also your barn structure. Oil the tracks on your doors so they slide easily, even in Wisconsin’s snowy drifts.

5. Inspect Building Roofs and Rafters

Winter snows are often heavy. Check for loose panels on metal sheds. Check barn rafters for cracks and brace any that may not hold up to the added weight of snow.

Any questions on how to prepare your outbuildings for winter? Call Forward Mutual at 920-161-6616 or contact us here.

Being Prepared for Flooding

Rain, rain and more rain! Wisconsin has experienced some heavy downpours in recent weeks. In fact, several counties within our Forward Mutual area were issued flood watches and warnings. With that in mind, we want to recognize National Preparedness Month with this helpful infograph from our reinsurance company Grinnell Mutual.

Take care and be prepared!

Flooding Safety guidelinesUsed with permission Grinnell Mutual Reinisurnace Company.

Safe Grilling Means Happy Grilling

Forward Mutual encourages safe cooking over gas grill for Independence Day

The Independence weekend is coming up and Forward Mutual wishes everyone a happy and safe celebration. A good place to start? Verify that your liquefied petroleum (LP) gas grill and power recreational vehicle units are safe. When it comes to LP gas, what you can’t see can be harmful, even volatile, if a tank or regulator begins to leak.

Our reinsurance company Grinnell Mutual offers this helpful guide on the properties of LP gas and what to do if a leak occurs.

LP gas 101

LP gas, also referred to as LPG or propane, is invisible to the human eye and naturally odorless. Manufacturers add an identifying odor to the gas so a leak can be detected. Because LP gas vapor is heavier than air, it will sink to low-lying areas. If a leak occurs within a building or near an exterior door or window opening, the gas will seek the lowest level of the structure. In addition, it is highly flammable when it encounters an ignition source.

Replacing empty tanks on the grill

If an LP tank is used up during grilling, always wait until the grill is cool to replace the empty tank. Never attempt to change tanks and re-ignite the burner while the grill is still hot. Once the tank is replaced, check for connection leaks before using the grill. Remember, portable tanks should always be stored outdoors and the valves closed when not in use.

Responding to a gas leak

If an LP gas leak is suspected in the grill, shut off the gas valve on the tank immediately and do not operate the grill until you can confirm that no leaks exist within the gas line or gas connection. Leaks within the LP gas line or gas connections can be detected using a soapy water solution and an old paint brush or tooth brush. Follow these steps to check the line and connections:

  1. With the cylinder valve shut and the burners in the off position, confirm that each connection is hand-tight.
  2. Once the connections are secured, reopen the gas valve.
  3. Check all bends in the gas line, pipe connections at the tank and the burners, and the additional sections of the gas line by applying a soapy water solution with the brush over each location. Bubbling at any point indicates a leak.
  4. If the leak is near a connection, shut off the gas valve and attempt to tighten the loose connection. With the burners shut off, open the valve again and recheck with soapy water. If the leak continues, consult your local gas supplier to determine further action.
  5. If the leak occurs in the gas line, replace the gas line before further use. Check for potential leaks after the new line has been installed.

Contact your local LP gas supplier for additional safety information on storage and handling of LP gas.

This article is taken from helpful information from our reinsurance company Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company. The information included was obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company and its employees make no guarantee of results and assume no liability in connection with any training, materials, suggestions or information provided. It is the user’s responsibility to confirm compliance with any applicable local, state or federal regulations. Information obtained from or via Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company should not be used as the basis for legal advice or other advice, but should be confirmed with alternative sources.

Keep Your Home Safe and Warm This Winter

Tips to for safely heating your home

January’s here along with cold winter weather! Our reinsurance company Grinnell Mutual offers helpful ideas for safely heating your home.

We at Forward Mutual also want to assist in keeping your and your household warm. We offer Equipment Breakdown coverage to protect your furnaces, heat pumps, heaters and generators. If you have any questions about insuring your home or farm this winter, call us at 920-261-6616 or email our office.

Information used with permission from Grinnell Mutual