2023 is off to a very busy start as Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department finished its busiest year on record with a total of 434 responses in 2022.

In addition to responding to 434 fire calls, SLVFD members put in over 1000 training hours and countless hours on work details, community service events, and meetings.

We would especially like to thank all our brave volunteer firefighters and paid drivers who serve our community and answer the call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

SLVFD responds nearly every single day to a wide variety of emergencies. Including but not limited to structure fires, appliance fires, cooking fires, electrical fires, car fires, propane leaks, motor vehicle accidents, carbon monoxide alarms, boating and snowmobile accidents, wildland fires, severe storm emergencies, water/ ice rescues, back country search and rescues, hazardous materials incidents, elevator rescues, and alarm activations.

A fire can double in size every 30 seconds. Modern construction, made up mostly by petroleum based materials, such as plastics and synthetics (often referred to by firefighters as "solid gasoline") contribute to rapid and explosive fire growth.

Alarm Activations have especially increased over recent years. This increase is due to improved building codes requiring more commercial and residential buildings to install integrated fire alarm systems.

SLVFD cannot stress enough the importance of residential smoke/carbon monoxide detectors and commercial monitored alarm systems. It has been our experience that smoke detectors and properly maintained commercial alarm systems can absolutely make the difference in preventing loss of life and preserving property.

Every day there are more and more examples of incidents where early detection by smoke detectors and alarm systems are helping to save lives in our community. Two such recent examples:

1. SLVFD was dispatched at 12:34 AM to a commercial fire alarm activation to a mixed use large commercial restaurant and multi residential apartment building. Upon arrival fire fighters discovered a serious propane heater fire in an occupied third-floor apartment. Thanks to the commercial alarm system, all occupants from the multiple apartments in the building were able to safely evacuate and firefighters were able to quickly contain and extinguish the fire.

2. SLVFD was dispatched to a smoke alarm activation at approximately 12:20 AM to a local restaurant located in the center of a large downtown block of buildings on Broadway. The smoke alarm activation was reported to 911 by a concerned neighbor who lived in an apartment across the street from the restaurant and heard the alarm going off. The block of buildings included both mixed use commercial retail, office and multi residential apartments. Upon arrival firefighters discovered the commercial building full of thick dark grey smoke banked down to the floor. Firefighters made entry into the restaurant and located burning food on an unattended stove. Thanks to the smoke detector alarm activation alerting an observant neighbor, firefighters were able to quickly contain the incident to the stove.

Early fire detection is critical in helping occupants safely evacuate before fire, smoke and/ or carbon monoxide conditions can overwhelm them. Please take this opportunity to make sure your smoke, carbon monoxide detectors and commercial alarm systems are up to date and working properly. Please make sure you regularly test your smoke detectors and alarm systems, have a plan what to do in the event of a fire, including having a fire evacuation plan and pre identified meeting location. Wishing everyone a safe 2023. New members are needed and welcome. For more information about becoming a volunteer firefighter please email us at info@saranaclakefire.com.