Stage 2: Ohio U.S.A. | July - Dec 2015
Ohio State Fire Marshal - Life Safety & Litigation Concerns
In February 2012 Ohio's State Fire Marshal (SFM) stated publicly that:
1. He would educate Ohioans about the different types of smoke alarms available.
He has not.
2. Ionization smoke alarms provide adequate time to escape a fire.
They do not.
WFSF's Ohio Campaign Meetings
From late July 2015 the WFSF will conduct public meetings explaining how the
SFM has put the lives of fire fighters and citizens at risk (see CPSC video below).
If since 1 May 2011 you, or a family member has:
1. Been given an ionization alarm by anyone including but not limited to any Ohio fire
fighter, government official or the Red Cross.
2. Been a victim of a residential house fire resulting in loss or property injury or death.
Please complete the form below and find out about the WFSF meetings. Thank you.
Open Letters to Governor Kasich
& Ohio Government Officials
There are two types of smoke alarms, Ionization & Photoelectric
Ionization smoke alarms are in most homes
The Problem
The Solution
Larry L. Flowers
Ohio State Fire Marshal
Recommend photoelectric smoke alarms
WFSF's Open Letter to SFM
The WFSF's Open Letter (pending) will request disclosure of the level of smoke the BRK SA340 ionization smoke alarms distributed by the SFM activated under Australian Standards (CSIRO) scientific tests.
Find out more in this May 2015 ABC - WFSF Interview.
The Fire Fighter - Captain Darian Edwards
00:52 "That detector you're holding in your right hand, the ionization,
will fail. 10, 20, 30 minutes after the fire; that's when it activates."
THE INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER
00:00 "Do you think with an ionization alarm people have
enough time to escape?"
THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL
00:05 "In most cases yes ... but we know for a fact that a
working smoke detector gives folks the adequate
amount of time to get out..."
THE FACTS1
Australian Government (CSIRO) scientific test data proves ionization alarms do not give adequate time to get out.
_____________________________________________________________
THE INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER
00:51 "Which smoke detectors?"
THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL
00:53 "Our message is a working smoke detector.
There's a lot of different technologies out there. . ."
THE FACTS2
There are not "a lot of different technologies out there." There are just two, ionization and photoelectric.
_____________________________________________________________
THE INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER
01:14 "As part of this campaign will you be educating
people on the two different types?"
THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL
01:19 "Absolutely. We'll let people know there are a lot of
different technologies available . . . to say one or
the other is better - we can't say that. . ."
THE FACTS3
The public (and fire fighters) have not been adequately
educated about the two different technologies.
The SFM's claims that he can't say "one or the other is better" is false
Ionization
Defective
Effective
Photoelectric
The Fire Fighter - Saving Lives
The Politician - Saving Face
00:26
"You're telling people to get the photoelectric smoke
detector vs getting an ionization smoke detector."
State Fire Marshal (SFM) stands
by/defends ionization alarms
Ohio Fire Chiefs, Fire Officials & Fire Fighters
International Fire Fighters Organizations
Recommend Photoelectric Alarms
Despite being provided with evidence of their known and proven defects, the SFM stands behind the report claiming he cannot say one type of alarm is better than another.
In February 2013, ABC consumer investigative reporter Jenn Strathman interviewed State Fire Marshal Flowers . . .
In April 2012 fire officials across Ohio were outraged when the SFM's office published a smoke alarm report which failed to disclose the known limitations of ionization smoke alarms.
All Australian & New Zealand Fire Brigades
Recommend photoelectric smoke alarms
Queensland Fire &
Emergency Services
Northern Territory
Fire & Rescue Service
Fire & Rescue
New South Wales
FRNSW does not support ionization alarms
QFES warns ionization alarms "should be replaced"
The N.T.'s photoelectric legislation was enacted 01 Nov 2011
Photoelectric-specific statewide legislation enacted 01 April 2015 and has been in several municipalities since January 2011
Ohio's Statewide & Municipal
Photoelectric-Specific Legislation
U.S. & Australian Fire Fighter Organizations
Official Positions - Residential Smoke Alarms
The official positions of both the IAFF & AFAC:
"Ionization smoke alarms may not operate in time to alert
occupants early enough to escape from smoldering fires."
The International Association of
Fire Fighters (IAFF) represents
over 90% of U.S. and Canadian
fire fighters and paramedics
The Australasian Fire & Emergency
Service Authorities Council
(AFAC) represents all Australian
and New Zealand fire fighters
"To say one or the other is
better - we can't say that."
01:31
"Citizens must upgrade their smoke alarms to make sure their homes are
equipped with photoelectric smoke alarms. Using better smoke alarms
will drastically reduce the loss of life among fire fighters and citizens."
References:
1. Australian Government (CSIRO) tests data shows ionization alarms do not activate until over 2-3 times the maximum safe limit set for photoelectric alarms
2. A third alleged "new technology" has recently emerged. The 'IoPhic' is a modified ionization smoke alarm. It failed scientific smoldering fire tests conducted for
the New Zealand Consumer organization. Correspondence sent to the President of the company challenging claims that it performs better than a photoelectric
alarm in the smoldering stage of fire remain unanswered: www.SmokeAlarmWarning.org/oh2.html#iophic (being built)
3. Communication from the Office of the SFM is consistent with his commitment to only promote 'working' smoke alarms.
www.SmokeAlarmWarning.org/oh3 (being built)
Harold Schaitberger, General President, IAFF 04 Oct 2010 | Washington D.C., U.S.A.
Harold Schaitberger
President IAFF
How to Drastically Reduce Fire Fighter and Citizen Deaths
"...Mr Dennis if you could jump in first please. We can't
do this alone and hopefully you all are reaching out
to your house and senate representatives and
senators and being heard. Is that the case?"
"I'm very hopeful in Ohio ... So we have the whole fire
community only supporting photoelectric smoke alarms.
The problem in Ohio is the Fire Marshal is housed under
the Commerce Department ... So the only people
fighting it is the Commerce Department."
Elliot F. Kaye
Executive Director, Chairman U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission (CPSC)
Dean Dennis M.Ed, B.A., CISM
Fathers For Fire Safety, Ohio
Honorary Member NEOFPA
CPSC Agenda & Priorities Hearing | Washington D.C. June 2015
CPSC Chairman, Elliot F. Kaye with NEOFPA's Honorary Member Dean Dennis
Senator Bill Seitz - Photoelectric Legislation in 2015
NEOFPA's CPSC Testimony - Part 3
At the CPSC's June 2015 Hearing, Dean Dennis, representing the North Eastern Ohio Fire Prevention Association, revealed how the smoke alarms in most Ohio homes are proven to be defective and how the Department of Commerce has been working against the stand taken by Ohio fire officials and fire fighters to recommend photoelectric smoke alarms.
Senator Seitz with Australian & U.S. Smoke Alarm Experts
David Isaac (left), Adrian Butler (2nd from right), Dean Dennis (right)
with Senator Bill Seitz | June 2014, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.A.
"We will next year be introducing legislation that will
mandate the use of photoelectric technology..."
WFSF's U.S. Smoke Alarm Campaign - 2015
"Why Haven't We Been Told?"
WFSF Ohio Meetings: July - August 2015
Adrian Butler is the chairman and co-founder of the WFSF.
He is a former full-time fire fighter and an honorary member of the North Eastern Ohio Fire Prevention Association. He has been working with Cincinnati's world smoke alarm expert and Father's For Fire Safety Co-Founder, Dean Dennis since 2007 educating Ohio fire fighters and officials about smoke alarm technology.
The WFSF was instrumental in Ohio's first municipal photoelectric-specific legislation and in other U.S. and Australian photoelectric-specific legislation (see video below). His talks will explain how and why since the mid 60's the truth about ionization smoke alarms continues to be kept from the public and most fire fighters.
Details of meeting will be posted on this page.
If you have any questions contact him directly:
E: ab@TheWFSF.org
Cell: Australia - until 20 June 2015 +61 409 782 166 | U.S.A. - after 20 June 2015 To Be Advised
CONFIDENTIAL CONTACT FORM
Name
WFSF's U.S. Smoke Alarm Tour - 2014
Chief Kevin Jacobs Explains Why Shaker Heights was
Ohio's First City to Mandate Photoelectric Smoke Alarms
World Fire Safety Foundation
U.S. Smoke Alarm Tour | June - July 2014
Email : Shaker Heights Fire Chief to WFSF | Jan 2011
From: Kevin Jacobs <kevin.jacobs@shakeronline.com>
Date: 29 January 2011 at 01:54
Subject:
To: ab@thewfsf.org
Adrian:
I would like to personally extend my thanks to you for all your help and support as Shaker worked to pass a photoelectric smoke detector ordinance. As you know by now we were successful on this past Monday.
I don’t know if we had been successful if we did not have all the information your organization provided. If there is any help you need from us, as others consider passing legislation, please do not hesitate to call.
Kevin Jacobs
Chief of Fire
Shaker Hts. Fire Department
Dean Dennis, Fathers For Fire Safety (left); Captain Mark Walsh, Colerain Fire Dept; Adrian Butler Chairman, WFSF; Chief Paul Wright
President, Ohio Fire Chiefs' Association | June 2014, Cincinnati, Ohio
Adrian Butler Chairman, WFSF (center); Chief Steve Ashbrock; Dean Dennis, Fathers For Fire Safety (right); with Madeira & Indian Hill Fire
Department fire fighters and paramedics | June 2014, Cincinnati, Ohio
John Desmarteau, President, North Eastern Ohio Fire Prevention Association (NEOFPA) (left); Adrian Butler Chairman, WFSF; Devon Paullin, Former Fire Marshal Shaker Heights Fire Dept (retd.),
Secretary, NEOFPA (right) | June 2014, Cleveland, Ohio
WFSF Chairman Discusses U.S.A.'s First, State-Wide
Photoelectric Legislation | Burlington, Vermont, U.S.A. June 2014
Dean Dennis, Fathers For Fire Safety (left); Ed Paulk, Alabama State Fire Marshal; Adrian Butler Chairman, WFSF; David Isaac, Standards Australia Committee FP002 (right) | July 2014, Montgomery, Alabama
Devon Paullin, Former Fire Marshal Shaker Heights Fire Dept (retd.),
Secretary, NEOFPA (left); Dean Dennis, Fathers For Fire Safety; Adrian Butler Chairman, WFSF; John Desmarteau, President,
NEOFPA (right) | June 2014, ABC5 Studios, Cleveland, Ohio
"The world is a dangerous
place to live; not because
of the people who are evil,
but because of the people
who do nothing about it."
Albert Einstein
"Ignorance, allied with..
power, is the most.. ferocious enemy..
justice can have."
James A Baldwin
"The only thing..
necessary for the.. triumph of evil is that..
good men do nothing."
Edmund Burke