State of New Hampshire
Department of Safety
Office of the State Fire Marshal
(603) 223-4289
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
DATE: February 2, 2011
CONTACT: J. William Degnan, State Fire
Marshal
Max
Schultz, District Chief
State
Fire Marshal J. William Degnan announced today that with up to 20 inches of
snow in the forecast combined with other recent snowstorms, there is a greater
urgency to clear roofs of snow and ice that has accumulated in recent weeks. A roof may collapse with little or no
warning and one common misconception is that only flat roofs are susceptible to
collapse. The amount of snow that
a roof can hold varies greatly depending on the water content of the snow and
the structural load capabilities of your home or building. Therefore, it is important to keep your
roof as clear as possible. The
following are some of the warning signs that have been reported prior to roof
failure:
á
Sagging roof steel that
is visually deformed
á
Cracked or split wood structural
members
á
Sprinkler heads pushed
down below ceiling tiles
á
Doors that pop open
á
Doors or windows that
are difficult to open
á
Bowed walls, utility
pipes or conduit attached at ceiling
á
Creaking, cracking or
popping sounds
Previous yearŐs fire and
building collapse investigations have determined that gas service to some
buildings was damaged due to heavy snow loads and snow sliding off of roofs
onto gas meters and components. Fires
and explosions have been caused by this damage in past years resulting in loss
of life. The State Fire Marshal
urges all citizens to do the following:
á
Clear roofs of excessive
snow and ice buildup, being careful not to damage gas and oil service to the
building. Snowblowers and
snowplows can damage gas lines and meters. Keep the gas meters and components clear of snow.
á
Keep all chimneys and
vents clear to prevent carbon monoxide from backing up into the building. Some vents, such as pellet stove vents,
may exit the building through a wall and are susceptible to being blocked by
excessive snow buildup on the outside of the building.
á
Keep all exits clear of
snow so that occupants can escape quickly if a fire or other emergency should
occur. Keep in mind that windows
should be cleared to allow a secondary means of escape in case the primary
means of escape is blocked by fire.
Keeping exits clear also allows emergency workers to access your
building.
Specific fire and building
safety questions can be answered by local fire and building officials or by
contacting the State Fire MarshalŐs Office at 223-4289. For information on roof snow load
requirements in your community, view the report at the following website link. http://www.senh.org/committee%20reports/tr02-6.pdf