On Friday, March 29, at 3:20PM, the Nunda Rural Fire Protection District responded to the 3700 block of Riverside Drive for a reported residential structure fire. Firefighters arrived on scene within minutes and observed heavy smoke showing from the rear of a two-story residence. An initial defensive attack from the exterior was established utilizing several hose lines and truck operations. A request for additional resources was made through the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (M.A.B.A.S). Crews worked aggressively and brought the fire under control at 4:14PM. Firefighters remained on scene for an additional two hours to monitor and overhaul extensive smoldering contents inside the home.
One occupant was home when the fire occurred and safely evacuated. One cat was located deceased, and a second cat remains unaccounted. Preliminary investigations indicate the fire started on the second floor of the home, but the exact cause remains under investigation.
The two-story home sustained heavy damage throughout and is uninhabitable. The two occupants of the home are receiving housing and various aid assistance from the American Red Cross.
In total, 17 neighboring agencies responded to the fire scene or to cover Nunda’s fire station during the incident. The Nunda Rural Fire Protection District extends gratitude to the numerous agencies and our dispatchers who assisted with the incident.
The government is warning people to immediately stop using a fire-extinguishing device shaped like a ball.
Elide Fire-Extinguishing Ball (Photo provided by CPSC)
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says Elide fire-extinguishing balls can fail to extinguish a fire, leaving people at risk of injury and death.
However, the CPSC says Elide Fire USA has not agreed to recall the balls or help customers with a fix for the products.
According to ElideFireUS.com, the ball activates by itself within seconds of flames touching it. The ball breaks open and dispenses a dry chemical to extinguish a fire.
The CPSC says the products can fail to effectively disperse the chemicals and fail to put out fires. It says the balls do not have a pressure gauge or pressure indicator, a locking device to reduce unintentional discharge, or a nozzle to direct the discharge.
The CPSC says the Elide Fire Ball does not meet the requirements of UL 299 Dry Chemical Fire Extinguishers and UL 711 Rating and Fire Testing of Fire Extinguishers, which are voluntary safety standards.
The company says its product is not a fire extinguisher, so measuring it against the fire extinguisher standards is not a fair measure because its product will ultimately fail in that testing scenario.
The Fire Ball was created to bring an additional line of fire protection to any potential fire situation. When it is mounted in a higher-risk area, he says it can stop a small fire from becoming a large fire.
According to the government, Elide Fire USA sells three models of fire-extinguishing balls. Models ELB01 and ELB02-1 are red. Model ELB02-02 is blue. The products sold for between $95 and $120. The CPSC says its warning is for all three models.
A CPSC news release urges consumers not to buy or sell the fire-extinguishing balls. If you already have the fire-extinguishing balls, the CPSC says to take them to a local fire department or a hazardous waste disposal facility.
The government says people should only buy fire extinguishers that meet the UL 299 and UL 711 safety standards and are marked with those certifications.
