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MESSAGE FROM THE FIRE CHIEF
BY ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF
ANDERSON MACKEY

H
ave you protected yourself and your family from
"the invisible killer"? Carbon monoxide (CO) is a
gas you cannot see, taste or smell. It is created when
fossil fuels, such as kerosene, gasoline, coal, natural
gas, propane, methane or wood do not burn completely.
Carbon monoxide gas can kill people and pets. This type -
of poisoning can result from malfunctioning or improperly .,
vented furnaces or other heating appliances, portable . -
generators, water heaters, clothes dryers or cars left
running in an enclosed space.
_
State law requires that CO detectors be installed in all
homes with fuel-burning appliances such as oil or gas
furnaces and gas stoves. They are also required in all
residential units with attached garages. Although this law
went into effect on July 1, 2011, for single-family homes ..
and on January 1, 2013, for apartments, hotels and other
multi-unit dwellings, we are surprised by the number of
people we encounter who remain unaware.

Carbon monoxide detectors can be individual units or
hard-wired into your home, much like smoke alarms. There
are also combination smoke alarm/CO detector units
available. These detectors should be placed outside each
separate sleeping area (or a common area serving nearby
sleeping areas}, and there should be at least one on every LIBRARY transition
level of the home. If you opt for a combination unit, follow
I
the instructions for proper installation for that particular
unit. Finally, as with smoke alarms, it is important to test A new chapter is being written for the Santa Clarita Public Library. The City
these units periodically to ensure they are in working order. Library is in the process of transitioning from operations under a private
company to an in-house City-managed service. The official switch-over will
Please take a few moments not occur until July 1, 2018, but the groundwork is already being laid. With
today to ensure you and your the transition comes an exciting opportunity for new library professionals to
family are protected from "the become City staff. The transition will also allow the City to be more involved
invisible killer" by checking in selecting quality books and increasing the library
that your home contains the collection. In the meantime, the libraries are still
appropriate number of properly open and available for you to stop by and explore
installed CO detectors. something new! For more information, please
visit SantaClaritalibrary.com.