NAHANT – the Nahant community breakfast at Nahant Village Church featured the Nahant Fire Department on Friday. As first responders who provide fire rescue and emergency medical services, firemen Frank Pappalardo and Matt Canty gave some hints about how to prevent fire or protect themselves during fire.
A special guest Carolyn Jundzilo-Comer who was a survivor from a house fire traveled from Ohio back to her hometown to give appreciation to her savers. In December 2021, Carolyn Jundzilo-Comer and her husband Michael were trapped in their home by a horrific house fire. Pappalardo and Canty were in bed when they received the emergency call.
Pappalardo recalled, “Carolyn was the true hero, she pushed Michael to the bedroom and shut the door.” After Carolyn pushed Michael who was on the wheelchair to the bedroom, she was found near the kitchen’s running faucet unconscious.
This was a lifesaving move by shutting the door, according to Pappalardo. He advised to close the bedroom door before sleeping and emphasized how much difference it could make when there was a fire.
“By shutting doors, oxygen is cut so it is less possible for fire to travel,” said Pappalardo. According to the Nahant Fire Department, approximately 50 percent of home fires happen between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. and a closed door can keep carbon monoxide levels 90 percent lower during a fire. In a video he shared, the fire experiment proved his point. A close door could protect bedrooms from fire to almost looking as untouched.
However, Pappalardo stressed that the best way to be safe during fire is to get out, if that is possible. Since furniture is now mostly made of synthetic materials, it takes less than three minutes to safely leave houses from the fire alarms ringing on average, compared to 17 minutes in the past.
Another point Pappalardo brought to awareness was to remind residents that the fire alarms themselves have a life limit, mostly 10 years, residents should change more frequently if they live close to the ocean.
Since Christmas is right around the corner, Canty suggested people turn off their light decorations on Christmas trees at night and keep candles away from the trees. He wanted people to be aware that Christmas trees are highly inflammable.
Sylvia Chen can be reached at [email protected]
