Fire decals are improvement in locating children in home

JASON PEREZ-DORMITZER, Standard-Times correspondent, Oct. 14, 2003, Updated Jan. 13, 2011, 3:07 a.m. ET

MATTAPOISETT -- James Harlfinger has been recognized for keeping residents SAFE. The 32-year veteran firefighter and Student Awareness of Fire Education coordinator received a citation for the house decal program he created.

"I was surprised and honored" he said of the citation which was presented by the state fire marshal. "I definitely was not expecting it."

His efforts are an evolution of the traditional and controversial Tot Finder decal program. The item he has designed alerts firefighters where to find children without tipping off strangers where they might be.

The decal is placed on the front door of a house not on a window of the child's room. Tabs on the corner of the decal are removed to tell a firefighter the general area they should check first for children or others needing assistance. If for example the bottom right tab is removed the firefighter moves to the corresponding area of the home.

A tab or tabs are placed on the door of the room where a child or adult sleeps. It is located 4 inches above the ground and directly under the doorknob. This tells firefighters where a person could be even in a smoky room.

"In a search and rescue you need to know where to start" Mr. Harlfinger said. "The decals give an idea of the primary search area." The firefighter who has been with this department for four years also is a member of the SAFE program in town and is part of the statewide SAFE Task Force.

"He came back from 40 hours of training to be a public educator and really got involved in the SAFE program" said Fire Chief Ronald E. Scott.

Mr. Harlfinger said he has been working with the decal idea for a few years. His work with Chief Scott really got the program rolling.

"The chief gave me a mission to come up with something different" he said. "I've been thinking about the decal idea off and on for a while now. He came back to me and said this would be great. He said 'Let's figure out a way to work this.'"

The program has been used for almost two years. Any new home or home sale includes a fire safety inspection in which the new decal is put up and fire alarms are checked.

Tot Finder stickers are removed which pleases Chief Scott. "Those have been around awhile and they are not always taken off when for example a child goes to college" he said. "A firefighter could go into a burning house and end up finding a sewing machine instead of a child." Mr. Harlfinger was one of 16 people who received citations at the SAFE conference according to Department of Fire Services spokeswoman Jennifer Mieth.

She added that Mr. Harlfinger is a great example of a SAFE educator. "When other coordinators (in the state) are looking for ideas to reach a certain age group they go to him for guidance" Ms. Mieth said.

She said he has been effective in the classroom citing a case in which a child used skills he taught at school to avert a major fire involving five children.

The citation comes at a difficult time for Mr. Harlfinger. His wife recently had a stroke and he missed the ceremony when the citation was presented. Chief Scott went in his place. "She told me (the citation) means a lot to her" he said.

Although he said the citation is an honor Mr. Harlfinger remains humble about his accomplishment. "I did this because I wanted to not to be recognized" he said. "There are tons of (firefighters) out there who do all kinds of good things."

Chief Scott said he is proud of Mr. Harlfinger's program and that the department has been fortunate that the decal system has not been put to the test.

"We haven't had any fires yet" he said. "I think that's partly because of the fire safety programs in place."

This story appeared on Page A4 of The Standard-Times on October 14 2003.