ARA Safety Inc.

HAUPPAUGE, NEW YORK--(Marketwire - Dec. 31, 2008) - The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that December and January are the peak months for overall home fires and the busiest months for fire departments across the nation. When a fire started in a home in Hauppauge, NY the morning after Christmas, its residents were thankful that the Hauppauge Fire Department arrived in time with a new tool that helped prevent the spread of flames and limit damage to the residents' home.

When Fire Chief Tom Kriklava, District Fire Marshal Greg Gottlieb, and First Assistant Chief Ray Germaine, arrived at the scene at 1:15 AM on December 26, they immediately evacuated the structure and found the source of the fire in the home's boiler room in the basement.

"Upon arrival, we determined that the fire was spreading into the remainder of the finished basement," said Chief Kriklava. "I gave Assistant Chief Germaine the order to use the FIT-5 and was pleased with the result."

The FIT-5 contained the fire to the boiler room and prevented its spread to the finished basement area. "The FIT-5 knocked the fire down almost completely and prevented the spread of flames until the pumper arrived a few minutes later," said Fire Marshal Gottlieb.

"We are very impressed with what the device did in knocking down the fire and minimizing fire and water damage to the property," said First Assistant Chief Germaine. The department used approximately 25 gallons of water to fully extinguish the flames. Had the FIT-5 not been used the department would have required 8-10 times more water to fully extinguish the flames.

"I am really happy that the Hauppague fire department had the FIT-5," said homeowner Chanse Menedez. "Thanks to their timely response and this new device all my family's possessions were saved and there was no flooding in our home."

"When it comes to fighting fires time is of the essence," said Michael Gardiner, ARA Safety's Director of Marketing. "The FIT-5 has once again bought time and helped save a family's property."

Brian Lynch, owner of US Fire Tech Corp., ARA Safety FIT-5 dealer that provided the unit to the Hauppague Fire Department, said that with each use of the FIT-5 device, more and more fire departments are making the decision to add the FIT-5 to their firefighting toolbox.

Photos show charred beams in the boiler room and devastating impacts the fire could have had had it not been knocked down so quickly by the FIT-5. Click on the link below to view the photos: http://www.arasafety.com/fit-interactive/deployment-stories/2008/1226.htm.

About ARA Safety

ARA Safety is a world leader in innovative fire and life safety technology. ARA Safety's powerful and award-winning Fire Interruption Technology (FIT) fire knock down tool is saving lives and reducing property loss in cities and towns across North America. In November 2008, ARA Safety's FIT-5 was included in Popular Science Magazine's Best of What's New in 2008. To learn more about ARA Safety and the FIT-5 visit www.arasafety.com.