Fire Safety: Fire Prevention and Safety-
Fire Safety: Fire Prevention and Safety–
Careful planning can often help you avoid loss or injury to your family and property. Follow these fire prevention and safety tips:
Take Precautionary Measures:
- Install smoke detectors on each level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside every sleeping area. We recommend a hard wired system so the signal can be heard throughout the house. For an even better level of protection, consider a professionally installed monitored alarm system. If you opt for battery operated smoke alarms, be sure to check the batteries regularly and replace them semi-annually.
- Keep multi-purpose fire extinguishers (type ABC) in areas accessible to the kitchen, utility rooms and garage.
Steps You Can Take Now:
- Keep candles away from drapes, upholstered furniture, and other flammable items.
- Have your chimney professionally inspected and cleaned at the beginning of each heating season.
- Use a fire screen to control flying embers and burn only seasoned hardwood to reduce the potential for creosote buildup. Place ashes in a metal container and remove from the house immediately. Never put ashes in or near the trash.
- If you have a wood roof or live in a windy area, install a spark arrestor for your chimney
- Rags, clothing and materials used during wood or deck staining or refinishing can spontaneously combust and are a major fire hazard. Immerse used rags and clothing in water in a metal container and seal with an air tight lid. After soaking, allow items to fully air dry by laying them flat on a non-combustible surface. Store cleaned rags in an open metal container. Keep in a well-ventilated area away from any heat source.
- Grill safely. Gas and charcoal grills should be at least 8 feet from exterior walls, and never use an outside grill inside the home or garage.
Practice Family Safety:
- Establish and practice an escape plan with your entire family. Every family member should know two ways out of every room.
- Predetermine a meeting place outside your home.
- Teach everyone to Get Out, Stay Out in the event of a fire. Call 911 immediately.