Is Your Family Safe From Fire During the Winter Months?

12/26/2017 (Permalink)

There are steps you can take to reduce the risk of fire in your home and ensure that you would be alerted to any emergency and able to escape.

Wood Stoves and Fireplaces

• Have your chimney and fireplace cleaned and inspected yearly.  The inspection should be done by a professional chimney sweep.
• Burn only dry, well-seasoned hardwood t minimize chimney or flue buildups.  Do not burn trash or plastic.

Space Heaters

• Be sure to keep all combustibles, including furniture, curtains, papers, etc. at least 3 feet away from space heaters.
• Check all portable heater power cords to be sure they aren't frayed, cracked or get hot when plugged in.  If so, do not use.
• NEVER use extension cords with portable heaters.
• Always turn portable heaters off when the family is out of the house or when everyone is sleeping.
• Make sure your portable electric heater is UL approved, has a temperature control and is equipped with tip-over shut off protection.

Electrical Outlets and Cords

• Overloaded outlets and extensions can cause fires.
• Only purchase UL approved extension cords.
• Select the proper extension cord of the correct length and gauge for the intended use.  
• Never cut or splice extension for any reason. 
• Electrical cords should never be run under rugs or be coiled up because they are too long.  Doing it will cause the cord to overheat and potentially cause a fire.
• Use covers to protect children from possibility of getting shocked by unused outlets
• Have a licensed electrician install ground fault circuit interrupter outlets in outside locations and any inside locations where water is present such as in bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms

Cooking

Never leave stovetop cooking unattended

• If you have a stovetop grease fire:
  • Turn the burner off and cover the pan with a lid to cut off the oxygen to the fire.  Let the pan cool before removing the lid.
  • Never try to take a burning pan to the sink
  • Never use water on a grease fire
  • Use a fire extinguisher rated for grease fires only if you are trained.  If you stand too close and use the fire extinguisher, you can spread the flaming grease all over the kitchen.
• If you have an oven fire:
  • Turn the oven off
  • Keep the door closed until the fire is out and the oven cools.

Never leave an oven door open to heat a room.  The oven can overheat and catch fire.

Smoke Detectors

• When there is a fire, seconds count.  Working smoke detectors not only provide early warning of a fire, but they can more than double your chance of surviving.  Smoke detectors can mean the difference between life and death.
• It is recommended that smoke detectors be installed on every level of your home, outside each sleeping area and in each bedroom.
• Smoke detectors should be tested at least once a month. 
• Change smoke detector batteries twice a year.  A good way to remember to do this is to change your batteries in the fall and spring when you change the clocks for day-light savings.
• Smoke and CO detectors should be replaced with updated detectors every ten years.

Home Escape Plans

Why do I need an escape plan?

Most fatal home fires happen between midnight and 8am, when people are asleep.  When your smoke detector sounds, you may have less than 2 1/2 to get out.  Every family needs an escape plan.

• Have a family meeting to make your plan and to be sure everyone knows it.  A good plan includes knowing two ways out of every room and having a family meeting place outside your home.
• Drill your escape plan at least twice a year.
• Once you are safely out of your home, stay out.
• Call 911 from a neighbor's house or other location.