How to Protect Your Home From Fire
| |
- Plan and practice emergency response procedures for fire escape and other emergencies. Be sure that all household members and guests are familiar with escape and emergency plans.
- Have your furnace checked annually by a professional. Change your filters on a regular basis (as recommended by a professional). Regularly vacuum electric baseboard heaters to remove dust and lint build up.
- Change the batteries in your smoke detectors every six months (or as recommended by the manufacturer). Schedule these dates on your calendar and make sure that the task is completed. Test your smoke detectors often.
- Make sure that the flue in your chimney is clean and in good working order.
- Always use a fire screen when you burn in your fireplace. Never throw away warm coals (wait until they are completely cool to dispose of them). Do not store any combustible items near the fireplace.
- Make sure that the lids are secure when storing paint and other flammable materials, and store these items in approved containers. Never store rags that have been used with paint products or flammable materials. Read the labels of the products for proper storage and disposal procedures.
- Keep flammable materials, matches, and lighters away from children.
- Keep flammable items away from portable and baseboard heaters. Turn off heaters when not in use.
- Do not overload electrical outlets.
- Water Christmas trees regularly. Turn off tree lights when you go the bed.
- Only use barbecue grills outdoors, and be sure that there is proper ventilation. An improperly placed grill on a balcony could fill your home with smoke.
- Do not go to bed or leave the home with candles burning. Always use a stable, non-combustible base when burning candles.
- Keep a working fire extinguisher in your kitchen, as well as any other room that may be the source of a fire. Make sure that everyone in the home knows where it is, and how to use it. Have the fire extinguisher inspected per the manufacturer's recommendations.
- Install a monitored fire alarm system. A monitoring station representative can alert the fire department of a fire in the home whether you are home or away.
- Ask your local fire department for suggestions on what else you can do to prevent a fire at your home.
|
|
|
|
|
|
