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Fire
Department Winter Safety Tips
Smoke Detectors
- Test your detectors monthly - mark it on the calendar
- Have a detector on every level and in bedrooms
- Vacuuming the dust off your detectors regularly
- When guests are staying over night, show them the escape
plans
- If you have not replaced the batteries yet, do it now!
Cooking
- Wear clothes that fit tightly
- Wear an apron
- Turn pot handles inward when cooking on the stove
- Use timers if you must leave the kitchen
- Use the lids on pans or keep them close by
- Unplug electric heating appliances
Fireplaces
Gas type:
- Maintain a 36 inch clearance around the fireplace
- Know the location of the gas shutoff valve
Wood type:
- Clean your chimney yearly
- Use clean dry wood
- May sure the damper is open and working before starting
a fire
- Maintain a 36 inch clearance in front of the fireplace
- Keep glass doors closed or use a screen
- Dispose of ashes in a metal container with a lid on
it
- Remember, ashes can remain hot for 48 hours or more
Space / Portable
Heaters
- Maintain a 36 inch clearance around the heater
- Make sure the heater is UL or FM approved
- Read all directions before using the heater
- If it is a liquid fuel type, use caution and fill it
outside
Candles
- Candled fires accounted for 4.1 percent of all home
fires
- 40 percent of candled fires are in bedrooms
- Extinguish all candles when leaving the room
- Keep candles away from combustibles
- Use candle holders that are sturdy and won't tip over
easily
- Don't place candles in windows
- Keep candles away from flammable liquids
- Keep candle wicks trimmed to ¼ inch and discard
them when they are 2 inches from the holder
- Avoid candles with combustible items embedded in them
- Keep candles out of reach of children and do not allow
teenagers to have candles in their bedrooms
Smoking
- Careless smoking is a major contributing factor in
the high number of fire fatalities
- Dispose of ashes by placing them into a container with
a lid such as a coffee can
- Have a smoking area in the home, preferably outside
Fire Extinguishers
- Have working fire extinguishers in both the kitchen
and garage area
- Know how to use an extinguisher before a mishap
Content updated on:
28-Dec-2007
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