October 4th through 10th marks Fire Prevention Week. Since we are home now more than ever, it’s important we know how to stay safe! Do you know what the five leading causes of house fires are? The biggest causes of fires include candles, cooking, heating, smoking, and electrical. By learning tips to prevent fires, we can all do our part to help lower the amount of house fire occurrences.
Following
these tips will help you be more informed and better prepared.
Fire
Prevention Tips
· The leading cause of fires is
unattended cooking. Make sure you are always monitoring any food when you are
cooking- this means frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food. Never leave your
cooking unattended.
· When cooking, make sure to always
keep a lid in reach. A grease fire can get out of hand quickly. If a small
grease fire starts, slide the lid over the top of the pan and shut off the
burner. Leave it covered until it cools.
· Keep cooking areas a kid-free zone! A
good three feet of distance away from the stove and hot items will help ensure
no one gets hurt accidentally.
· Space heaters are also a leading
cause of fires. Keep anything that can catch fire and burn at least three feet
away from a heater.
· Keeping heating equipment and chimneys
in good working condition by having them cleaned and inspected once a year.
· Make sure you have working smoke
alarms in your house. You should test them monthly. By having working smoke
alarms, you cut your chances of a house fire in half!
· Smoking alarms should be in each
bedroom and in hallways and areas right outside of bedrooms.
· Never leave a candle burning
unattended. Keep space around burning candles so nothing can catch fire.
Looking for
more tips on how to practice fire safety and prevention? Check out all the
videos and resources available at the National
Fire Protection Association. And always remember- if you find yourself in
an emergency, never hesitate to call 9-1-1 for help.
