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The members of the Alfred Station Volunteer Fire
Company believe that
"Fire Prevention Is
Our Strongest Fire Fighting Tool". For this reason we
built this page as an educational resource for fire prevention and safety in your
homes.
~ ASVFC Members
Click here for
Fire Prevention Week Information
Statistically, the
United States has one of the highest fire related death and injury rates in
the world. Fire and smoke are the second leading cause of accidental
death in the home.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) more than
4,000 people die each year in home fires. Every year, there are more
than 500,000 residential fires serious enough to be reported to fire
departments. More than 90 percent of residential fire deaths and
injuries result from fires in one and two family houses and
apartments. Property losses exceed 4 billion dollars annually, and
the long term emotional damage to victims and their loved ones is
incalculable.
10 Most Common
Fire Safety Hazards in the Home
It is unfortunate yet
true that many of the over 500,000 residential fires (annually) may
have been avoided by increasing awareness as to common fire safety
hazards and
taking the necessary precautions to help prevent fires in the home.
Here are the ten most
common fire safety hazards in/around our homes statistically and some tips to
help you keep your loved ones and your property safe.
Safety Hazard #1 Cooking
Safety Hazard #2 Electrical
Fires
Safety Hazard #3 Fireplaces
and Chimneys
Safety Hazard #4 Central Heating
Safety Hazard #5 Kerosene and Space Heaters
Safety Hazard #6 Smoking
Safety Hazard #7 Wildfires
Safety Hazard #8 Children
Safety Hazard #9 Candles
Safety Hazard #10 Extension Cords
Safety Hazard #1 Cooking
Cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires in the
U.S. Why? Because people get distracted while cooking, stopping to
talk with guests, answer the phone, you name it. But it only takes a
minute for food to overheat, boil over and spread a fast-moving
grease fire.
TIPS:
-
Never leave cooking
food on the stovetop or inside the oven unattended.
-
Keep cooking areas
free of potholders, rags, curtains, food packaging and other items
that can fuel fire.
-
Create a 3 foot
"child free" zone around cooking appliances—and keep pets away too.
Safety Hazard #2 Electrical Fires
From the mid-1960s to mid-1970s, many homes across the US were
built or repaired with aluminum wiring. Aluminum and copper expand
and contract at different rates, which can cause loose connections.
A fire may start when a loose connection causes a spark.
TIPS:
-
Don't overload
outlets by using 3-way outlet adapters and similar devices. Older
homes were not wired with today's devices and power loads in mind.
-
Ask your electrician to
inspect your home for areas of concern-suspect areas with older
wiring and consider re-wiring those areas as your budget
allows—don’t do this yourself. Depending upon where you live -
some electricians have small infrared scanners available to them
that can detect heat build up at junction boxes and along wire
runs.
Safety Hazard #3 Fireplaces and Chimneys
Out of sight, out of mind is true for most homeowners with
fireplaces and chimneys. But creosote and smoke create a dangerous coating
along the inside of
the chimney, creating plenty of fuel for fires. All it takes is one
spark to touch off this heavy build-up to cause a fire.
TIPS:
-
Have a chimney sweep
clean your chimney every year.
-
Remember to open
your flue for the first fire of the season.
-
Install a spark
arrester—a mesh screen—on the top of your chimney to keep sparks
from igniting your roof or debris outside your house.
Safety Hazard #4 Central Heating
When the first cold weather of the season hits, fire departments
brace for an increase in home fires—they know how many people put
off routine home heating maintenance. They also know that heating
systems are the leading causes of fires in December, January and
February.
TIPS:
-
Have your heating
system, whether it’s gas or oil, serviced and inspected at least
once a year—well before the winter’s cold weather begins.
Preventative maintenance will keep your heating system running
safely and efficiently AND inspections performed during
maintenance will reveal any areas of concern. Schedule the service
by Labor Day and you’ll have it done in plenty of time.
Safety Hazard #5 Kerosene and Space Heaters
Although space heater safety has improved since the 1970s, these
portable devices used to heat one room or save money on heating
bills are still dangerous if you don’t know how to properly use
them.
TIPS:
-
Always refill
kerosene outside after the unit has cooled. Kerosene vapors are heavier than air, which
means they could flow along the floor of your house and ignite
when reaching an ignition source.
-
Keep all space
heaters a minimum of four feet away from any
combustibles—curtains, furniture, rugs, etc.
-
Always turn it off
when you leave the house or go to bed.
-
Create a 3 foot
"child free" zone around heating appliances—and keep pets away too.
Safety Hazard #6 Smoking
As you probably realize, many people still smoke. Smoking materials,
in fact, are the leading cause of death in fire. That’s because many
smokers fall asleep while smoking and cigarettes, cigars, matches
and lighters can ignite bedding or furniture. As in all fires, the
toxic gases given off by the fire will cause death long before the
flames reach you.
TIPS:
-
Don’t allow smoking
in your house. And if someone smokes outside your house, check for
smoldering butts, especially during dry summertime weather.
-
Check couch cushions
for still-burning cigarette butts, particularly after a party.
-
Never smoke in bed,
especially when drowsy, medicated or intoxicated.
Safety Hazard #7 Wildfires
Most people think that a wildfire can’t happen to them. The truth is
that a wildfire will happen wherever conditions are ripe for
it—during dry, drought-plagued summers, for example. The difference
is that people who live in the Western U.S. are used to them and
know what prevention measures to take.
TIPS:
-
Remove dead or dying
trees and shrubs from the area immediately surrounding your home
and yard.
-
Keep dry brush and
debris at least 30 feet away from your house.
-
Keep your grass cut
short.
-
Clear your roof,
gutters and eaves of debris.
-
Use extra caution when "cooking out"
in dry seasons.
Safety Hazard #8 Children
Children are naturally curious and that can be good and bad. There
have been numerous cases where children have saved their parents
from fire. On the other hand, children have also been known to start
fires accidentally. And when that happens, many kids get scared and
won’t tell anyone.
TIPS:
-
Teach children never
to play with matches. Begin talking about fire safety with
children as young as three.
-
Tell children never
to hide during a fire so firefighters can find and rescue them.
-
Plan a
family escape plan so every family member knows two ways out and a
designated meeting place.
-
Hold practice drills with the
children to ensure they are familiar with the plan and how to
react should the alarm sound.
Safety Hazard #9 Candles & Incense
A walk around your local mall shows just how popular candles have
become. Teenagers are especially fond of them. And as the popularity
of candles has risen, so has the number of candle fires.
TIPS:
-
Never leave candles
unattended—extinguish them when you leave the room or go to bed.
-
Stop using candles
once they have an inch left—the remaining wax is likely to melt
and allow the wick to fall outside the candle holder or become
exposed to table cloths and ignite a
fire.
-
Use sturdy candle
holders that are unlikely to tip over.
Safety Hazard #10 Extension Cords
Chances are, you can’t remember when you bought that extension cord
you're using. And did you know that extension cords must be rated
for intended use? That means that while the cord is fine for your
electric fan, it might not work safely with your home computer.
TIPS:
-
If a cord is frayed
or feels warm, throw it away.
-
If you're using an
extension cord for longer than two weeks, consider having an
electrician re-do some wiring instead.
-
Never use an
extension cord for heavy-duty appliances such as washers, dryers
or dishwashers.
You, your family and your property
are all very important to us. We hope these home fire prevention and
safety tips will help you keep your home and loved ones safe.
Click the following link to download
our
Free Home Fire Escape Plan and Diagram
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