FIRE SAFETY - With Autumn and the cooler nights, there is the desire to cuddle up near the fire in the fireplace or to light a fire in the fire pit. Fall is a great time to review your fire safety procedures with your family and address any hazards that you find.
Our Quail Valley homes were built in the 70's & 80's, and the electrical usage has greatly changed. Make sure your home is up-to-date to handle the needs. We never think a fire could happen to us, but anyone who has had a fire will say the same thing. Better to be prepared.
SMOKE DETECTORS -
- Install smoke alarms in every living space, each bedroom, including the basement & garage.
- Check existing smoke alarms monthly, & replace batteries when time FALLS back on NOV 5th.
- The life span for a smoke detector is 10 years. If possible, replace them with interconnecting alarms, that allow them to sound in each room.
- Fire stations will often have free smoke detectors to give away if you need assistance with this.
FIRE ESCAPE PLAN -
- Have a home fire escape plan, and practice twice a year.
- Also, establish a meeting place in a neighbor’s yard so the family can be accounted for in an emergency.
- The American Red Cross recommends GET OUT, STAY OUT, AND CALL FOR HELP WITH 911!
- When getting out of a fire, always feel a door to see if it is hot. If it’s HOT, DON’T OPEN.
- If the door is not hot, GET LOW & GO! Cover your mouth & nose so you will not be overcome by smoke.
FIREPLACE SAFETY -
- Use dry wood, and a safety glass barrier to keep sparks from flying.
- Make sure the chimney cap, and fireplace are without cracks.
- Have the chimney cleaned of any dangerous creosote buildup from inside the fireplace.
- Have all trees trimmed away from the top of the chimney.
- Keep things that can burn away from the fireplace hearth, including blankets.
FIRE PITS -
- Fire pits near decks… Make sure the fire is always tended.
- Portable fire pits are not a good idea on decks, as the deck can get too hot and burn.
- Keep a bucket of water, water hose, or fire extinguisher nearby.
SMOKE OUTSIDE -
- If you smoke, smoke outside.
- Make sure all smoking materials are out when throwing them in a trashcan.
SPACE HEATERS -
- Give space to space heaters. Keep them at least 3 feet from anything that can start a fire.
STOVE SAFETY -
- Never leave food unattended on the stove.
- Always have a lid nearby to smother a fire.
- If your stove is not working properly, have it checked out, & don’t use it until it’s safe.
- Never store anything in your oven.
MATCHES & LIGHTERS -
- Keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children.
CANDLE CAUTIONS -
- They need to be at least 1 foot away from anything that burns.
- Trim the wick to keep the flame smaller.
- Always make sure you have blown it out before leaving the house or going to bed.
- Do not let children have candles in their rooms.
EXTENSION CORDS -
- Inspect electrical cords for frayed areas. Replace any that are questionable.
- Do not overload.
ELECTRICAL PANELS & OUTLETS -
- Make sure your electrical panel can handle the electrical load from your many devices.
- If you have a breaker that switches off easily, it should be checked out to make sure it is not overloaded, and there is not a problem with wiring.
- GFI outlets are to be installed where electricity can be near water. A few examples... bathrooms, outside, garage bays.
- Do not overload.
EXTINGUISHING A FIRE -
- What are the three main ways to put out a fire? Remove the fuel (Starvation), the heat (Cooling), or the oxygen (Smothering).
- What is the best way to extinguish a fire? Extinguishing a fire the right way!
- Attack a fire in the direction of the wind.
- Extinguish liquid fires and fires caused by dripping substances from the top down.
- Extinguish wall fires from the bottom up.
- Use several fire extinguishers at once, not one after another.
- Take account of any back draft.
FIRE EXTINGUISHERS -
- The extinguisher should be operated only by a qualified lab technician, as you may risk spreading a fire if you don't know what you're doing.
- Use several fire extinguishers at once, not one after another.
- Keep the fire extinguisher up-to-date. They can expire.
MORE SAFETY TIPS
