Fire Prevention Week

This month, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) sponsors a fire prevention campaign to help educate the public and raise awareness on fire safety.  This year, the focus is on fire prevention in the home where 80% of U.S. fire deaths occur.  Here are some very interesting facts about fires in the U.S.:

• Leading cause of fires in the home are due to cooking, heating equipment and electrical problems.

• 65% of fire deaths occurred in homes with either no smoke alarms or where the smoke alarms were not working.

• Smoking materials (i.e. cigarettes) are the leading cause of fire deaths: 700-900 per year.

• December and January are the prime months of fire from home heating equipment.

• Electrical fires account for 20,800 home structure fires per year with 330 fire deaths.

Your can protect your family and your home by following some basic guidelines and taking precautions recommended by the NFPA. 

• Have a smoke alarm in each bedroom and on every level of the home

• Test smoke alarms monthly

• Install a carbon monoxide alarm

• Keep space heaters at least 3 feet from anything that can burn

• Inspect wiring to make sure it meets code and that they are in good condition

• Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling or broiling food

• Make sure your fireplace has a sturdy metal screen

• Have your chimney cleaned and inspected each year

• Ask smokers to smoke only outside the home

• Don’t burn candles in the bedroom

• Create a home fire escape plan and practice it twice a year

With a little planning and awareness, your home and family will be protected and you won’t end up a statistic!

Be safe!

Mina