With winter rapidly approaching, I want to take a minute to remind everyone about fire safety, particularly if you live in an older home, have small children, or use a fireplace. It isn’t something you necessarily think about in your daily routine, but Fire Administration statistics show that in the last ten years an average of 3,090 people lost their lives annually in residential fires; and another 15,340 people are injured annually. So many of these tragedies are preventable.
One often overlooked danger is the electrical system of in homes built prior to the 1960s. Many older homes use fuse boxes with screw in fuses instead of circuit breakers. Houses built in the late 1960s and early 1970s might have aluminum wiring, which can be a fire hazard. If you are looking for real estate in Marin County, or anywhere else for that matter, you may find a very desirable older home. Having a qualified electrician take a look is a must. Older, fuse-based service can be upgraded at a very reasonable cost, giving you an updated electrical system and peace of mind.
Simple precautions will help ensure your safety:
• Never smoke in bed or leave a burning cigarette in an ashtray
• Be careful with candles – they are the cause of many house fires
• Keep combustibles away from heaters, stoves, & fireplaces
• Use approved smoke detectors and be sure to check them monthly
• Do not use appliances with frayed electrical cords
• Space heaters should have UL (Underwriters Laboratory) approval, and should never be used for long term heating needs
• Clean the lint from your dryer filter after every use
The above guidelines are pretty much common sense; however, this fire-safe advice is often overlooked:
• Have your chimney checked and cleaned every couple of years. This is true for both traditional masonry chimneys and metal stovepipes. Animal nests or creosote build-up can block the chimney, resulting in carbon monoxide backing up, or cause a flue fire.
• When using a crock-pot or space heater overnight or while you are away, plug it in and let it run 15 minutes, then feel the cord. If the cord is very warm to the touch, the appliance may not be safe to use.
• Every couple of years remove the vent hose from your clothes dryer and clear away accumulated lent. Even when you faithfully clean out the lint filter, wayward bits have a way of slipping through the system and can eventually clog the hose creating a fire hazard
Very importantly, we all know this but it bears repeating -- children should follow the following rules to help keep them fire safe:
• Never play with matches or fire
• Don’t cook without adult supervision
• Don’t stand too close to a fireplace, wood stove, or heater
• Never put anything like clothes or a blanket over a lamp, not even when playing
• Do not stick anything in an electrical socket. If you need something plugged in, ask an adult.
Most of these precautions are easily accomplished and inexpensive. Being mindful of the increased danger of residential fires during the winter months and taking proper preventative measures can help keep your family from becoming part of the statistics.
Comments(0)