ARTICLES

Fire Prevention: Fight the Fire, It Starts at Home

By: Gian Erguiza - July, 2008

Last year’s California fires have left a nasty reminder to Southern California residents that fire spreads fast and will devour everything insight. The Southern California fires have amassed a cumulative estimate of 500,000 to 1 Million acres, numerous injuries from firefighters and residents, left numerous people homeless, and millions of dollars of damage. It had also caused major stress with emergency evacuations and had caused major stress on highways, freeways, and had threatened hundreds of homes. The most disturbing fact of this all is that, some of the fires were started by an arsonist.

So what can you do? It starts at home. You need to learn the basic safety tips for fire prevention at home, first.

Fire Extinguisher

Fire Extinguishers are your first line of defense. They are also your best friend when a fire breaks out. As long as they are checked regularly or maintained in ordinance with the Fire Dept., they are lifesavers. They should be strategically placed in the kitchen, the garage or the workshop. Your fire extinguisher should be the ABC type so it can put out all types of fires. You should also get to know your extinguisher, know how to use it, so you don’t panic when the emergency occurs. Please remember that fire extinguishers are for small fires only. If the fire is way too big or dangerous, get out immediately and call 911.

Smoke Detectors

Inhaling dangerous fumes is a big part of the death rate from fires. Smoke related deaths are almost as dangerous as fire deaths themselves. Make sure to install smoke detectors in all parts of the house, including the attic or the basement and test them out every month. Smoke detectors must be free of dust and do yourself a favor and change the batteries at least once a year, before the detector starts chirping for a change of batteries. If the light on the smoke detector is not blinking, something is wrong. Make sure that the blinking light on the smoke detector is always blinking, especially if it is attached to the house’s electrical system. Smoke detectors for the hearing impaired are also available for cheap.

The Exit Plan

This is very important to know. This could mean life or death. I cannot stress enough the importance of being prepared. Map out a floor plan of the house and indicate at least two escape routes for each room. Keeping the door closed while you sleep at night keeps the fire and smoke at bay but be careful not to open the door if the door handle is hot, instead flee from a window because chances are, you open that door and it will let a busrt of flame in putting you in harm’s way. If you live on a second floor or higher, make sure that the fire escape ladders are functional, if not, go ahead and purchase one and install according to ordinance. Assign a “safe spot” where all of the members of the family are to meet for a head count once out of the house, away from the fire. Make sure that the stairways and hallways are free of debris and obstructions, always. All unnecessary things should be cleaned out of attics, basement and the garage for less. Do not go back inside the house, once out of the house, do not go back in the house!

Fireplace

Always use a fireplace screen in front of the fireplace to prevent sparks from flying off and starting a fire. There should be no dry articles laying around the fireplace such as newspapers, matches, kindling or rugs. Your chimney should be checked every year for any combustible items that may have gotten stuck inside and can ignite once heated. A chimney spark arrester should be installed as well to prevent roof fires. When lighting the fire, light the matches first, especially if gas is involved.

Electrical Hazards

If you are using extension cords at the house, make sure that they are neither torn nor frayed. Do not plug in anything that has a higher voltage or is too high for the fixture. Periodically check all light fixtures, plus, outlets for loose wires and such before they start sparking. TV sets, radios, and powerful lamps should have sufficient space to prevent overheating. If your circuit breaker is acting up, the cause might be that you have too many things plugged into one outlet. All electrical outlets should have “UL” on them to ensure that they have been safety inspected. If you live in an older home and are getting trips on the TV set, lights dim, or fuses blowing, contact your local electrician immediately so they can take care of the problem and re-wire what they need to.

Kitchen

The first rule in the kitchen is to never leave anything cooking unattended. The kitchen is probably the best spot to have your first extinguisher. Keep it close to the exit and away from the stove. Do not store stove items on top of the stove and refrain from putting a curtain directly above the stove as they may catch on fire. Kitchen appliances should always be turned off when not in use and keep all kitchen appliances clean. Always wear tight knit clothing when cooking in the kitchen to prevent your clothes from catching on fire from the stove’s radiating heat. The exhaust hood and cover should be cleaned periodically as well. Grease from the stove top should be cleaned once the surface of the stove cools. Microwaves are to be operated only when there is something in it.

Smoking

If emphysema and other ills from smoking don’t kill you, a fire can burn you to death. Do not smoke in bed. It is just plain ol’ stupid and dangerous. If you plan on drinking heavily for the night or is tired beyond compare, refrain from smoking. Your ashtrays should be emptied out whenever you can and using deep ashtrays are the way to go. The butts and ashes should be wet whenever you dump them into the trash cans.

These are just the basic safety tips. You know your house better than anyone so just in case we missed anything, make sure you take care of it immediately. Remember, a fire can spread very quickly and the time it takes to think about what to do in a fire emergency is very critical. It could mean life or death. Here are some other safety tips:

Other Tips:

Keep children away from fire and do not leave them unattended in the presence of fire. Keep matches away as well.
Flammable liquids should be stored in fire approved safety containers.
Never leave home with the dryer unattended.
Space heaters should not be operating if you’re not in the room and should be kept away from anything flammable or anything that can catch fire.
Do not use gas space heaters.

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