Stay protected with these fire safety tips

Your home is the center of your life, the place you can enjoy time with loved ones and family belongings. Protect your Vilas County home with these important home fire safety tips:

– Install smoke alarms on every level of your home and test them monthly to make sure they work. You should also change the batteries every 6 months.

– Create more than one escape plan and practice them with your family. Your plans should include escape routes from different areas of the house, a designated meeting place, and tools for exiting the building (escape ladders, items to open, break out windows). It’s incredibly important to practice fire safety with kids, so be sure to familiarize your children with the sounds of any alarms.

– Keep grills, cookers and fryers at least 3 feet or more away from your house and shrubs or bushes. Sometimes these items can hold heat longer than we expect and can lead to ignition.

– Keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from anything flammable and always turn off heaters when leaving the room or going to bed.

– Have your chimneys, fireplaces, wood stoves and central furnace inspected and serviced at least once a year.

– If someone in your home is deaf or hard of hearing, you may want to consider installing an alarm that combines flashing lights, vibration and sound.

– Store gasoline in a garage or shed in a container approved for gasoline storage. This is important due to the combustible nature of gasoline.

– Close the lid on all flammable products and put them away after using them. There are many products that if left soaked on towels can cause spontaneous combustion.

– Use ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) in all electrical receptacles (outlets) in kitchens, bathrooms and other wet areas.

– Store a fire extinguisher on every level of your home. They should have an ABC rating, making them usable for all types of fires.

Smoking In Bed Is Dangerous

Almost fifity percent of all smoking-related fires start in the bedroom. Many blankets and beds are made of combustible materials, making it very dangerous to fall asleep with a lit cigarette. The risk increases with the use of alcohol, drugs and medications. A responsible smoker should always extinguish cigarettes in a fireproof ashtray located away from any and all combustible materials.

Watch Your Cooking

Cooking equipment is one of the leading cause of home fires. Using grills on decks that are wooden or combustible is also a contributor so it is important to always be aware of your surroundings. When cooking, you should always keep cooking appliances clear of combustible materials such as towels, rags and packaging materials as well as your home or any nearby buildings.

Never leave burning candles unattended

Candles cause a large amount of fires in residential structures as well as deaths and injuries and millions in direct property damage each year. In many cases, candles were being used as a light source because power had been shut off or was temporarily out of service. Keeping a flashlight and batteries on hand for emergencies prevents the need to use candles for emergency lighting.

If you do burn candles always use sturdy holders. Keep candles away from pets and children. Burn candles on even surfaces and make sure to extinguish them before leaving the room or going to bed. Keep candles away from window covering and upholstery.

Here is another interesting blog article about protecting your home from fire:

northtwinbuilders.com/how-do-you-protect-your-home-from-fire

Follow North Twin Builders blog for safety issues and tips for your Vilas County home!