Fire Prevention Week October 4-10, 2009

Fire prevention week commemorates the Great Chicago Fire that burned for two days in 1871. It killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 more homeless and destroyed more than 17,000 buildings. This year’s campaign theme focuses on ways to keep homes fire-safe. Keeping our homes safe from fire and preventing burn injuries is a healthy change we can make happen. Here are some safety tips for preventing fires:

Intentional fires
– Encourage your community to implement an anti-arson program
– Keep trash from collecting on your property
– Remove abandoned vehicles from your property
– Remove dead branches that could be used as a fuel source
– Store flammable liquids in a locked shed or detached garage
– Install lighting around your property to deter intruders
– Seek professional help if a child displays fire-starting behavior
– Do not hesitate to report a neighborhood child who starts a fire to his or her parents or to authorities

Cooking (leading cause of home fires and injuries)
– Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food
– Check cooking food regularly, stay in the home, and use a timer to remind you

Electrical fires
– Have a complete professional electrical inspection when buying, selling, or remodeling your home
– Install arc fault circuit interrupters (ACFIs) to protect electrical outlets. They monitor the current and shut off the circuit when unintended arcing occurs

Heating fires (second leading cause of fire deaths; smoking is the leading cause)
– Keep space heaters at least three feet from people and from anything that can burn
– Turn portable space heaters off when you go to bed or leave the room
– Have heating equipment professionally inspected and services every year
– Have your chimney cleaned and inspected before each heating season

For more information from the National Fire Protection Association, go to http:\\www.nfpa.org.
For more safety information for kids, go to http:\\www.sparky.org