Fire & Life Safety Information
Home Fire Safety
Home fire safety begins with you the homeowner. We have all the necessary items that will warn us of fire within our home, or help us exit our home i.e. smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers etc. The best thing we can do however is prevention. Keep combustibles and flammable items away from sources of ignition. Store all paints and solvents away from heat sources. One of the biggest things we can remember is that water heater and furnace rooms are not storage closets. Combustibles and flammables stored in these areas are subjected to ignition and combustion in these areas. Keep combustibles at least 36 inches away from these ignition sources if you must store in these areas. Keep your fireplace flues clean with annual service from certified chimney sweeps. When cleaning out the ashes remove them to the outside in non-combustible air-tight metal cans and place outside away from decks, wood bins and similar combustibles. Make sure ash and coals are out before dumping into you trash cans! The use of space heaters and extension cords are another big contributor to residential fires. Unplug and turn off these items when not in use. Fire prevention begins with common sense…if you think it will catch fire…produce fires…enhance a fire…indeed it will!
Think…think…think!
Gas and propane emergencies
If you smell gas in your home or from gas powered appliances, call 911 and leave the structure. IREA, your gas Supply Company, or Excel energy will be notified by the 911 dispatch center for you. The most important thing you can do is leave the structure and let the professionals handle the leak. Think safe, be safe, and stay safe!
