Take time for Fire prevention this Fall

11/15/2019 (Permalink)

For those ready to warm up their homes, the National Fire Safety Protection Association offers the following tips to help minimize fire risks in your home:

- Have your furnace inspected and serviced by a professional.

- Have chimneys and vents cleaned and inspected by a professional. Make sure they are checked for creosote buildup, which is the leading cause of chimney fires.

- Make sure wood burned in the fireplace is dry and seasoned.

-Remind children to stay at least three feet away from fireplaces, oil stoves, and space heaters.

- Make sure your space heaters have an automatic shut off and those shutoffs are functioning.

- Test your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure they are functional.

-Review your family's fire escape plan and what to do in case of a fire.

- Dried flowers, cornstalks, and crepe paper catch fire easily. Keep away from open flames and other heat sources like light bulbs and heaters.