Safety

The U.S. Fire Administration cites the following statistics:

· Eighty-two percent of all fire deaths occur in the home.

· Having a working smoke alarm reduces one’s chance of dying in a fire by nearly one-half.

· Nearly one-third of the residential fires and two-fifths of residential fire fatalities occur in homes with no smoke alarms.

"These deaths are not just numbers; they are personal tragedies that each of us as a fire chief feels every time a life is lost," said Harmes. Please, help us pass along these life-saving suggestions:

· Check smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to be sure they are working properly.

· Have an escape plan with a meeting place.

· Once you exit your home, DO NOT return. Too many people lose their lives going back into a burning home.

· Stoves are not made for heating homes.

· Supplemental heating devices should be used and maintained in accordance with manufacturer recommendations. Keep combustibles clear. Do not leave supplemental heating devices unattended.

· If you are burning wood in your fireplace, make sure your chimneys are properly maintained. That goes for your furnace, as well.

· If candles are necessary, use them in a safe environment in a fireproof container and away from children. Do not leave them unattended.

· And for the long term, consider getting a residential fire sprinkler, if on a municipal water supply. According to statistics, the risk of death by fire is reduced by 82 percent when smoke detectors are accompanied with residential fire sprinklers