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Fire Safety Tips

Wood Burning Stoves

• Fact, each year many lives are lost and numerous homes destroyed by fire because of faulty installation of wood burning stoves. The following is a list of items that should be checked yearly if you own a wood burning stove or after installation of a wood burning stove.
• The stove should not have any broken parts or large crack that make it unsafe to operate.
• The stove needs to be located on a non-combustible floor or on an Underwriter Laboratories (UL) listed floor protector.
• The stovepipe should not pass through a floor, closet, concealed space or enter the chimney in the attic.
• Also, make sure if you have a masonry chimney it has a fire clay flue liner and is in good repair.
• The chimney flue lining should not be blocked by over hanging tree branches, bird nests or other obstructions.
• The chimney flue lining and the stovepipe should be cleaned regularly.
• Make sure that you notify your agent that you have installed a wood-burning stove.
• And fire emergency procedures should be established and known by all occupants of the house/building.

Tips For Keeping Your Home and Family Safe From Fire.

• Install Smoke Detectors: Smoke detectors can alert you to a fire in your home in time for you to escape, even if you are sleeping. Install detectors on every level of your home and outside each sleeping area. Replace the batteries in the detector twice a year and also replace detectors that are more than 10 years old.
• Plan Your Escape From Fire: If a fire breaks out in your home, you have to get our fast. To prepare, sit down with your family and agree on an escape plan. Be sure that everyone knows at least two unobstructed exits from every room. Decide on a meeting place outside where everyone will meet after they escape.
• Keep An Eye On Smokers: Careless smoking is the leading cause of fire deaths in North America. Never smoke in bed or when you are drowsy. Provide smokers with large, deep, non-tip ashtrays and soak butts with water before discarding them.
• Cook Carefully: Never leave cooking unattended. Keep cooking areas clear of combustibles and wear clothes with short or tight-fitting sleeves when you cook. Turn pot handles inward on the stove where you can't bump them and children can't grab them.
• Give Space Heaters Space: Keep portable and space heaters at least three feet (one meter) away from anything that can burn. Keep children and pets away from heaters and never leave heaters on when you leave home or go to bed.
• Matches and Lighters - Tools, Not Toys: In a child's hand matches and lighters can be deadly. Buy child-resistant lighters and store all matches and lighters up high, where kids can't see or reach them, preferably in a locked cabinet. Teach your children that matches and lighters are tools, not toys, and should be used only by adults or with adult supervision. Teach small children to tell a grownup if they find matches or lighters; older children should bring matches and lighters to an adult immediately.
• Cool A Burn: Run cool water over a burn for 10 to 15 minutes. If the burned skin blisters or is charred, see a doctor immediately.
• Use Electricity Safely: If an electric appliance smokes or has an unusual smell, unplug it immediately, then have is serviced before using it again. Replace any electrical cord that is cracked or frayed. Don't overload extension cords or run them under rugs. Don't tamper with your fuse box or use improper-sized fuses.
• Crawl Low Under Smoke: During a fire, smoke and poisonous gases rise with the heat. The air is cleaner near the floor. If you must escape through smoke, crawl on your hands and knees to the nearest exit, keeping your head 12 to 24 inches above the floor.
• Stop, Drop and Roll: If your clothes catch fire, don't run. Stop where you are, drop to the ground, cover your face with your hands and roll over and over to smother the flames.