Fire Prevention in the Home

Every year The Barstow Fire District performs fire inspections on all businesses within the District.

 

 

We do this to ensure that the business is safe from the dangers of fire, for workers and patrons alike. But think about where you spend most of your time. It's in the home. Here are some frightening statistics that remain constant every year. Every year, 5,000 Americans die in home fires. That's 13 people every day, dying in their homes. Fire destroys property at a rate of $7440 a minute, every minute of the day. Don't become a casualty in your own home; do some fire prevention all over your home.

Start in your sleeping areas, more than half of all fatal home fires occur while sleeping. You can cut your chances by installing and maintaining working smoke detectors.   We recommend you install smoke detectors on all levels of your home and in every sleeping bedroom. If you smoke, don't do it in bed. It's one of the highest causes of fatal bedroom fires.

 

 

Next, look for hazards in the kitchen. Stove burners and ovens are the most likely the cause for burns and kitchen fires. Never leave cooking unattended. Check to make sure your stove is free of grease and debris. Keep flammable items away from heat sources. These items include pot holders, towels, curtains, and other combustibles. When cooking, keep pot handles turned in. That's just one of the many ways to prevent children from being burned. Finally, get a multi-purpose fire extinguisher to protect you in case of a grease fire. Never use water to fight grease fires.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the living room, check TVs, VCRs, and stereos to make sure they have space around them to prevent overheating. Feel all electrical cords to ensure they are not hot and could possibly spark a fire. Inspect the electrical cords to make sure that they are not frayed. If so, replace them immediately. Don't plug in too many appliances into an outlet; this could cause an overload. Instead buy a power strip. They can accept six appliances only using one socket, and they have an internal circuit breaker for added protection. Finally, if you smoke, take caution! Cigarettes have been known to smolder over three hours before igniting a fire.

Often overlooked is the basement, storage areas, and sheds. If you keep gasoline on hand, store it outside your home or in a detached garage. Keep only small quantities, and use a laboratory-approved gasoline can. Always store paint and other flammable liquids in their (original, labeled), containers with tight-fitting lids. Store flammables away from heat sources such as heaters and pilot lights. Dispose of unnecessary trash, such as sawdust and wood shavings, around the work bench which could fuel a fire. Consider inspecting and cleaning your heating equipment every year. Lastly, don't store anything near the heaters, and provide at least 30 inches clearance to the electrical panel.

Lastly, have you pre-planned what you and your family will do in an emergency? Not only in case of a house fire, but also in the event of earthquakes, power outages, and medical emergencies that require first aid or CPR. Pre-planning can very well save the life of a loved one.

A quick tour of your house, a few dollars invested in smoke detectors, and a little pre-planning will go a long way to ensure a fire-safe home. If you have and questions or would like more ideas on how to make your house fire-safe feel free to call the Barstow Fire District at (760) 256-2254.