Press releases
Sun Current Guest Column
Things dont cause fires, people do.
By Tom Jenson
Guest Columnist
What is the No. 1 cause of all home fires? Its not candles, home heating
equipment or even unattended cooking. Its people! It takes people to light a
candle too close to a set of drapes. It takes people to leave an unattended
space heater too close to flammable furniture. And it takes people to put a pan
of hot oil on the stove and then walk out of the kitchen. A majority of all home
fires are caused by careless or neglectful human behavior. With fire, a little
mistake can cause a big problem.
Oct. 5 - 11 is National Fire Prevention Week, and this years theme is Prevent
Home Fires. You can take many steps to help minimize your risk of a home fire
-- all of which boil down to using caution and foresight. The National Fire
Protection Association has compiled a list of some of the most needed reminders.
Cooking
Stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling, broiling or boiling food. If you
leave -- even for a short period time -- turn the stove off.
Keep potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils and paper or plastic bags away
form your stovetop.
Avoid wearing loose clothing which can dangle onto stove burners and catch
fire.
Heating
Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a
qualified professional.
Keep flammable materials at least three feet away from heating equipment.
Turn portable space heaters off when you go to bed or leave the room.
Do not use your oven to heat your home.
Electrical
Keep flammable materials away from lamps, light fixtures and light bulbs.
Replace cracked and damaged electrical cords.
Use extension cords sparingly and for temporary wiring only.
Smoking
If you smoke, smoke outside and use deep, sturdy ashtrays.
Never smoke in a home where oxygen is used.
Never fall asleep with a lit cigarette.
Candles
Keep flammable materials at least 12 inches from burning candles.
Use sturdy, safe candleholders.
Blow out candles when you leave a room.
Keep matches and lighters locked up and out of the reach of children.
Alarms and Sprinklers
Install smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms outside of each sleeping area
and on every level of your home. Test them at least once a month. Replace smoke
alarms every 10 years and CO alarms every five.
Have a home fire escape plan and practice it with your family twice a year.
Know at least two ways out of every room and have a meeting place outside.
When the smoke alarm sounds, get out and stay out.
Consider installing a residential fire sprinkler system.
In 2007, 2,895 people lost their lives in home fires, an increase of 10.5
percent from the previous year. While not all home fires result from neglectful
human behavior, the truth is, many do.
Tom Jenson is Edina Fire Marshal. The Edina Fire Department will hold its annual
Open House on Sunday, Oct. 12 from 12:30 to 4 p.m. at newly constructed Fire
Station No. 1, 6250 Tracy Ave. www.CityofEdina.com/Fire.
|
