Te ATCA AEE Battie a A a Reauce THE ODDS are high that you'll have to call the fire department to your home at least once in your life. HOT TIPS By the North Vancouver District Fire Department Fire struck approximately 30,000 homes in Canada in 1991, killing about 400 people and injuring 2,700. Many blazes are due to carelessness and hidden hazards, with injuries resulting from being ill-prepared. ’€ Careless smoking is the main cause of fatal home fires, often ignit- ed when smokers leave butts smoi- dering or fall asleep while smoking. » Douse butts with water before dis- posing them. If you have guests who smoke, check afterward for embers in waste baskets, furniture and carpets. ‘ Cooking accidents, especially : cooking oil or grease spills, account for most home fire injuries. While you cook, keep a large pot lid handy to smother a small flare-up. You should also have a fire extin- guisher in the kitchen, but don’t store it'so close to the stove that you might ° .. have difficulty reaching it. Look for * ULC-certified extinguishers. Never leave a pot cooking on the stove while you're out. . Regularly clean the stove to avoid a grease build-up. Keep all flamma-. . “bles, such as cooking oil, certain “cleaning fluids and alcohol,-at least one metre away. Don’t leave children ‘alone in the kitchen unless they're ‘| mature enough to be trusted not to ‘play with stove controls. ‘> Tf you‘use a gas: range and the “: flame goes out, tum off the burner » immediately and open a window. If ~ you suspect a gas leak, often indicat- "ed by a smell of rotten eggs, call the * gas company immediately and don’t use any appliances,. electricity or matches. Evacuate the house. If you don’t smell gas, wait 10 minutes and, if there’s still no Name when you tum the burner on, shut it off and phone the gas company. 0 Winter perils increasing the risk of fire include wood-burning stoves, fireplaces and heaters. If you have a fireplace or wood-burning stove, ensure that there are at least 20 cm of “stone, brick or tile flooring between it and Nammuable materials, such as car- peting and furniture. Every fireplace should have a glass door or at least a mesh screen. Each year, have chimneys inspected and cleaned, and have your. home heating company check your system. Keep an extinguisher in the vicin- ity of the furnace, but not too close. If you need an electric portable or space heater, use a product approved by the Canadian Standards Association, preferably with an automatic shut-off to prevent overheating. Keep it away from flammable materials. CO Faulty wiring is a common haz- ard, but often overlooked. Each major appliance should have its own outlet. using extension cords and octopus- style plug adapters (too many items in one outlet can cause overheating). Blown fuses or circuits indicate .. your wiring is overtaxed. Reduce the number of appliances you use at one time or on the same circuit. If the problem persists, or an out- Jet emits sparks when you plug ina ‘§ device, call an electrician. Do your own frequent checks for frayed or exposed wires. CG Combustibles can ignite quickly. Beware of cil-soaked rags, certain cleaning fluids and other. com- bustibles, which should always be kept far from firewood, newspapers, furnaces and other heat sources. It’s best to store combustibles in a shed or garage, but, if you must store them in your home, keep quantities COLISION SPECIALISTS “hence. BCAA, - ARA. APPROVED CENTRE Even with smaller items, avoid naa ke risk of home ‘fires small and lock them in a metal cabi- het so that they're inaccessible to children. Keep matches and lighters out of reach too. © Install a smoke detector in the hallway leading to bedrooms and on every level of your home. Don’t place a detector too close to the kitchen or bathroom (it may go off every time you burn food or have a hot shower). Choose ULC-certified detectors that beep when batteries are running down, but double-check the batteries each month anyway and replace at least once a year. Open each detector yearly and vacuum to remove dust. Have at least two fire extinguish- ers — one in the kitchen and one in the furnace area. As well, keep an extinguisher handy when using spark-cmitting tools. . You and your family should also prepare and practise an escape plan. Stock up ne now on our r proudly Canadian. seed mixes and Oil and Striped Sunflower seeds, grown & bagged in Canada (except Niger & Peanuts.) Purchase your next 6 months . requirements at the sale price and. we will store it FREE. 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