HOME & GARDEN — Fire safety essentials should always be part of your life THE LEADING cause of home fires is not a smolder- ing cigarette or a splattering pan of bacon, as you might think. By Ron Gaspbarro Coatributing Writer The number one cause of home fires involves home heating equipment. A recent study shows that be- tween 1983 and 1987, one-third of all fires in single-family dwellings started somewhere in the heating system. “The parts of the heating system involved included fixed- area heaters, chimneys, fireplaces, central heating units, water heat- ers and chimney connectors,’’ says Dr. John Hali, director of Fire Analysis and Research for the Na- tional Fire Protection Association in the United States (NFPA). “These fires accounted for $545 million in property damage, on the average, for each year of the study.’” Heating system fires happen more in the winter, as your fur- nace chugs along sending as many degrees of warmth throughout your house as it can. While heating system fires can just happen — unlike kitchen or cigarette-related fires which are more accidental — they are preventable through regular maintenace of your system. “‘Check your heating system for improper burning of the flame and any other factors that tax the heating system and make it over- work. An extreme oil flame, smoke or soot all point to an overburdened system,’’ says Richard Tretheway, a heating and plumbing expert. According to Trethewey, most homes have a hot-air system. You must change the system’s filter every year. Pull the one-inch-thick car- board filter structure out of the furnace and look at it. If it is dir- ty, replace it right away. “A dirty filter reduces the air flow across the furnace and the furnace in turn can get superheated inside,’’ says the home expert. Also, cautions Trethewey, be sure the chimney passageway is clear. The ‘‘clean-out’”’ or a little door at the bottom of the chimney should exist in all chinmeys, especially those that are coal-fired or oil-fired. Look for and remove built-up soot or ash. At least once each year, you should call a chimney person who will inspect your chimney with a flashlight for flammable ac- cumulations. In fact, ask your oil or gas company if they have a maintenance plan. Such plans includé an annual inspection to make sure your fur- nace is running efficiently. They are usually under $100 and well worth the safety advan- tages and fuel savings. If you just moved in, you may have stacked a lot of stuff in your cellar so that you can make the main floors of your house more livable. As much as we learned about fire safety in grade school, many of us, as grownups, siill pile cardboard boxes around our fur- mace. These boxes may contain Christmas decorations that are flammable. Paints and varnishes, too, create ignitable fumes. Keep them ai the opposite end of the base- ment from the furnace. “The tendency for many home- owners is to keep their paints and thinners in the warmest part of the basement so they do not thicken,’’ Threthewey notes. “Such practices can be even more dangero.is than neglecting your furnace.”* The newer your home is, the safer your heating system is, because of advances in heating technology. Owners of older systems would do well to peek at their systems periodically to ensure that their equipment is clean and running well. : 44 While heating system fires can just happen ... they are preventable through regular maintenance of your system. 99 In case of fire— Some products can minimize the possibility of and damage caused by fire. These are products classified as fire prevention, detection and suppression . To prevent fires that start in upholstered furniture, bedding or draperies, a flame retardant can be sprayed on most materials — natural, synthetic and blends — without staining. The liquid is safe around children and pets. You also can use this spray on artificial foliage, tents and natural wall covering such as burlap and grass cloth. To detect fires there are some recently marketed, novel types of smoke alanns. A talking smoke detector is designed to warn occu- pants of imminent danger and tell them how to escape to safety. Using a pre-programmed voice computer chip, it sounds a 10- second alarm, followed by a calm yet forceful voice that supplies in- structions for evacuation. Many people die in fires because of confusion. Children are three times more likely to die in fires than adults. Kids tend to panic and hide from fire. Older people, who are also more likely to succumb during a blaze, can become disoriented and take refuge in bathrooms and basements rather than leave the building. In these cases, a talking smoke alarm that gives commands sud- denly becomes less of a gadget and more of a lifesaver. Another smoke alarm with a twist has a strong amber light that can penetrate smoke. With this light, stairwells and hallways can become iiluminated paths to szfe- ty. To suppress fires, fire extin- guishers are a necessity because the fire department cannot be at * your home instantly. Any brand of extinguisher will do and you can pick up several at hardware stores and home centres. Teach your children how to use them, Place at least one on every flocr. Offices, schools, and hospitals are equipped with automatic fire sprinkler systems. But now manu- facturers build them for the home. These are water-filled pipes connected to heat-sensitive devices that will put out home fires without human intervention. Set up the sprinkler system throughout the living areas ~ kitchen, bedrooms, living room, basement and closets. The new ones are quite small and will not interfere with your rooms’ design. What you see sticking down from the ceiling is the size of a dime. That is the heat-sensitive element. In a fire, the sprinkler pops down through the element. You can connect your sprinkler to your general water supply, but an infinite amount of water cascading down on your bedroom furniture while you are away camping for the weekend is not ideal. Instead, you can set up a tank that will provide 10 minutes of water time. Design a fire escape plan for your house and review it with your family. Distributed by Los Angeles Times Syndicate ANNUAL BONSAI SHOW April 16-17-18 10am-5:30pm April 18 — 10:30am-3pm Bonsai Demonstration by Mr. Willie Takahashi FANGLE CREATIVE LIVING ACCESSORIES 1603 LONSDALE AVE., N.VAN. €% INSTA-FLAME cM Naturally for the 90's Large selection cf glass fireplace doors: copper, plain black, copper & black, polished brass, polished brass & black, antique brass, antique brass & black, chrome, chrome & black. 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