NORTH VANCOUVER District’s head ‘ot ‘fire prevention, Assistant Chiet. Brian Stegavig said they are ‘‘atways seiling fire safsty through education.” Programs aimed at children allow them a better understanding of what firefighters are a}! sbout. Here the. - Gistsict’s' public education officer. Captain Terry Abrams helps cide Alison Phelps and Sheldon Wasirheim get com- four-year: "- forteble with a firefightar's rote. - Eliminate. hazards to prevent fires” ' HERE ARE) some - basic things you can do to. help ‘ensure the _ safety of your family: . ©® Eliminate. potential fire azar @ Install and maintain smoke detectors. - -® Develop and practise a family ‘escape plan. ” Eliminating hazards @ ‘Keep. ‘trash in. covered con-_ -tainers and dispose of it regularly. - @°Store paints, paint thinners and -other- flammable materials in theiz original containers and away from fire sources, - @ Clean work. areas of paint, sawdust. or trash after every pro- ject. ~ @ Don't’ overload cireuits or use . “frayed electrical extension cords. | @ Have “all. electrical wiring checked by'a competent electrician - _ periodically, to make sure it is not * faulty... @ Never run an extension cord under a rug or behind curiains.: @ Do not tet large amounts of trash accumulate, either indoors ~ or outdoors. Clean attics, base- . ments, closets and garages fre- quently. _ Installing smoke detectors ” @ Install at least one smoke detector in the hallway leading to , © Sketch _and stairways. the bedrooms. @ Consider installing additional smoke detectors, especially if your . home has more than one level. e@ If your detectors are battery. operated, check the batteries often to make sure the unit is opera- tional. . The ear-piercing alarm of the smoke detector may provide you and your family with the precious extra minutes that you need to escape, especially at night when most home fires eccur. Develcping a plan the layout of each. floor, including windows, doors ‘Make sure that every family member jis © familiar with the layout. © Work out two escape routes from each room and ‘mark them clearly on the sketch. @ Hold frequent fire drills, in- cluding seme at night, so everyone will know what to do and be able to act quickly in an emergency. @ Assign a member of the family to be responsible for the elderly or the very young to help them escape. @ Designate a meeting place out- side of the home and _ instruct everyone ta go there at once in case of fire. @ Count heads, stay together and do not go back into the house for personal belongings. Be prepared to get out alive FIRE PREVENTION is a year-round duty for all of us, say North Shore fire fighters. By Pamela Lang Features Reporter . Although Prevention Weck touts the benefits of safety in the drive to reduce injuries and fire damage, all three North Shore fire chiefs stressed the importance of remembering fire safety throughout the year. Fire . prevention officers from the three departments outlined their Fire Prevention Week pro- grams, as well as pointing out ’ what North Shore residents should .know about preventing fires, and making sure they get out alive if a _ fire should occur. / The best.safety procedures may ° not keep fires from breaking out, so it’s the time of year again to remind people of what they should do to Prepare to get out alive. Prepare @ Every home should ‘have a. : functioning smoke detector. While * fire’ officials recoramended that the best detectors are wired to the home with a battery back-up, 2 battery-only .detector can still do the job if looked after properly. All smoke detectors should be tested monthly, cleaned regularly, and the battery should be changed - twice a year as part of the Change your clock, change your battery campaign. Although many batteries will last longer, fire fighters told of instances when the battery has _ been removed. Too freqently, people. lave’ removed the battery to use it. ’ elsewhere, or because it has been’ set off by cooking smoke, or because the battery is getting low and the warning’ buzzer-is soun-. | ding. * Avoid all three’ instances by never removing your battery for any reason, smoke detector. is’ located far enough from ‘the kitchen so that . osdinary cooking smoke does not affect it, and replacing the battery before it gets low enough to sound the alarm. e@ A fire extinguisher shouid also be located in an easy-to-reach area close to but not in a hazard area (for example, it should be near the kitchen for accessibility, but not next to the stove where a fire could make it inaccessible). Make sure the extinguisher is serviced regularly (check it for in- structions), and ensure that everyone in the household knows Peake & & Richmond Ltd. & € INSURANCE Your home is likely to be your largest investment. To protect it: © Make sure your home is insured to its current replacement cost e Take pictures of all your inventory. It’s a sure way to prove your loss «install a smoke detector 1199 LYNN VALLEY RD. NORTH VANCOUVER 986-9394. 2435 MARINE DR. WEST VANCOUVER 922-0181 making sure. the | how to operate it. “People tend’ to forget to have. fire extinguishers . serviced,’’ ex- plained North Vancouver Assis- tant Chief Brian Stegavig. Plan @ Sleep with your bedroom doors shut. Most home fires start in another part of the house, so keeping the bedrooms closed off will prevent the smoke from get- ting to you as quickly as it could through an open door. This way the smoke will set off the hallway detector prior to the smoke entering the bedroom. © Make a plan to get everyone out alive. Have annual (twice a year is better) fire drills to practise exactly what you and your family will do if a fire breaks out. Teach each member of the fam- ily fire safety rules such as keep- ing low to avoid the heat and smoke (it sises) and checking doors for heat before going through them (if they are hot, don't). Remember to keep Jow even as you are getting out of bed. Fire officials recommend that you roll out of bed rather than getting up out of bed. Phat way, if there is smoke in the room, you will avoid it by going low from the start. Every member of the family should know two escape routes from every room in the house. The. family should have a des-: ignated meeting place outside the home so that they know. the status of the other family members. Get heip If you. are not sure where to - begin with your plan, contact your local fire department. They can help you plan to get out alive. This article is sponsored by. . Most. fire deaths occur rin the. horne . and most of the victims are children _ and seniors. A fire sprinkler system combined with smoke detectors and a home escare plan, will Cut your rs death from fire oy almost 78%. Residential sprinklers . ee b Provide extra protection and es- cape time for you “family, * Minimize the threat from heat: flames and toxic smoke. of) ‘Discharge water. > dlarm automatically when fire: ’ breaks ouf. é Confine fire to the room of origin. ‘4 Are offered at a modest price j - Offer financial benefits such as spe- cial insurance ‘discounis. A Are smail, decorative, easy to install, use very little’ water and are afford able in new and existing homes. 66: DISTRICT OF NORTH VANCOUVER FIRE SERVICES