Take these

precautions

to ensure safety at home

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 deaths and injuries often resulting from being ill-prepared.

The following precautions will help ensure your safety:

'G. Careless smoking is the main cause of fatal home fires, often ignit- ed when smokers leave butts smol- “dering, or fall asfeep with lighted cig- arettes. ;

' Douse butts. with water before disposing them. If you have guests who smoke, check afterward for “embers in waste baskets, furniture “and carpets.

-O 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 te the stove that you might - have difficulty reaching it if a fire ’ breaks out. : Look" for extinguishers ‘certified for safety by ULC. Never leave a pot - cooking on ithe stove while you're out. 7

Regularly clean the stove to avoid

‘a grease build-up. Keep all flamma- - bles, such as. cooking oil, certain ‘cleaning 1 fluids and alcohol, at least one. metre away.’ And don’t leave “children alone in the kitchen unless ‘‘they’re mature enough to be trusted not to play. with stove controls. _. f you ‘use a gas range and the flame goes out, turn. 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 usé. any’ appliances. electricity or ‘matches. Evacuate the house.

“Tf you don't: smell gas, wait 10 minutes and, if there's still no fame when you turn the burner on again, ‘shut if off and promptly phone the

:. gas company. “Oo 7 Winter perils i increasing the risk

He “Custom built closet organizers

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¢ Highest quality materials

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of fire include woud-burning stoves, fireplaces ind heaters, If you have a fireplace or wood-burning stove,

ensure that there are at least 20cm of

stone, brick or tile Mooring between

“itand Mammable materials. such as

carpeting and furniture,

Every’ fireplace should have a glass door or at least a mesh screen. Euch year, have chinmeys inspected and cleaned, and have your home heating company check the safety of your system,

Keep an extinguisher in the vicin- ity of the furnace, but not too close.

- 0 Faulty wiring is a common haz-

ard, but often’ overlooked. Each major appliance, such as refrigerator, stove, microwave, dishwasher, wash- ing machine and clothes drier, should have its own outlet.

Even with smaller items, avoid

using extension cords and octopus- style plug adapters — too many items in one oudet can cause danger- ous 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-

let emits sparks when you plug ina device, call an electrician. Do your own frequent checks of lamps and appliances, looking for frayed or exposed wires. ( Combustibles can ignite quickly. Beware of oil-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 ina

. Shed or garage, but, if you must store

them in your home, keep quantities small and lock them in a metal cabi- net so that they're inaccessible to children. Keep matches and lighters out of reach tao. : & Install a smoke detector in the hallway leading to bedrooms and on every level of your home. But don't place a detector too close to :the kitchen or bathroom because it will likely 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

and dirt.

Have at least two fire extinguish- ers — one in the kitchen and one in the furnace area. Keep an extinguish- er handy when using spark-emitting

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You and your family should pre- pare an escape plan. First. draw a floor plan of your home, showin two potential fire exits per room (a window and a door).

Ensure that windows open easily: if your home has more than one story, keep a special fire ladder handy on upper levels (a 4.5 mi chain and aluminum fife Jadder costs about $60 at specialty fire-cquipment stores), Everyone should practise getling out of each exit as quickly as possible.

Emphasize that no one should stop to look for valuables or pels (often, dogs and cats Nee instinctive- ly), or even to call the fire department _ Phone from a neighbor's house instead, Warm everyone not to re- enter mnt tirefighters say you can. Select a sate site outdoors to meet and count heads.

As @ precaution, in case a fire starts while you're asleep, keep bed- room doors closed at night to inhibit growth of the blaze.

For further information contact District of North. Vancouver Fire Services’ non-emergency number, 980-7575, or contact your local fire department.

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