At Coopertown Services, one of our top priorities is safety education. We want our friends, neighbors, and clients to safely use and enjoy their fireplaces and other heating appliances. One way we help promote safety in our community is by promoting National Fire Prevention Week.
Be Aware. Fire Can Happen Anywhere
National Fire Prevention Week is celebrated October 7-13, 2018. This year’s theme is “Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware. Fire can happen anywhere.” The goal of this campaign is to help educate families on three easy and basic steps they can take to prevent fires in their homes.
– Look. Look around your home for places where fires can start. Identify potential fire hazards, such as cardboard boxes stored next to a furnace, and take steps to reduce or remove them entirely.
– Listen. Listen for what your fire detector sounds like. Make sure fire alarms are placed on every floor of your home, particularly outside sleeping areas and near fuel-burning appliances. Once you hear a fire alarm, you only have a few short minutes to get out.
– Learn. Learn two ways out of every room in your home. Keep outside doors and windows free from clutter and ensure they are easy for everyone to open. Plan an outside meeting location a safe distance away from your home.
Practicing fireplace safety at home
In fire prevention, the difference of just a few seconds can separate a safe escape from a preventable tragedy. While using a fireplace can be a safe and effective way to heat your home, it is important to take steps to prevent accidental fires. The following tips can help you practice fireplace safety in your home.
– Have the chimney swept and inspected annually. The primary cause of accidental chimney fires is a failure to remove creosote and other buildup from the chimney. A professional chimney sweeping and inspection at least once per year significantly reduces the risk of an accidental chimney fire occurring.
– Never leave a fire unattended. Whether it is in an indoor fireplace or an outdoor firepit, fires should never be left unattended.
– Use safety accessories. Families with young children or pets should use safe accessories to keep them away from open flames. Glass fireplace doors or decorative grates are excellent accessories that can let the whole family safely use the fireplace.
– Keep décor away. Home décor and furnishings should be kept at least three feet from the fireplace while it is in use. This is especially important to remember around the holiday season, when hanging décor such as stockings is often put on the mantle.
– Properly remove and store ashes. While it may seem like the fire is out, hot coals can continue to burn in ashes for up to thee days. Because of this, it is important to take the extra time to safely remove ashes after a fire. Ashes should be stored in a special metal container with a handle and a lid; ashes should not be mixed in with other household trash or put in dumpsters.
At Coopertown Services, our aim is to help our customers enjoy their fireplaces and other heating appliances safely no matter the season. For more information on National Fire Prevention Week or fireplace safety tips, contact us today!