Fire Safety
Fireplaces and Wood Stoves
- Clean and inspect chimney or wood stove annually, make sure you use a
certified chimney specialist
- Vent pipes should be three feet above the roof
- Make sure wood stoves and portable kerosene heaters have met building
codes
- Burn only wood in fireplace or wood stove
Outdoor Fire Safety Tips
- Stack firewood at least 30 feet away from your home
- Regularly clean the leaves, pine needles and other debris off the roof
of your home
- Make sure there are no tree branches hanging above the chimney, flues
or vents
- Store flammable material at least 30 feet from home
- Use fire resistant plants and vegetation for landscaping
- Trees and brush should be thinned within 30 feet around the home
- Water sources need to be accessible to the fire department
- Contact your local fire department before burning yard waste
Fire Safety for Children
- Children should wear fire-retardant clothing
- Children need to be taught about fire and fire safety
- Children should never play around electrical appliances or heaters
Smoke Alarms
- Smoke alarms should be tested every month
- Batteries in smoke alarms should be replaced at least once a year
- A good time to replace the batteries is when the time change occurs
- Smoke detectors should be replaced every ten years
Fire Escape Plan
- Develop a fire escape plan, and practice it with your family
- Have a designated meeting area in the yard where all family members
are to go
Kitchen
- Don't overload extension cords
- Look for the UL tag on appliances
- Check wiring on appliances routinely
- Replace worn, old or damaged appliance cords
- Place portable electrical heaters at least 3 feet from curtains,
furniture etc.
- Children should never play around electrical appliances or heaters
- Keep a fire extinguisher handy