Home Fire Safety Tips For Fall

9/17/2021 (Permalink)

Fall decorations can be just a beautiful even when keeping safety in mind.

As the weather turns cooler and leaves begin to change, many homeowners begin planning to decorate their home for the upcoming holidays. But some safety preparations need to be included in the planning process to keep your home and family safe.

• Checking Your Detectors: Homeowners need to replace the batteries in their smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors twice a year. Typically, it’s scheduled during the time change in the spring and fall. This is a critical step in home safety because it is estimated that approximately 20% of detectors don’t work due to dead or missing batteries. It is also recommended detectors should be replaced every 10 years.
• Fireplace Safety: Fireplaces are the cause of thousands of home fires each ear. Before you light up that match, have your chimney cleaned and inspected. Creosote build-ups are the top reason for most home fires involving a fireplace. It is also recommended to have a fireplace screen to prevent sparks and embers from escaping and causing a fire.
• Fire Escape Plan: Make sure your family has a fire escape plan and practices it regularly. Train everyone to stay low to the ground to prevent smoke inhalation. To learn more about creating your home fire escape plant visit www.ready.gov.
• Maintain Your Yard: With leaves falling, a small spark could turn into a major fire. To prevent this, remove fuel from all yard equipment before storing it for the winter. Also, prune trees to prevent limbs from falling on power lines and rake up leaves to remove combustible materials from your home.
• Holiday Decorations: Use battery-operated lights instead of candles to prevent accidental fires. Check all electrical lights for frayed wires or cords before hanging. Make sure any decorations are made from flame-retardant materials; if not, treat them with a flame retardant solution.

The fall is a beautiful time of year to enjoy with your family and friends. And with a few simple preparations if can a safe time of year as well.