 |
|
|
|||||
|
|
October 7, 2004 Eliminate Fire Hazards The National Fire Protection Association has proclaimed October as National Fire Safety Month. The history of fire safety month goes back to the Great Chicago Fire that began on Oct. 8, 1871, and burned through the following day. The fire took more than 250 lives, left 100,000 people without homes and destroyed more than 17,400 structures. More than 2,000 acres in the Chicago area were burned, all because a cow knocked a kerosene lantern over and started a 27-hour fire. “Approximately 70 percent of all home fire deaths result from fires in homes having no smoke alarms or alarms that don't work,” according to George Maher, North Dakota State University Extension safety specialist. “Residential fires cause approximately 12,000 deaths every year, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Several thousand more suffer injuries from residential fires. Many of these tragedies are preventable. Careless habits with easily ignited materials are the cause of most fires. One of the most common causes is children playing with matches or cigarette lighters. It happens in large and small communities and rural areas.” Most deaths and injuries caused by or related to home fires can be prevented by the proper use and maintenance of smoke alarms. “Smoke alarms are a great success story of the 20th century, but they have to work to do the job,” Maher says. “Replace the batteries in your smoke alarms today and live for tomorrow. Every home should have a smoke alarm in the furnace area, the utility room, kitchen and sleeping areas. They should usually be placed in the center of a ceiling, in the middle of the air flow from room to room and always follow the installation instructions.” Check each smoke alarm
at least once a month by pressing the red test button and waiting for
the alarm to go off. If it does not emit a piercing squeal, replace the
battery and retest. If the new battery does not fix the problem, replace
the alarm. “Eliminate fire hazards as soon as they are spotted and keep a constant watch for new hazards,” Maher says. “Residents should be on alert to spot and control fire hazards. Most fire hazards develop gradually, so people tend to become accustomed to them and often don't see them as a threat.” The accumulation of newspapers and other combustible materials always starts out as a small stack or just a few papers, and then it is several weeks’ worth. Combustibles are also frequently stored in the worst areas. Utility rooms and locations next to the furnace are common dangerous locations. A much safer choice is an unheated area, to eliminate the source of ignition. The best choice is not to store the materials at all but to dispose of them right after using. Matches and cigarette lighters are common causes of residential fire. They must be kept out of the hands of children. Youngsters are frequently attracted to these items and home fires are often the result. Another area of concern is the management of a wood-burning stove or heater. Many fires are started when the residents are away from home or have gone to sleep for the night. Before going to bed or leaving the house, the air intake vents for these units should be adjusted to slow down the rate of burning so the fire will not burn as hot and will last longer. Wood burning heaters should not be left alone unless you know how to prepare the heater for this unsupervised time. The wood burning heater and its stove pipe connections need a constant watch for buildup of soot and creosote throughout the season. Slow-burning fires can lead to buildups of soot and creosote deposits. Occasionally the heater may need to be shut down for a cleaning session. This is also a good time to inspect the unit for any other dangerous conditions that may be developing. “Fire hazards can easily creep up without notice during the winter months,” Maher says. “A constant watch is needed to control the risks. Good management of combustible materials will prevent most house fires. Conduct regular fire safety checks in your house to reduce the risk of fire and sleep safely tonight.” ### Source:
George Maher, 231-8288, gmaher@ndsuext.nodak.edu |
Market Advisor: |
|
North Dakota State University |
