Did you know that the month of May is Building Safety Month?  Each week, safety tips and information on each of these specific areas will be covered: Energy and Green Building, Disaster Safety and Mitigation, Fire Safety and Awareness, and Backyard Safety. Fire Safety and Awareness is the focus for this week of May 21-27. Here are 10 tips to remember for Fire Safety and Awareness:

Tip 1: Smoke Alarms

Have a smoke alarm in each room and every floor of your home to know when there is a potential fire in your home.

Tip 2: Practice

Practice how you will escape from your home when there is a fire. Also select a location where everyone can meet up after escaping from the house. Once you’re out call for help.

Tip 3: Home Fire Sprinklers

Home fire sprinklers along with smoke alarms greatly increases your chances of survival. Not only that they can increase the property value and lower insurance rates.

Tip 4: Test

Test your smoke alarm each month to make sure they are working and if not replace those batteries!

Tip 5: Portable Heaters

Portable heaters need their space so keep them far away from other objects that may catch fire.

Tip 6: Mesh Screening

Install noncombustible screening on attic/soffit vents to prevent embers from entering. Installing approved spark arrestors on chimneys of solid fuel or liquid fuel burning appliances is also recommended.

Tip 7: Shutters

Installing protective shutters or heavy fire-resistant drapes can help keep fire damage to a minimum.

Tip 8: Garden Hose

Having a garden hose that is long enough to reach any part of the home or structure is highly recommended to put out those fires.

Tip 9: “Defensible” Space

By creating a “defensible” space around your home, flames will burn out quickly and prevent further damage to other homes.

Tip 10: Fire Prone Trees

Plant fire prone trees and shrubs away from your home and far enough apart so they won’t ignite one another.

By remembering these 10 tips you can be sure that your family and you will be safe if a fire does occur in your home. And remember like Smokey the Bear says“only you can prevent wildfires” but in this case “only you can prevent house fires.”

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