Fire Prevention Week 2017 – “Every Second Counts: Plan 2 Ways Out!”

Oct 13, 2017 @ 10:08

Fire Prevention Week is almost over, but the messages that our Wawa Fire Department brings each year should be considered all year long. This year’s theme is “Every Second Counts: Plan 2 Ways Out!”

First and foremost – do you have a working smoke alarm? If not get one!

Working smoke alarms are required on every storey of the home and outside all sleeping areas. For added protection, it is recommended to also install smoke alarms inside all bedrooms. Carbon monoxide alarms must be installed outside all sleeping areas if your home has a fuel-burning appliance, fireplace or attached garage.

Second – do you have a plan, an escape plan?

Smoke and fire spread fast. There’s no time to figure out how to escape AFTER a fire starts. That’s why it is so important that everyone has working smoke alarms in their home and that they practice a home fire escape plan with everyone in their household BEFORE there’s a fire. Two ways out!

 

Have a meeting place to go to after you leave, and once you are out – stay out!

Temperatures are falling and now we are turning up the thermostats, or lighting a fire in the wood stove. Did you know that heating equipment fires account for 1 in 10 residential fires; and that in 29% of home heating fires, the cause is lack of routine maintenance of heating equipment.

Make sure to have your heating system and chimneys inspected and cleaned, and that all vents are not blocked. Make sure to allow your ashes to cool before emptying them into a metal container with a tight-fitting lid, outside.

Be safe.