Fire Prevention

Although we, as firefighters, are here to help you in times of need, the less we see of each other, the better things are. This page will give you some tips on preventing fires in and around your home so that we may never have to come rushing to your house in response to a fire. For general questions on fire prevention, please contact the station via email Email the station or phone.

Smoke Detectors

  1. Place smoke detectors outside of the bedroom area(s).
  2. Place a smoke detector on each level of your home.
  3. Test your smoke detector MONTHLY.
  4. Replace the battery in each smoke detector on a yearly basis.
  5. Replace the battery sooner if your smoke detector emits a chirping sound.
  6. Get familiar with the sound of your smoke detector.

Cooking Safety Tips

  1. If you can help it, DO NOT leave cooking unattended. If you must lave the kitchen, take a pot holder or other item with you to remind you that there is food cooking.
  2. Keep a kid free/pet free zone aroud your stove.
  3. DO NOT cook if you are tired or under the influence of alcohol or medications that make you tired.
  4. Clean your stove, oven, and counter tops often to prevent grease build-up that can lead to fire.
  5. Keep loose clothing away from burners/heating elements on stoves and ovens (roll up those sleeves!).
  6. Keep pot handles turned away from the edge of the stove to prevent spilling and scalding injuries.

Heating Safety Tips:

  1. Keep space heaters at least three (3) feet away from anything flammable (including walls!).
  2. Only use space heaters that have been marked as approved by an independent testing lab (i.e. UL listed).
  3. Get your central-heating professionally checked before each season.
  4. Get your chimney inspected yearly and cleaned when needed.
  5. Use a fireplace screen to catch the sparks.
  6. Keep fireplace fires small. Indoor bonfires ARE NOT recommended.
  7. NEVER burn trash in your fireplace. Burn only untreated wood in your fireplace.
  8. NEVER use or store propane gas tanks inside your home.
  9. Have your woodstove inspected to ensure it meets local installation codes. Inspect the stove once a year.
  10. Use only cast-iron or steel wood stoves that have been labelled as approved by an independent testing lab.

Electrical Safety Tips:

  1. Be sure that fuses and circuit breakers are designed to handle the amperage loads for the circuit they are protecting.
  2. Use only one heat producing appliance on the same circuit at the same time so as to not overload the circuit.
  3. Install ground-fault circuit interruptors (GFCI’s) for all kitchen, bathroom, outdoor, basement, and garage outlets (or anywhere else where water may be nearby).
  4. Replace damaged appliance and extention cords. NEVER use multiple extention cords.
  5. DO NOT run extention cords where they can be damaged (i.e. under carpets, across doorways).
  6. DO NOT let extension cords get pinched under furniture or between furniture and walls.
  7. If any electrical device you are using feels hot or smells funny, unplug it IMMEDIATELY and have the device repaired or replaced.

General Home Safety Tips:

  1. Plan and practice escape routes BEFORE there is a fire. Hold fire drills at least twice a year.
  2. Decide on a designated meeting spot OUTSIDE of your home for family members evacuating the home.
  3. Know at least two unonstructed exits (including windows) from each room in the house (where possible).
  4. Keep ALL combustible materials and flammable liquids AWAY from furnaces and water heaters.
  5. Consider installing a home sprinkler system if it is not cost prohibitive.
  6. Obtain TOT FINDER decals and affix them on outside windows of childrens’ rooms and to the bottom corner of interior doors to childrens’ rooms. You can also use these decals to mark the location of bed-ridden family members. Decals may be obtained at the fire house as long as we have them.
  7. ALWAYS get out of the house first if you suspect a problem. THEN call 911.
  8. Store gasoline in an approved metal container with a spring-loaded flapper on the spout.

While these tips MIGHT not prevent a fire or accident from happening at your home, they are excellent measures to greatly lessen the chance of problems. Use these tips and teach them to others to protect yourself and those around you.