What it's All About

    Follansbee Fire Department takes a big role in Fire Prevention.  During Fire Prevention Week we visit a good number of places to teach people the importance of fire safety.  These places include our local primary school, local senior citizen home, local daycare facilities and other public functions and buildings.

    When we go to Jefferson Primary School, we take informational tablets, fire prevention videos and sparky the fire dog.  We also have our guys show the little kids what we look like in our full turnout gear so they know not to be afraid if they see us.  We always end the visit with the kids by letting them tour the truck which they seem to always enjoy doing.

    That's just a small sample of what we do for Fire Prevention Week.  Below are some links to fire prevention sites I thought were worth taking a look at.  Before you go please read over some of the informational tips we provided to keep you safe when it comes to fires.

Fire Prevention All Over Your Home

Since most fatal fires start in the home, you should follow these fire-safe practices.

Table of Contents

Smoke detectors

Install smoke detectors on every level of your home and especially outside every sleeping area--inside as well, if people sleep with the door closed.

• Test smoke detectors monthly by pushing their test buttons.
• Install new batteries at least once a year or when your detector "chirps" to warn you that battery power is low.
• Install smoke detectors away from cooking vapors to prevent nuisance alarms and clean your detectors regularly.
• Smoke detectors should be replaced routinely every 10 years.

For complete home protection, also consider installing automatic fire sprinklers in all new construction and in existing homes.  Sprinklers attack a fire in its early stages by spraying water only in the area near the fire and can greatly reduce smoke and damage.

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Escape plans

• Plan and practice your escape.
• Every member of the household should know at least  two exits from each room.
• Make sure that doors and windows needed for escape are unobstructed and easy to open.
• If an exit involves an upper-story window, make sure there is a safe way to reach the ground.
• Decide on a meeting place outside the home where everyone can gather once they escape.
• Know the phone number of the fire department.
• Arrange to use a neighbor's phone in the event of a fire.

By following these simple steps will save the life of you and the ones you love.

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Living and family rooms

Remove fire hazards and practice fire-safe behavior to prevent home fires.
 

• Use extreme caution with cigarettes, matches, and lighters.
• Provide large, deep, non-tip ashtrays for smokers.
• Before you go to bed or leave your home after people have been smoking, check for smoldering butts under furniture cushions.
• Keep space heaters and wood stoves at least three feet away from anything that can burn.
• Always turn space heaters off when you go to bed or leave your home.
• Never leave children alone near a working fireplace, woodstove, or space heater.
• Refuel kerosene heaters only with kerosene, outside, and after the heater has cooled.
• Use a metal fire screen on your fireplace.
• Have your chimney inspected by a professional once a year and cleaned if creosote has built up in the flue.
• Use only dry, seasoned wood in the wood stoves and fireplaces.

Follow the above steps to safe it out in the Living and family rooms.

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Kitchen

    Stove burners and ovens can burn you and start fires.  Be attentive and remember these safety tips.

• Never leave cooking unattended.
• Keep your stove-top and oven clean and clear.
• Wear tight-fitting or rolled-up sleeves when cooking to avoid catching your clothing on fire.
• Keep combustible materials away from the stove.  Don't hang curtains, potholders, or towels near burners or the oven.
• Turn pot handles inward so they can't be bumped or  pulled over.
• If a small fire starts in a pan, carefully slide  a lid over the pan to smother the flames, and turn off the burner.  Keep lid on until pan is cool.
• Never pour water on a grease fire.
• In microwave ovens, use only those containers designed for microwave use.

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Sleeping tips

    More than half of all fatal home fires happen while people are sleeping.  You can save lives by installing smoke detectors and automatic sprinklers and by practicing family escape drills.  And remember this fire-safety rule:  Never smoke in bed or when you are drowsy.

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Thanks for visiting our Fire Prevention page.  We would like to remind people to change their batteries when you change your clocks and to always practice a way out in case of a fire emergency.  Please check back later for new links to other sites that will give you more information on how to keep you and your family safe.

Anyone having any other information about fire prevention please direct that to fireprevention@follansbeefire.com

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