Last week was Fire Prevention Week, but besides the fact that there’s a focus on home fire safety this time of year, homes are actually at a bigger risk this time of year. With winter and colder temperatures coming, people are using heaters and lights more, which creates more fire hazards in the home.
Here’s some home fire safety tips to keep in mind as we head towards winter:
- Have working smoke detectors: and that means on every level of your home. Did you know a quarter of all house fires start in bedrooms? Place detectors inside bedrooms or outside of sleeping areas. Test your detectors every month, and change your batteries twice a year.
- Get your electrical wiring checked: if you live in an older home, have an electrician come in and check the wiring, especially prior to the winter season when you are overloading your electrical system with lighting and heating. Experts suggest doing this every four years or so.
- Fire extinguishers: have a fire extinguisher on hand, especially if you have natural gas stoves/fireplaces.
- Cooking safety: never leave tabletop appliances plugged in when they are not in use, and never leave cooking unattended.
Fire prevention is not something you can put off, or that you can get around to doing when you have the time. Because the truth is, we don’t know when a fire can start in a home, and then it’s too late. Keep safe, make it right and please, folks, make sure all your smoke alarms are working … today! — Mike Holmes, National Post
The Government of Alberta website has several free guides and resources on home fire safety available on their website.
