Portland Fire Alarm

Next in our series of common fire hazards is the appliances in your home. Did you know that heating equipment (like space heaters) are involved in 1 of every 6 home fires? Appliances are safe when used correctly, so here are some fire hazards to look out for:

• Keep everything that gives off heat at least 3 feet away from flammable materials or items.
• Don’t plug more than one heating appliance into the same outlet.
• Keep portable gas generators outside and away from windows to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
• If you have a fireplace, be sure to have your chimney checked and cleaned once a year by a professional.
• Don’t leave fires (or candles) burning or heating appliances plugged in while you’re asleep, in another room, or when you’re not home.
• Clean the lint screen every time you use your dryer. Dryers are responsible for about 9 out of 10 appliance fires.

Fires are common and can start at any time. Do you know the different fire hazards and things to watch for in your home? In our next few blog posts, we will cover fire hazards that you will want to watch for.

Most residential fires start in the kitchen, while cooking. The following things should help prevent kitchen fires:

• Be sure to stay in the kitchen when cooking, grilling, or frying anything.

• Don’t have curtains, paper towels dispensers, or towel racks sitting too close to the burners.

• If you don’t have a built-in microwave, make sure that there is no clutter around it and that the vents are not covered.

• Have a fire extinguisher close and within easy reach in case of a fire.

• Don’t put water on a grease fire if you don’t have an extinguisher! If a fire starts in a pan, then cover the pan with a lid to suffocate the flames.