Fire Prevention Week October 6-11, 2008  

“Prevent Home Fires”

This year’s theme addresses preventing fires in the home.  Cooking fires cause 29 % of home fires.  

Multi-tasking in the home while attempting to cook, leaving unattended cooking on the stovetop increases the risk of a fire in your home.

 Fire Safety Tips:

 

Kitchen

·          Never leave stovetop cooking unattended.

·          Unplug the coffee maker, iron, toaster oven, electric kettle, toaster and deep fryer when not using them.

·          This is important in the event of a power outage turns off the stove and unplugs electrical appliances.

·          Never put water on a grease fire, use the lid and let it cool down before moving the pot.   

·          Plug kitchen appliances into separate outlets.

·          Remove the clutter from the stove and in the oven.

·          Turn pot handles in.

·          Don’t store cookies, candies or other treats above the stove; this prevents children from climbing on top of the stove to retrieve them.

Around the House

·          Get your furnace serviced by a professional once a year.

·          Have your chimney cleaned at least once a year.

·          Keep space heaters away from combustibles.

·          Remove extension cords that are tucked under floor mats or that run between doorways.

·          Don’t use electrical cords that are cracked or frayed.

·          Store propane tanks and other fuel outside your home in an unattached building.

·          Keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children.

·          Blow out all candles when leaving the room.

Smoke Alarms

·          Install smoke alarms on all floors and outside sleeping areas.  It’s the Law.

·          Check the batteries once a month.

·          Test your smoke alarm every week.

·          Replace smoke alarms every 10 years.

·          Purchase a smoke alarm with a “Hush” Button or “Silence” Button for areas sensitive to smoke from cooking, woodstoves or steam from showers.

Firex Recall

The Office of the Fire Marshal, Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services and the Building and Development Branch of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing are asking Ontario residents to check their Firex carbon monoxide and combination carbon monoxide/smoke alarms after the Maple Chase Company issued a voluntary recall.

Sold under the Firex brand, a malfunctioning component in certain carbon monoxide alarms and combination carbon monoxide/smoke alarm devices can cause the alarms to go into a “double chirp” fault mode in the presence of carbon monoxide prior to the unit going into full alarm mode. According to the Owner’s Manual, the device must be taken out of service when this fault is present and cannot be reset. Although no incident shave been reported relating to the hazard, it puts consumers at risk of injury or death.

Owners of the alarms identified below should contact Maple Chase immediately at 1-888-879-3906 to receive a free comparable replacement alarm and make arrangements to return their affected alarm(s).

Affected Models:

This recall involves Firex branded 10000 and 12000 series alarms with item numbers: 10000,12000,12000C, 12000-6,12200,12220,12400,12400C,the alarms were manufactured between June 1, 2007 and February 1, 2008.  Customers affected by this notice or with questions are strongly encouraged to contact Maple Chase by phone at 1-888-879-3906 or visit their website, www.firexsafety.com/stepone.aspx for more information. February 1, 2008. 16,000 were sold in Ontario.

Fact

If a fires starts in your home, you may have less than 2 minutes to get out from first ignition.  The temperature can rise to as high as 900c in that short time.

Escape Plans:

·          Plan an escape plan with the people you live with.

·          Select a meeting place outside and make sure every one knows about it.

·          Know 2 ways out of every room.

·          Practise your plan.

911

·          Land Lines (Phone Lines): Know your location; keep the address of your house posted by your phone especially for visitors who may have to call in an emergency.  Including street, building number, apartment number, buzz number (apartment access number), 911 green sign number and township in the county.

·          Cell Phones: 911 Operators not will get your address location on a cell phone; know where you are calling.

·           Internet Phone Service:  Your address information may not be transferred to 911 operators.  Check this out with your Internet server.

·          Call 911 from a neighbours house or cell phone in the event of a fire.