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Home Safe Home

© Donna Dunn

Every year, everywhere, fire claims people's lives and property. And Fire Prevention Week -- Oct. 7 to 13, 2001 -- is an ideal time to consider some of the things we can do to preserve and protect our assets.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, most home fires are caused by cooking. And most fire-related deaths occur in homes where fire detectors are absent or not working. And like most home accidents, most fires can be prevented.

Here are some fire safety reminders:

Don't leave cooking unattended, and keep your cooking area uncluttered.

Install and maintain smoke detectors. To be effective, you need smoke detectors on every level of your home. And they need to be maintained as well. Maintenance should include routine checks and cleaning every month, battery replacement every year, and according to NFPA, replacing the smoke detector itself every ten years.

Don't overload electrical outlets, and make sure electrical cords are in good condition.

With your family, plan what to do in case of fire. In your plan, include two exits from every room, and what to do once you're out of your home. Hopefully, it's a plan you'll only have to practice, and never have to use.

Smoking and unsafe disposal of smoking materials is another cause of home fires. In the city where I live, a couple of fires were started this past summer by people who tried to extinguish their cigarettes in potted plants. The people involved probably just didn't realize that most plant pots don't contain only dirt, and that some of the materials in the potting mix can be easily ignited.

Keep matches and lighters stored safely, away from heat sources and out of the reach of children.

While clutter inside and outside your home may not start a fire, it could provide more fuel for a fire. Indoors, keep areas around space heaters, fireplaces and appliances free of clutter, and outdoors, keep your roof and the area surrounding your walls clear of leaf clutter and debris.

For more home fire safety tips, check out the NFPA, and also the official webpage for Fire Prevention Week. For kids, Sparky the Fire Dog and Smokey Bear can be good sources of information that are helpful and age-appropriate.

In the United States, the first Fire Prevention Week was observed in 1922. Since then, it has been observed annually in North America during the week of Oct. 9, a date chosen to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Although the Great Chicago Fire actually started Oct. 8, 1871, it did burn for 27 hours, killing over 250 people and leaving 100,000 homeless. And even though the exact cause of the fire has never been established, evidence suggests it probably didn't start in poor Mrs. O'Leary's barn.

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