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Some
Fire Prevention Tips from the
Eastampton Fire-Rescue Department
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Fire Safety - It's
a Team Sport
Fireplace, Wood Stove & Heater Safety!
Wood Stoves/Fireplaces
Wood stoves and fireplaces are becoming a very
common heat source in homes. Careful attention to safety can minimize their fire hazard.
- Be sure that the wood stove is installed
correctly and has 36" clearance from combustible surfaces and materials.
- Woodstoves should be of good quality and be UL
listed
- Inspect the chimney. Is it free of any cracks
or loose bricks? Have the chimney inspected annually and cleaned if necessary every 4-5
years.
- Do not use flammable liquids to start a fire.
- Keep a glass or metal screen in front of the
fireplace opening to prevent embers or sparks from jumping out or unwanted material going
in
- Do not use excessive amounts of paper to start
a fire. It is possible to ignite the substance (creosote) that builds up inside the
chimney over a period of time without proper cleaning.
- Never burn charcoal inside. Burning charcoal
can give off lethal amounts of carbon monoxide.
- Keep mantel decorations and other flammable
materials away from the fireplace. A spark from the fireplace may ignite these materials.
- Before you go to sleep be sure that the
fireplace fire is out. NEVER close your damper with hot ashes in the fireplace. A closed
damper will help the fire to heat up again and prevents the smoke from exiting your house.
- Never discard hot ashes inside or near your
home. Place the hot ashes inside a metal container outside and well away from the house.
- If you use synthetic logs, follow the
directions carefully. Never break the logs up to quicken the fire or use more than one log
at a time.
Furnace Heating
- Have your furnace
inspected to make sure it is in proper working order!
- Be sure that all furnace controls
and shutoffs are in proper working condition.
- Leave furnace repairs to
qualified specialists. Do not attempt repairs yourself.
- Inspect the flue pipe and pipe
seams. if there are signs of black soot around the seams it may be an indication of a
leak.
Electric Space
Heaters
- Before using an electric space
heater, make sure that it is UL-listed and that the cord is is free of any cuts and not
melted.
- Never use a space heater in a
bathroom or near water.
- Make sure that space heaters are
place near the center of the room away from flammable materials such as hanging
decorations, curtains, etc
- Never place anything on top of a
space heater.
Fire Safety - It's
a Team Sport
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| Make sure your house
number can be clearly
seen from the street! |
1
2
3
4 |
| Numbers should be four
inches tall, high-contrast and lighted. |
| Make sure you have a
Carbon Monoxide (CO) detector. |
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| Make sure your smoke
and CO detectors have batteries. |
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| Test your detectors
regularly. Practice
your home fire drill
when you do. |
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| Have your heating
system serviced. |
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| Don’t forget to inspect
and clean your chimney. |
| Have an escape plan
and practice it with your family. |
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When you are in a public place, make sure
you and your family know the location of fire exits. |
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Fire Safety
  
It’s a Team Sport!
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