HOME FIRE SAFETY EQUIPMENT

The following fire safety equipment will reduce the risk to you and your property. 

Smoke Detectors 

Place smoke detectors outside sleeping areas and on each level of your home: at the top and bottom of each stairwell, at each end of a long hall, and at the bottom of the basement stairway. 

Test smoke detectors once a week to be sure they work. Light a candle, blow it out, and hold it under the detector. Fan away the smoke to quiet the alarm. 

If your detectors are battery operated and you hear it making chirping noises, that means you need to replace the batteries. Batteries usually need replacing once a year. Change them each time you change your clock to and from Daylight Savings Time. Change Your Clock, Change Your Batteries. 

Fire Extinguishers

Equip your home with two fire extinguishers: one in the kitchen, and one near the furnace room. Place extinguishers near exits so you’ll be able to escape without being trapped. 

Be sure extinguishers carry the UL label, and make sure everyone who lives at home knows how to use them. 

Extinguishers should be used with a circular sweeping motion, and should be aimed at the base of a fire. 

Fire extinguishers are coded by the types of fires they can put out. Buy dry powder extinguishers, marked ABC, to handle all types of home fires. 

Be sure your fire extinguishers have a pressure dial you can check once a month to make sure the pressure inside is constant and no leak has occurred. 

Consider purchasing a portable fire extinguisher for your car. 

Collapsible Ladders

Lightweight, portable fire escape ladders kept near your upper-story windows, can be set up in seconds to help you escape through the window in case of fire. These ladders are available through our local hardware stores. 

Home Sprinkler Systems

As home sprinkler systems become less expensive, more people are installing automatic sprinkler systems in their homes, especially new homes. To have one installed, contact a sprinkler contractor, and be sure the sprinkler system is made in accordance with National Fire Protection Association Standards.