Last month, we took a walk through your home on a fire safety inspection. This month, lets look at some of the fire safety equipment that is available to reduce your risk of to you and your property.

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 Saving Time. Change Your Clock, Change Your Batteries.

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.

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 are becoming less expensive, more and 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. Currently, home sprinkler systems cost approximately $_______ per square foot. This means the cost for installing a sprinkler system in a home measuring 1500 square feet, would be approximately $________.

Kerosene Heaters

Electric Space Heaters

Wood-burning Stoves

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