Fire safety

The American Red Cross responds to more than 68,000 disasters each year, the majority of which are single-family fires. Here are some preventive measures they suggest to help minimize the chance and effects of fire:

• Be careful with candles. Keep candles away from combustible materials. Don't leave children unattended in a room with lit candles. Keep candles, matches and lighters out of the reach of children. Never display lighted candles in windows or near exits.
• Inspect fireplaces and wood stoves. Have chimney connections and flues inspected by a professional and cleaned if necessary prior to the start of every heating season. Use a sturdy screen when burning fires. Burn only wood - never burn paper, including discarded gift-wrap or pine boughs. Don't hang holiday decorations from or on your fireplace if you plan to use it as a heat source.
• Check smoke detectors. Make sure detectors are working properly and that new batteries are installed.
• Be aware of overuse of electrical outlets. Don't overload electrical outlets; be careful of extension cords that present hazardous walkways.
• Have one or more working fire extinguishers in the home. Get training from the fire department in how to use them.
• Consider installing an automatic fire sprinkler system in the home. Statistics from the National Fire Protection Association show that automated fire sprinkler systems typically reduce chances of dying in a fire and reduce the average property loss by one-half to two-thirds where they are used.