Spring Fire Safety Tips

             We made it through another winter!  If you’re like me, you’re ready to get outside and get your property cleaned up and ready for summer and maybe even do some spring cleaning inside.  This article will offer useful advice and safety tips on protecting yourself and your property from the dangers of fire.  

            Let’s start inside your home.  First, check to be sure your smoke detector batteries work.  Replace them, if necessary.  Next, does your family have an escape plan if you experienced a fire?  If not, make one.  If so, review and practice it.  Do your windows open and close?  Check to make sure they open and close properly in case they’re needed as exits in the event you became trapped by a fire.  When was the last time you cleaned behind your clothes dryer?  Remove the lint build-up from dryers and exhaust pipes and vents.  While you’re in the basement, remove any combustibles from around hot water tanks, furnaces, and washers and dryers, also.  If you have a basement work area, clean up this area by putting away dangerous tools, adhesives, matches, and other items that should not be accessible to children.  Be sure to check air conditioning units and their electrical cords.  If you find a frayed or damaged electrical cord on any appliance, have them repaired by a qualified professional.  Next, check your home for excessive accumulations of newspapers and magazines.  The City of Euclid offers locations where you can drop off your paper products to be recycled.  Also, please be responsible when storing flammable liquids and home chemicals. Properly discard old containers of paints and solvents.  Please see www.cuyahogaswd.org for what items may be disposed of.  The city will be collecting household hazardous waste products the week of April 25-29 at 25500 Lakeland Blvd from 8:00am-3:00pm.  For more information, call (216)289-8345 or visit the city’s website at www.cityofeuclid.com.

            Now that we’ve covered the inside of the home, let’s focus our attention on the outside of our homes.  Be sure to clear debris and other yard waste from around the home, garage, and storage sheds.  As a reminder, the burning of leaves, debris, and yard waste is prohibited within the city of Euclid.  If the Euclid Fire Department is called to your property for a complaint of open burning, you will be required to extinguish the fire.  Next, when preparing your lawn equipment for the summer, it’s a good idea to have a qualified professional perform the proper maintenance.  Also, please be sure to store fuels for lawn and garden equipment, tools, and vehicles in approved containers only.  Get rid of oily rags and cloths used to wipe up fuel spills.  Next, be sure to inspect and clean your barbeque grill prior to using it for the first time.  It’s common for gas hoses, gas lines, and propane tanks to corrode and weaken during the winter months when they’re not in use.  NEVER put a charcoal or gas grill back inside a structure until it’s had sufficient time to cool down!  Over the years, we’ve responded to garage fires where occupants have put grills back inside with hot coals still burning.  These can cause very serious and large fires that threaten both your property and your neighbor’s property.

            Lastly, springtime can mean severe weather.  Be sure to have working flashlights and a battery-powered radio.  During a power outage, only use candles as a last resort.  Nationwide, candles cause an estimated 15,600 fires in residential structures every year, 150 deaths, nearly 1,300 injuries, and $539 million in property damage (USFA, 2008).  If you must use candles, do not leave them unattended.  In addition, ensure they are in sturdy metal, glass, or ceramic holders and place them where they cannot be easily knocked down.  The majority of candle fires are caused by human error and negligence.  It’s also important to know that power outages can be the result of a downed electrical wire.  If you see a downed wire, stay away from it!  Call us to come investigate.  Please give the exact location and tell us if you see fire, arcing, or sparking from the wire and/or pole.  Always assume a wire is energized and live even if the wire is not burning, arcing, or sparking.

            The Euclid Fire Department wants you to be safe and enjoy your spring and summer.  Please use common sense and if you need us, call us.  We’ll be there!

 WORKS CITED:

United States Fire Administration.  2008.  Candle Fire Safety.  Retrieved from  http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/citizens/home_fire_prev/candle.shtm