Jack-o’-Lanterns, trick or treater’s, hay bales, cornstalks and ghosts. These are just some aspects of Halloween that add up to what is sure to be a decorative and howling good time. But what if the proper precautions aren’t taken for fire safety? It’s often overlooked during this spooky time of year. Check out our tips below to ensure you have a fun and safe Halloween.a Did you know that nearly half of decoration fires in homes happened because the decorations were too close to the source of heat? Take precautions in where you place your decorations by keeping decorations as far away as possible from heaters, fireplaces, curtains and lightbulbs. Cornstalks, crepe and dried flowers are three of the most highly flammable pieces of décor. a Candles were the cause of 41% of those decoration fires. Battery operated candles are a great alternative. That way you never have to worry about the flame nor will you have to worry about … Read More

The National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) reports that because fires can spread so rapidly in your home, it could leave you as little as two minutes to escape safely. When a fire starts, it grows in size very quickly and makes it easy to inhale smoke which can be deadly. Discussing the possibilities of a fire in your home is never easy and can be scary to think about, but it’s a worthwhile conversation to have. Implementing an effective escape plan during a fire could save lives. a According to an NFPA survey, only one-third of Americans have both developed and practiced a home fire escape plan. Almost three-quarters of Americans do have an escape plan; however, more than half never practiced it.a Below are some tips for creating a fire escape plan with your family. In addition to these tips, ensure you have working smoke and check out our blog from yesterday for more information regarding smoke detector installation, … Read More

“Don’t wait, check the date!” That’s the theme for this year’s Fire Prevention Week, sponsored by the National Fire Prevention Association. The focus is on educating the public on the importance of updating your smoke alarms every 10 years from the manufacturing date. It’s safe to say that homeowners would collectively agree that smoke detectors are crucial to protecting their home and family. However, just having smoke alarms in your home won’t ensure they are completely effective. There are steps that must be taken to make sure the installation, inspection and maintenance are done correctly. Did you know that working smoke alarms cut casualty rates in half? Taking a few quick and simple steps can help make your home more fire-safe. Installation: Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and every level of the home. This includes basements and attics. Larger homes will require more alarms. Install them about 12 inches or less from the ceiling … Read More

Perhaps you’ve never heard of Fire Prevention Week or maybe you’re interested in learning more. Fire Prevention Week began to memorialize the Great Chicago Fire which tragically occurred in 1871. It left 100,000 homeless, killed more than 250 people, burned more than 2,000 acres and destroyed more than 17,400 structures. It started on October 8 and burned well through the night into October 9. There are lot of theories as to how this detrimental fire started. The legend states that a cow knocked over a lamp in the barn of a woman named Mrs. Catherine O’Leary. The lamp then started a fire in the barn and continued through the city. However, this theory has been debunked and other more logical theories have been uncovered. It is widely believed that the fire did in fact start near the barn where Mrs. O’Leary lived but how did it start if it wasn’t the cow after all? Some historians believe that a neighbor … Read More