October 9-15 is Fire Prevention Week
Time to check things in your house
• Smoke detectors are the most important safety device in the home! Ensure there is one on each level and one outside each bedroom. And be sure to change the batteries semi-annually — many people use the Daylight Savings Time clock changes as a reminder
• A fire extinguisher in the kitchen, garage and laundry area is also a good idea. The kitchen is the most frequent source of home fires.
• Keep your dryer lint trap clean
• Have your furnace inspected annually
• Have the chimney and flue inspected and cleaned before lighting that first autumn fire. Chimney fires often start due to the buildup of creosote
• While this may seem obvious, keep combustibles away from heat sources: be careful with hot pads and kitchen towels near the stove, and keep bed linens and bathroom towels away from space heaters.