Moody stresses spring fire safety

  • Published
  • By Eric W. Mortensen
  • 23d Civil Engineer Squadron
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Moody Fire Prevention Office

Well, it's that time of year again, the Final Four, the seemingly relentless onslaught of pollen, ever later sunsets and of course, the annual ritual of spring cleaning. As people walk through their homes and develop their spring cleaning plans of attack, they should remember to take in account the following fire safety tips.

Make homes safe from fires
· Check detectors: clean, test and change batteries in smoke alarms and carbon dioxide detectors.
· Check fire extinguishers for proper type and placement.
· Use barbecue grills with caution. Never use gasoline to start the fire and don't add charcoal lighter fluid once the fire has started.
· Use barbecue grills outside only - not on porches, balconies or under overhangs or carports.
· Barbecues grills should be a minimum of 10 feet away from a house.
· Check propane grill hoses for leaks and cracks, and never store propane indoors.
· When cooking outside, ensure that there is a fire extinguisher, a five gallon bucket of water or a garden house readily available.
· Cut vegetation a minimum of 20 feet away from houses and all the way to the ground.

Remove all hazards
· Replace frayed or damaged appliance cords, wiring, fuses or breakers.
· Dispose of rubbish, trash and yard debris.
· Check for water leaks, especially near electrical appliances.
· Check for appropriate clearance between heating appliances and combustibles.
Properly store flammable liquids and home chemicals
· Make sure that gasoline and cleaning fluids are well marked and are out of the reach of children and pets. Store in a cool, dry place outside the house.
· Clean up work areas. Put dangerous tools, adhesives, matches or other work items away and out of any child's reach.
· Make sure that all chemicals are kept under lock and key and out of reach of children and pets.

Plan Your Escape
· Sit down with family members and make sure everyone knows what to do in the event of a fire.
· Make sure to have two ways out of every room and a meeting place outside the house for the whole family.
· Practice the plan. Even the best plan is no good without practice.

There are many things people can do to protect themselves, their family and property. A little time spent on simple common sense prevention will do a lot to make a house a safer place. The Moody Fire Prevention Office is here to help. For more information on how to minimize fire hazards, call the fire prevention office at 229-257-1761.