Springtime fire prevention tips

  • Published
  • By 23rd Civil Engineer Squadron emergency services flight
  • Fire prevention office
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  As you take a walk through your home and develop your spring cleaning plan of attack, remember the following fire safety tips.

Make your home safe from fires
· Check your detectors to ensure they're clean and test and change the batteries in your 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.
· Only use barbecue grills outside, not on porches, balconies or under overhangs and carports.
· Barbecues grills should be a minimum of 10 feet away from a house.
· Check your propane grill hose for leaks and cracks and never store propane indoors.
· When cooking outside, ensure you have a fire extinguisher, five-gallon bucket of water or garden house readily available.
· Cut vegetation to a minimum of 20 feet away from your house 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 and 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 your family and make sure that everyone knows what to do in the event of a fire.
· Make sure you have two ways out of every room and that you have a meeting place outside the house for the whole family.
· Practice the plan. Even the best plan is no good if you don't practice it.

You can do a lot to protect yourself, your family and your property. You are the key to your safety. A little time spent on simple common sense prevention will do a lot to make your house a safer place.

The Moody Fire Prevention Office is here to help you. For more information, call 229-257-1761. We can show you more ways to protect yourself all year long.