Fire Safety Tips

There was a house fire in Owatonna on Sunday. I've not heard any specifics, but it looked like the entire home was a loss. Even though October is Fire Safety month, it's never a bad time to think about fire safety and prevention. Here are a few tips and pointers to be aware of:

Get smart about smoke alarms - have one installed on every floor, replace them when they're more than 10 years old, and check and replace your batteries once a year.

Have a plan - have two exits from every room, choose a safe place to meet outside, get out first then call for help, and practice your plan so everyone knows how to respond.

Be on the lookout for household hazards - use portable heaters sparingly and be sure they are shut off when sleeping, be extremely careful when using candles - never leave them unattended, keep matches and lighters stored safely away from children, always have someone present in the kitchen when cooking, be sure that smokers use caution when disposing of ashes - put water on them, and be very careful when storing flammables - be sure they are in safe containers and not in the house.

Everyone in the family needs to be smart about fire safety and prevention.