In the last three weeks, the Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Service responded to three residential fire calls.
During that same time period, the service responded to a number of other emergencies, as well as twice in one day to the local mill.
Would your home or workplace pass a fire and life safety inspection? Thought-provoking question is it not?
All of us need to take responsibility for fire safety in our homes, as well as in our workplace.
Remember, if you fail to plan … you are basically planning to fail!
Here are some basic fire safety questions to answer:
- Do you stay in the kitchen when cooking? When you leave for any reason, do you turn off the stove and take the pot or pan off the burner?
- Do all smokers smoke outside?
- Do all smokers who smoke inside use large sturdy ashtrays that can’t be easily tipped over?
- Are ashtrays emptied into a metal container, not the garbage can?
- Do you check around furniture cushions where people been smoking, especially if they’ve been drinking?
- Are there working smoke alarms on every level of your home and outside all sleeping areas?
- Are there working smoke alarms inside all bedrooms?
- Do you test your smoke alarms monthly by pushing the test button?
- Do you change the batteries in your smoke alarms at least once a year or whenever the low-battery warning chirps?
- Do you test your smoke alarms after an extended absence, such as trip or vacation?
- Do you and family members know two ways out of all rooms in case of fire? The only exception would be a bathroom with no window.
- Did you and family members identify all exits, making sure they can be used?
- For people who live in a multi-storey building, did you familiarize yourself with the building’s fire safety plan?
- Do you know to get out and call the fire department from a safe location outside should a fire strike?
I hope you answered yes to all of the questions—you and your family’s lives may depend on it!
Safety—we can all make a difference!
Tyler J. Moffitt is a part-time firefighter and emergency responder, as well as a continuous improvement advocate.
