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The Clarington/Courtice Independent, Bowmanville, Saturday, June 28, 1997 Page 23 Home Fire Safety: A Topic You Can't Ignore Home fire safety is one of those topics that no matter how much publicity it gets and no matter how many times it's emphasized, needless tragedies continue to occur across the province. When fire safety is mentioned, mentioned, many homeowners will nod their heads somberly, steadfastly proclaiming that their homes are indeed safe. Safe for the most part - except for maybe that fire detector in the upstairs hallway that hasn't been checked in over a year, or that extinguisher they've been meaning to buy for the kitchen. In recognition of this, new regulations have also come into effect that toughen the fire safety standards for basement apartments and rental suites in homes. These had become a particular concern because of a general lack of exits in case of fire. Now, each"'dwelling unit' must have its own clear means of escape. In addition, adequate adequate fire separations between floors and stringent electrical safety inspections have been mandated. Homeowners who have not complied with these regulations regulations should contact their local fire department or regional fire . marshall's office immediately. In any event, there are a few " common sense fire prevention strategies that all homeowners can implement. Some may seem obvious, while others may surprise you. Smoke alarms: Replace batteries at least twice a yçar (when you change your clocks in the spring and fall is an easy schedule to follow). follow). Test alarms once a month. Install at least one alarm on every level of your home and near sleeping areas. If family members sleep with their bedroom doors closed, install an alarm in each of those bedrooms. Some experts suggest gently vacuuming your alarms regularly to remove dust. Fire escape plan: This is perhaps the most neglected aspect of fire safety. Plan two escape routes from each room. Make sure all windows windows and doors can be opened easily in an emergency. Set a pre-arranged location outside the home where everyone can meet after escaping. Practice your plan twice a yean Cooking safety: Other than careless smokV ing, cooking accidents rate as the main cause of home fires. Always put. a lid on a grease fire to smother it - water will only make it spread. Never- move a burning pan - you could ignite your clothes or spill the contents onto the stove element. Be extremely careful when wearing loose fitting clothes while cooking. Smoking: If you smoke, keep an old coffee tin or some other metal container handy for emptying ashtrays. Never-smoke in bed. Use large ashtrays that allow cigarettes to rest toward the centre. Double^check that all cigarettes are extinguished before leaving the house or going to bed. Know the facts: Most home fires occur between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Smoke kills more people than fire; if smoke is blocking your primary escape, use an alternate. If you must exit through a smoke-filled area, crawl as close to the floor as you can. If you catch lire, stop, drop and roll until the fire is out - never panic and run. r Mon - Thur:l pm - 8 pm Fri: Closed Weekends & Hol:l 1 am - 6 pm (905) 697-0792 f*" tl i| [f , -.jj^ hreehohi: towns 1 ran 1 Community Immediate Closings Now is The Best Time To Own Condo Townhbmes from $109,990 Mon -Thur:l pm - 8 pm Fri: Closed Weekends & Hoi: 11 am - 6 pm (905) 623-7027 or (905) 427-8605 The Ascot from $162,990 'Uiilidihlbw-gnutifi $99,990 Your First & Last Months Rent is all you Need to Move in CB http://www. kaitlingroup.com T§ KAITLIN KAITLIN KAITLIN KAITLIN KAITLIN KAITLIN KAITLIN KAITLIN