page 16, Whitby Free Press, Wednesday, JuIy 13, 19Ù94 A HOME DESIGN AND IMPROVEMENT FEATURE Satfetyprecautions at cottag9e pay off It's summertime and a cottage je the perfect spot te "get away from it ail.,, But getting away doesn't include forgetting about safety or lire prevention. To pretect your cottage, consider these basic lire safety tips. aFor the structure itself, select lire-resistant materiais; metal roofing and aluxinum siding niay not loek as nice as legs and wooden shingles, but they're a safer choice. If you can't resiet wood, treat it with a ire-retardant every few years. * Dry grass sud debris coleet under opxen porches, decks and floors, se close thera in. This will keep sparks from blowing in sud setting lire te, dry flier joists sud rafters. "As you woubd in any home (but especially a seasonal residence), maintain the fuse boxes, heaters, wiring, stoves sud ether possible heat sources,' says Brian Spiers, a bass prevention expert with 'The Co-operat.ers. eStare ceaning fividsansd other flammable materials in approved containers. And stack suy firewood or lumber well away from the building. Mfen people place barbecues tee_ close ta' wooden cottage walls - three feet je a good rule of thumb. e Keep fiberglass boats and camoes away frem buildings, since they're highly flamnmable. Store them upside down, one metre above ground level, either on a clearing or a rock. If youre staring a powerboat nearby, remove suy gasoline. e Post the phone number for reporting a forest lire near your phone. If you notice a lire spreading, your quick attention ca make a big difi'erence for the forest sud everyone in the area. e Fellow manufacturers' instructions regarding the use et portable camp stoves, heaters or lanterne and keep fuel in a secured container. You shoubd aIso consider estabbishing a lire break, which je an area around your cottage that wont fuel a fire. Your basic protection is ta keep the grass eut sud raked. But there is much more 'you can do ta create primary sud secondary lire breaks. A primary break is a clearing of ail ground within five metres of your building. Space trees se the tops are at least five mnetres away from a chimney or stove pipe. Remove flammable ground itter such as dead grass sud trees, branches and household debris. A secondary lire break extends at least 15 metres from your buildings. Remove.shrubs, smalb trees and ground litter. Keep the tape of mature trees more than five metres -apart te lower the chance of a ground fire spreading up them. Extend the lire break area to 25 metres downhill from any building on a sloping site, as fire can travel uphili. Soeurity Tipe "Most cottage loases reported have to do with burglary and theft. Cottages are very vuinerable as they are seasonal residences and often left unattonded," says Spiers. There are two main things you can do ta, cut your loases: 1. Remove aIl your personal belongi*ngs, especially thinge lke televiseions, VCRs, etc. 2. Remove aIl your recreation equipment. Items like outboard motars and slddoos are easily stolen and then sold by thieves. Speirs suggests starting with te *ascs such as instalhing a deadbolt bock (with at least a 2.5 centimetre boIt) which is operated with a removable thumb turn instead of a key. That way, even if the burgiar reaches in through a broken window, the door cannot be opened. Installing extra locks may disceurage the thief who ie looking for an easy wýay in. lnetalling unbreakable plastic panels over vuinerable areas (like greund floor windows) that are big enough for a prson to climb through are an added precaution worth considering. Neyer leave keys hidden near doors or under mats. Speirs adds a final suggestion. Even sme of the meet well-protected cottages have been burglarized so it's vr mortant to review and uepdatep your seasonal residence insurance policy every year. It will help ensure you're adequately covered for your personal property, in case you are burglarized. Yeur insurance representative will be able te help you detern-ine the amount you need," 1.1 ILYIifÂ! I ~Ydi Il :j'51j t.] ~ EL'] ~ I ~"Â'I ~ I~\iI*] ~*