Tips from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Install smoke detectors outside each separate sleeping area and on every floor of your home, including the basement.

• Working smoke detectors can reduce the risk of death in a residential fire by 40-50%.

• The best smoke detectors are those with lithium-powered batteries and hush buttons. A lithium-powered battery can last up to 10 years, and a hush button allows you to quickly stop nuisance alarms that are caused by oven smoke, burnt toast, prolonged cooking, etc.

• If 10-year, long-life smoke detectors are not available, install smoke detectors that use regular batteries, preferably alkaline, and replace the batteries as necessary - and at least once a year. (A useful tip to help you remember: in the fall, when you change your clocks to standard time, change your batteries as well!)

• Test smoke detectors every month to make sure they are in proper working condition.

Prevent a fire from starting in your home.

• The most common causes of residential fires are careless cooking and faulty heating equipment. When cooking, never leave food on a stove or in an oven unattended. Avoid wearing clothes with long, loose-fitting sleeves. Have your heating system checked annually, and follow manufacturer's instructions when using portable heaters.

• Smoking is the leading cause of fire deaths and the second most common cause of residential fires. If you are a smoker, do not smoke in bed, never leave burning cigarettes unattended, do not empty smoldering ashes in the trash, and keep ashtrays away from upholstered furniture and curtains.

• Keep matches and lighters away from children. Safely store flammable substances used throughout the home. Never leave burning candles unattended.

Fires Caused by Burning Candles on the Increase

 

Go to any supermarket, gift shop, specialty or department store, and most likely you'll find a large selection of every type of candle imaginable - traditional candlesticks, votives, thick ones, thin ones, of almost every scent found in nature, and some others as well. The popularity of candles has increased enormously recently, but unfortunately, so has the number of fires associated with the burning of candles. According to the National Fire Protection Association, candles caused 9,930 fires, 126 civilian deaths and $170.6 million in property damage across the nation in 1996, the most recent year for which candle-caused fire data is available. This represents an 82% increase over the same categories from the year 1990. Most of these candle-caused fires started when burning candles were left unattended. The New Jersey Division of Fire Safety offers the following advice for using candles safely: Position candles well away from flammable objects and materials, and well away from any possible contact by pets or children. Place candles on heat-resistant surfaces which will not transmit heat to the furniture or which they are placed. Ceramics work well for this purpose. Candles should also be placed in heat resistant bowls that will catch dripping wax, and secured in an appropriate holder so there's not the slightest possibility of the candle falling over, or being blown or knocked over. Never leave a burning candle unattended. Never light a candle in a situation in which you might fall asleep before blowing it out. When blowing out a candle, hold your index finger in front of the flame and blow at it. Air will flow around your finger, extinguish the candle from both sides, and prevent hot wax from splattering. Install a smoke detector in every room where candles are burned. Candles are enjoyable, calming, and fragrant, but don't ever forget that when you burn them, you are dealing with fire. Always take proper precautions to prevent your enjoyable experience from turning into a disaster. For more information about candles or fire safety, contact your local fire department.

The Care and Feeding of Your Smoke Detector

A smoke detector will do its job - detect small amounts of smoke and sound an alarm, if the proper maintenance is taken. Follow the manufacturer instructions that came with your smoke detector. We have listed some suggestions below to assist you in the care of your smoke detector. Once a Week or Once a Month Check the Battery. To find out how to test your smoke detector, read the manufacturer's instructions. Most smoke detectors have a button that your press; if the smoke detector is working, the alarm will beep. If you hear only a chirp or nothing at all, you need to replace the battery. Dust Your Smoke Detector. Dust often collects in smoke detectors, and it can cause the smoke detector to give a false alarm. The easiest way to remove this dust is to take the top off of the smoke detector and vacuum the inside, using the drapery-cleaning attachment of a vacuum cleaner. Once a Year Replace the Battery. The average 9-volt battery needs to be replaced after one year of 'service' in your family's smoke detector. Multi-year batteries, used in some newer smoke detectors, should be maintained as per the manufacturer's instructions. Once Every Ten Years Replace the Whole Detector. Even with good upkeep, most smoke detectors have a life span of ten years. Remove the smoke detector, follow the manufacturer's directions for disposing of the smoke detector, and replace it with a brand new smoke detector. Some newer smoke detectors have their ten-year anniversary imprinted on the cover; if you are unsure of your smoke detector's age, it is always better to err on the side of safety.