Posted on: Saturday, October 15, 2005
Fire-proof your home
By Zenaida Serrano
Advertiser Staff Writer
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Home Depot employee Ken Boyce explains fire prevention to customers at the Iwilei store. Along with a home-evacuation strategy, you should add smoke alarms and fire extinguishers to your safety preparations.
JEFF WIDENER | The Honolulu Advertiser
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FIRE SAFETY WORKSHOPS 10-11 a.m. Saturdays through October Home Depot stores statewide Free 674-6120 (Kapolei), 455-1200 (Pearl City), 521-7355 (Iwilei) Note: For more tips, visit the Honolulu Fire Department Web site: www.honolulufire.org/spark.htm. |
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Fire-proofing your home can be done in as few as five minutes a day — and those minutes could mean the difference between life and death.
It's important to prepare for the unexpected. "We're still seeing tragedy, people dying and people losing their homes," said Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Capt. Kenison Tejada.
"In many cases, it could have been prevented."
Planning for fire prevention doesn't have to be an overwhelming and time-consuming project for residents.
"Take five minutes a day; take one room a day," Tejada said, to do things like checking smoke alarms throughout the home and planning an evacuation.
The National Fire Protection Association's Fire Prevention Week ends today, but fire safety should always be a concern. The fire department offers these tips:
Cooking is the leading cause of fires in the home. Do not leave cooking unattended. Turn off the burner if you must leave the house, even if it's only for a few minutes.
Put a lid on pots or pans to smother fires that flare up while cooking. Never throw water or flour in a burning pot or pan. Water will spread the flames and flour could actually explode. Turn off the heat and leave the door closed for oven fires.
Have a fire extinguisher in your home.
Install smoke detectors on each floor of your home, near bedrooms and away from air vents. Install them six to 12 inches below the ceiling on the wall.
Learn to recognize the sound of the alarm.
Test your smoke detector every month.
Plan two or more escape routes from every room. Remember, a fire can prevent you from reaching other rooms.
Don't forget to designate a special meeting place to make sure everybody is out and safe. Don't waste time getting dressed or gathering valuables. The important thing: get out safely.
Reach Zenaida Serrano at zserrano@honoluluadvertiser.com.
