FIRE MARSHAL OFFERS SAFETY TIPS TO PREPARE FOR PRIME FIRE SEASON

State Fire Marshal partners with Bob Evans Restaurants and Integrity Mortgage

to distribute fire safety information across Ohio

 

 

Citing startling facts about winter fires, State Fire Marshal Robert R. Rielage, is urging Ohioans to use the mild fall months to make their homes safe.  More than 15,000 fires occurred in Ohio homes in 2000.  Almost as many fires occur during the winter heating season as occur throughout the rest of the year.  Ohio fire officials expect 6,000 fires to occur between November 1, 2001 and February 28, 2002. 

 

“Now is the time to dust off those home escape plans, practice your fire drill and make your house safe from winter time fire hazards," said Rielage.  "The colder it gets and the more hectic life gets as we near the holidays, the less likely it is people will take the time to think fire safety."

 

To remind Ohioans of important fire safety information, the State Fire Marshal has partnered with Bob Evans Restaurants and Integrity Mortgage to distribute “Cover the Bases and Strike Out Fire” booklets to hundreds of thousands of families across the state.  “Beginning this week in 163 Ohio Bob Evans Restaurants, children can open Bob Evans’ popular ‘kids’ packs’ and find a booklet with information and interactive activities to help them learn the important points about fire safety,” Rielage said.  The booklets also contain instructions and a grid for families to design their own fire escape plan.

 

"The number one way to keep your family safe is through the use of smoke detectors and a practiced home escape plan, which is why I am happy to announce this program,” Rielage announced at a press conference today at the State Fire Academy in Reynoldsburg. 

 

In addition, an advertising campaign is taking place this week on WLVQ and WAZU in Central Ohio.  Integrity Mortgage of Columbus is underwriting the radio spots, along with the Department of Commerce. 

 

Rielage outlined several steps individuals can take to reduce the risk of fire in their home, as well as increase the chances of surviving a fire:

 

• Furnaces and chimneys should be inspected and cleaned;
• The area surrounding the furnace should be cleaned and kept free of combustible materials;
• Sit down with family members and design an escape plan and designate a meeting place.  Then take advantage of the nice weather to practice the plan;
• If windows are a primary or alternate escape route, make sure they are accessible and can be easily opened; and
• Replace any smoke detectors older than ten years, and change the batteries in all other detectors.

 

Rielage stressed that any escape plan is useless without working smoke detectors.  A working smoke detector doubles the chances of escaping a nighttime fire, so ensure that there is a detector installed on every level of the home, and preferably also inside each sleeping area.  Then take advantage of the time change to change the detectors' batteries when you change your clocks.

Portable and alternative heating devices require extra precautions.  Nearly 2,000 residential fires last year were caused by home heating appliances. Approximately one-half of these fires were caused by wood stoves and portable heaters.  "While wood-burning stoves and portable heaters are acceptable alternatives, they must be installed and operated properly or families risk fire and possible injury or death," according to Rielage.  He suggests re-reading the owner's manuals for kerosene and electric portable heaters, and following the manufacturer's directions for inspecting, cleaning and maintaining the devices.  He also reminds individuals to use only 1-K kerosene in kerosene heaters and to keep all heaters at least three feet away from combustibles and away from egress paths.  Wood burning stoves and their chimneys should be inspected and cleaned. 

 

More information about winter fire safety and fire safety in general can be found under the state fire marshal section of www.com.state.oh.us.  More information on Fire Prevention Week themes can be found at www.firepreventionweek.org.  "The Fire Prevention Week messages regarding kitchen, home heating and electrical fires are worth remembering year around.  I applaud the dedication to the welfare of Ohio families shown by Bob Evans, as well as by Integrity, which I know also donates portions of its profits to Children's Hospital here in Columbus.  They truly are demonstrating leadership in our community.

 

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