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September 27, 2018

Fire Prevention Month

Are your friends and family prepared in the event of a fire?  October is Fire Prevention Month, the perfect time to learn about fire safety and develop a plan if danger strikes.

In an effort to help families easily find fire safety information and learn more about the benefit of fire sprinklers, the New Jersey Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board (NJFSAB) has created a special web resource page dedicated to Fire Prevention Month that includes facts, tips, and links to resource and information.  In addition, NJFSAB is hosting free Burn Trailer Demonstrations for community organizations and schools throughout the month.

“It only takes seconds for a fire to spread and the damage can be catastrophic,” explains David Kurasz, Executive Director of the NJFSAB. “Now is the perfect time for families to learn about fire safety and try to incorporate some simple fire prevention tips into their routines to help reduce the risk of home fires and injuries.”

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), fire departments respond to one home fire every 86 seconds, and the top three causes of home fires are cooking, home heating equipment and smoking.

“In New Jersey, 43 lives have already been lost due to home fires since January. Sadly, none of these homes had fire sprinklers installed, which can reduce the risk of dying in a fire by 80 percent, and reduce property loss by 70 percent,” states Kurasz.

The site also features information about Fire Prevention Week which runs Oct. 7-13 and is sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). This year’s safety campaign theme is “Look. Listen. Learn. Be Aware. Fire can happen anywhere.” The campaign teaches three basic steps in preventing a fire: looking for places a fire could start, listening for the sound of a smoke alarm, and learning two ways to exit any room. 

Here are some simple tips to help make your home more fire safe:

  • Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home and test it monthly.
  • Create a fire escape plan with your family with at least two possible exits for each room in your house
  • Keep items like matches and lighters out of children’s reach
  • Stay close by to the kitchen when cooking, especially on the stovetop
  • Keep flammable items at least three feet away from heating equipment

The perfect way to put your fire safety plan to the test is on Home Fire Drill Day, Saturday, Oct. 13.

To see a schedule for upcoming Burn Trailer Demonstrations or to request a free demonstration click here.

 

September 27, 2018

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