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It’s National Fire Prevention Week

Officials suggest having 2 evacuation plans

News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Alpena Fire Chief Bill Forbush said this week is National Fire Prevention Week and people should test or replace the fire alarms in their homes. He said families also should have a two way out evacuation plan in place in case of a fire.

ALPENA — There are many things people can do to protect themselves against a fire in their home.

According to Alpena Fire Chief Bill Forbush many of those things are promoted during National Fire Prevention Week which runs until the end of the week.

Forbush said the second week of October was selected as Fire Prevention Week because it coincides with the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire that destroyed more than three miles of the city and killed 300 people.

Forbush said one of the most important things people can do in their homes is to have reliable, properly placed smoke detectors installed. He said 10-year detectors have lithium batteries in them and don’t need to be changed.

Forbush said there also should be an escape plan made that includes two ways out of the building from each room and families should have mock evacuations. He said having a meeting point after the evacuation also is important.

“Select a place where everybody meets up because you could have some people using different exits,” Forbush said. “If you don’t meet up together, you could think there is still someone in the fire and go back in, which could be catastrophic.”

People who have homes with more than one floor are encouraged to have fire ladders for the rooms upstairs. Forbush said they are affordable, easy to use and will save people who could become trapped on upper levels by fire.

“They are inexpensive and can get you out of the home when your escape route is blocked,” he said.

Many people have fire extinguishers in their homes, but Forbush said people should not depend on them to put out anything more than basic kitchen fires. He said most extinguishers from stores are not inspected and they lose their effectiveness after a while.

“They are nice to have, but you really can’t put a lot of faith in them,” he said. “If there is a small fire on the stove they might work, but if it has spread to the counter or cupboards it’s too late and they aren’t going to put the fire out.”

There is also a large fire risk from burning candles, especially in homes that have children and pets. Forbush said a child or animal could inadvertently knock over a candle and the flame could start a fire. He said not properly disposing of cigarettes can cause a fire, as is smoking in bed.

“That is a very … bad idea,” he said.

As the use of mobile devices becomes more popular, Forbush said more fires are started because of chargers left plugged into an outlet with no device attached. He said often the phones or cords are left on beds or floors, which can start a fire.

“If it is plugged into the wall, there is still power going into it,” Forbush said. “It is a trend around the nation and something we are seeing more. That and the use of extension cords with the chargers.”

Steve Schulwitz can be reached via email at sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5689. Follow Steve on Twitter ss_alpenanews.

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