This Week is Fire Prevention Week – AAA Offers Tips to Keep Your Home Safe

This week, October 5th through the 11th, is Fire Prevention Week and AAA is offering tips to ensure you can stay safe while at home. Those tips include ensuring you have a fire escape plan, using caution when cooking and when using appliances, and remembering to replace and test your smoke detectors.

AAA says the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) shows smoke alarms, properly installed, prevent home fire deaths by 60%. The organization added nearly 3 out of 5 home fire deaths occur when the home did not have smoke alarms or alarms that were not functioning.

“Smoke detectors save lives,” said David Kirst, Insurance Sales Operations Manager at AAA Western and Central New York. “Fire Prevention Week is a good time for homeowners and renters to make sure they are equipped with a smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector. It’s also a good time to review insurance needs.”

Homeowners are also reminded to maintain and service their fireplace and chimney. A regular chimney inspection can help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, which can occur in poor ventilated chimneys. Homerowners should burn only well-seasoned hardwoods, install a chimney cap, install a carbon monoxide detector, and have a chimney sweep to ensure the chimney has an appropriate liner.

Wood and coal stoves should also be at least 36 inches away from walls. You should also keep any combustible materials far from the stove and chimney connector.