Cold Weather is coming and once again it’s time to button up your home and start preparing for winter. While homeowners are encouraged to be diligent about fire safety year round, it’s especially important now because home fires are more common in winter than in any other season. Whether you live in an apartment, condominium or a full size house the most important project to start with is Fire Safety.

U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 1,298,000 fires in 2014. These fires resulted in 3,275 fatalities, 15,775 injuries and an estimated $11.6 billion in direct property loss. Seventy percent of reported home fires and 84% of the home fire deaths occurred in one- or two-family homes, including manufactured homes. The remainder occurred in apartments or other multi-family housing. (Stats from NFPA)

Some fires are caused by issues related to the structure, such as lightning strikes, faulty wiring, furnace malfunctions, and other electrical and heating system-related mishaps. But most home and apartment fires are preventable.

Fairfield Home Inventory would like to pass along the following tips and suggestions to ensure the safety of homeowners, condo owners, renters and their families.

Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Detectors

• Smoke Alarms save lives, install at least one smoke/carbon monoxide detector on each level of your home, including near sleeping areas.
• Daylight savings time is coming to an end on November 1^st. When you reset your clocks (fall back) remember to change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Furnaces & Fireplaces/Wood Stoves

• Have a qualified technician (contract with oil/gas company) to inspect and clean your furnace once a year.
• Make sure emergency shut off and automatic controls are in good working condition
• Keep oily rags, trash, newspapers, paint, spray cans, etc. away from the furnace area.
• If you have a fireplace or wood burning stove have your chimneys/flu and vents checked by a reputable, certified Chimney Sweep/technician. Fireplaces produce creosote which can ignite. If you light fires frequently, you need a chimney sweep service at least once a year. When you burn wood, make sure it’s dry and seasoned (not green) so that it produces more flame and less smoke, reducing creosote build-up.
• Never leave a fire unattended – make sure the fire is out before going to bed.
• Place ashes outside in a covered metal container at least five feet away from the house or anything that can burn.
• Cover your fireplace or woodstove opening with a screen protector to eliminate sparks from jumping out into living area.
• Never close the damper to your fireplace while there are hot ashes present. Closing the damper could make the fire flare up and this will cause carbon monoxide to be released into the house.

Cooking & Kitchen Safety

Kitchens are a favorite gathering place in many families especially during the holidays. Cooking fires are the most common type of fires in U.S. households. By paying attention while cooking, you can prevent a kitchen fire.

• If you are frying, grilling, or broiling food, stay in the kitchen. Turn off the stove if you have to leave the kitchen, even if only for a short time. If you are simmering, baking, roasting, or boiling food, you don’t have to stay in the kitchen, but you do need to stay in the home. Check the food regularly and use a timer to remind you that there is something cooking.
• Keep flammable objects—pot holders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, and paper or plastic bags—away from the stovetop. Wear close-fitting clothing that won’t drape over or touch burners while cooking.
• Although turkey fryers may produce delicious holiday dinners, they pose significant fire hazards. For safe turkey fryer use tips, visit the US Fire Administration’s page on cooking safety.
• Know how to put out a grease fire; water will make it spread but salt or baking soda will smother it and extinguish it quickly.
• Keep a small all-purpose fire extinguisher in an easy to reach place in the kitchen.

I could go on and on about home fire safety but the areas covered above are some of the major places to start with your winter home safety projects.

Some other safety tips include:

• Candles – light only when an adult is around to watch them and blow them out when leaving the room. Make sure candles are kept away from drapes and anything flammable and keep kids and pets away from burning candles. If there are smokers in the family, try to smoke outside.
• Space heaters – place in a safe area, away from drapes and tablecloths. Keep kids and pets from getting too close and make sure the space heaters you buy have an automatic shut-offs before getting too hot and an automatic tip-over function.
• If your pipes freeze, do not attempt to thaw them out with a blowtorch, instead try a hand held blow dryer or use pipe wrap to insulate.
• When buttoning up your home to keep the cold out make sure windows used as emergency exits can be opened.
• Holidays are ahead – before you start putting up lights around your home check out all electrical cords. Make sure they are in good shape, not frayed or cracked, replace if questionable. Never overload outlets, extension cords or circuits.
• Have a plan for emergency escape from your home in case of fire or other disaster – learn proper escape techniques (for more info on this visit www.nfpa.org/homefires) and practice with everyone in the family. Teach children how to dial 911.

Use your common sense when buttoning up your home for the winter ahead. identify potential danger areas in your home and take the proper precautions. There are many organizations such as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), US Fire Administration and local fire departments. Look them up on the web and read more about protecting your family, property and home this winter season.

Fairfield Home Inventory advocates Home and Business preparedness for disaster. We will work with our Stamford and Fairfield County communities to get the word out. Be prepared for any disaster and stay safe!

Hurricane Joaquin Heading towards the East Coast

Emergencies can happen anytime and anywhere without notice. Households, businesses and organizations should prepare in the event an emergency causes you to be self-reliant for three days without utilities, electricity, or water, without access to a supermarket or local services or maybe even without response from police, fire or rescue. Preparing can start with four important steps:

1.) Be informed about emergencies that could happen in your community, and identify sources of information in your community that will be helpful before, during and after an emergency.

2.) Make a plan for what to do in an emergency.

3.) Build an emergency supply kit.

4.) Get involved

Fairfield Home Inventory encourages our community to be better prepared and invites community members to join us in this effort.

We would also like to remind everyone that being prepared includes having a detailed Inventory of all your personal/business property and assets.  Know what you have and what it’s all worth by having a complete detailed Home/Business Inventory performed and having it stored somewhere other than your home – it’s part of being prepared!

Even if we don’t get a direct hit from Hurricane Joaquin you should button up your home. Take anything that can be blown away on your deck, lawn or terrace and move it all indoors.  Close all windows in your home, garage and any separate standing structures.

Stock up on supplies in case of a power outage, fill your automobiles with gas, inspect gutters for debris, check your property for dead tree limbs and anything that may become a hazard in wind and rain.

You can never be too prepared for an emergency – keep enough supplies in your home to survive on your own for at least five (5) days. If possible keep these materials in an easily accessible, separate container.  Each family should have their own emergency supply kit put together to match your own individual needs. Take into consideration those in your household with disabilities, seniors, young children and pets – build your kit to match your situation and needs.

Emergency Supply Kit (To Stay)

* Design a safe shelter, preferably an inside room with no window

* Look all doors and windows

* Find your emergency supply kit (See below)

* Use plastic and tape to seal your safe shelter from the inside

* Have supplies ready

* Care for family members with special needs

* Check for news updates using your radio

Emergency Supply Kit (To Stay or Go)

* Water: one gallon per person per day plus extra for pets
* Food: non-perishable, ready-to-eat foods and manual can opener
* Flashlight: hand crank model or battery operated with extra batteries
* Water treatment: iodine tablets or unscented chlorine bleach and an eyedropper
* Phone: wireless phone, fully charged with charger or extra battery
* Documents: copies of important documents (insurance, photo ID) place items in a
waterproof, portable container like a zip lock bag.
* Emergency communication card: list of local and out-of-state friends and family and
their emergency contact information.
* Personal items: soap, feminine products, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc
* Whistle:  for signaling family and rescuers
* First aid kit: to treat minor family injuries
* Cash: be sure to carry a mix of small bill cash and credit cards
* Keys: an extra set for home and car
* Clothing: extra seasonal clothing for changing weather
* Matches: in a waterproof container
* Fire extinguisher: for protection against fire
* Tarp, tent, umbrella or poncho: in case of rain
* Tools: wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
* Meal kit: a set of compact cooking and eating utensils for preparing meals
* Paper and pencil: to write important information.

For more preparedness information contact your local, state and federal emergency management resources.