Fire Safety important in winter
A fire fighters points up to inicate areas needed to be tended to at a fire in Gamerco on Thursday June 13, 2008. — © 2008 Gallup Independent / Daniel Zollinger

Copyright © 2008
Gallup Independent
By Helen Davis
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — Grants Fire Chief Robert Hayes encourages everyone to work on year-round fire safety and says a resolution at New Year’s can help.

Hayes has issued some suggestions for citizens to include in a resolution for fire safety awareness and practice in the new year.

In addition to reminding people that smoking in bed or when sleepy is dangerous, flammable items too close to any heater can start a fire, candles and cooking food should never be left unattended, ash trays should be provided to smokers and emptied after they are cold, and small children should be taught to stay away from lighters and matches, Hayes stresses that everyone in the home should know how to dial 911 and know their home address. Adults should pay special attention to making sure children can give their address. Hayes suggests that in the case of fire in a building, it is best to call from outside the building if possible.

He cautions people to never put out a grease fire with water because that can cause the fire to explode and spread rapidly. Instead, if it is a cooking fire, cover the pan with a metal lid or, in a pinch, a wet towel. If you have to move the grease, dump in it the sink once the fire is smothered, but do not try to carry a pan of burning grease outside; that can spread the fire if hot or burning grease spills.

Do not use flour to attempt to smother a grease fire, it can also be dangerous.

In general, Hayes said, get out of the house as fast as possible. He explained that a fire alarm is not meant to wake you so you can put out the fire, but so you can save yourself and family by getting everyone out of the building alive.

Unless confronted with a very small fire that is clearly safe to extinguish yourself, consider fire suppression action, like using a fire extinguisher, as a way to help make it safe to leave the building so you can get help, Hayes said.
Check the batteries in smoke detectors and fire alarms.

On the Web: http://fadingad.wordpress.com/2007/11/29/kitchen-grease-fire-prevention-video