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AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION |
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All fires require three elements - oxygen, fuel, and
heat. If any of these elements are not present, then there can be no fire. Oxygen, well
it's all around us so there's not much we can do to eliminate oxygen. Fuel, this is any
combustible product like furniture, dressers, building products, wood, clothes, etc...,
once again, fuel is all around us. Most fires start when people or man-made devices supply
the heat. |
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 Heating equipment is a major
cause of home fires. Have your heating system inspected by a professional at least once a
year. |
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Careless smoking is the
number one cause of home-fire fatalities. If you smoke, use a large, heavy ashtray, and
don't let it become so full that hot ashes overflow. Before emptying an ashtray, make sure
that it's contents are cool. Even so, check the trash to see that nothing is burning. |
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Store all matches and
lighters out of the reach of small children. |
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If you use a coal or wood
stove, make sure it rests on a fireproof floor protector, such as a metal sheet or ceramic
tiles, and is a safe distance from walls, furniture, and other combustible materials. |
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Allow ashes to cool, and then
dispose of them in a tightly covered metal container, not a box or a bag. Many house fires
have occurred when ashes that were not fully cooled were put in a bag or box and placed in
an attached garage. |
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