Latta Fire Chief Offers Fire Safety Tips And Reminders

By Betsy Finklea
October is National Fire Prevention Month, and Chief Andy Britt of the Dillon County Station Two Fire Department is offering some tips and reminders regarding fire safety.

Britt said one of the most important things that people can do is to make sure that your home has the right number of smoke detectors. Britt said no smoke detectors should be in the kitchen because they will go off during cooking. There should be one smoke detector per bedroom and one in the hallway outside the sleeping area.
People should test their smoke detectors twice a year. A good time to do this is when the time changes.
Every home should have an escape plan should a fire occur. Britt said your escape plan should include two ways out of your home. He said to establish a meeting point for family members once outside the home.
Make sure that every family member knows what the smoke alarm sounds like and what to do when you hear it.
As the weather gets colder, people will begin to use space heaters to warm their home. He said to keep space heaters three to five feet away from flammable or combustible items. Space heaters get hot and can cause a fire. Turn off space heaters when you leave the room and when you go to sleep.
Parents need to teach children about the dangers of matches and lighters and should keep these items out of reach of children.
Approximately 48 percent of all home fires in the United States start in the kitchen, and Britt urges people to stay in the kitchen while frying or cooking. Britt said to keep a fire extinguisher near the kitchen, but not in the kitchen. The reason is if a fire starts, you may not be able to get to the fire extinguisher if it is kept in the kitchen. If a fire starts, call 9-1-1 and get out a stay outside.
If you wake up to a fire or smoke, get low and go to an exit.
If you can’t, close the door to your bedroom and place a wet towel under the door. Open a window and call for help or get out if you can and go to your meeting spot.
Planning and taking precautions can help you prevent a fire or be safer if a fire occurs.