American Alarm & Communications, Inc.

Security Trends:

Fire safety at the most dangerous time of year.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 44-percent of all home fires in the United States occur during the months of December, January and February. This should come as no surprise, since trouble with heating equipment is a leading cause of home fires.

The NFPA's data indicates that in 2005 (the most recent year for which comprehensive statistics are available) heating equipment was involved in 62,200 reported residential structure fires in the United States, which accounted for 670 deaths and 1,550 injuries. These fires caused an estimated $909 million in direct property damage.

Most fires started in chimneys or chimney connectors, usually because those elements were not properly cleaned and maintained. The NFPA found that space heaters were involved in one-third of heating fires, however they accounted for three-fourths of fire deaths. Space heaters linked to fires were typically placed too close to flammable materials such as bedding or furniture.

Taking extra steps at this time of year to avoid home fires may seem like common sense. It's advice that we've all heard before. However, sometimes well-worn advice can get lost in the hectic pace of life today. So we at American Alarm want to take this opportunity to urge all of our customers to review their home fire safety status, and pay special attention to their holiday decorations.

The NFPA is the most trusted authority on fire safety and prevention, and they recommend the following safety tips:

• Space heaters need space. Keep all things that can burn, such as paper, bedding or furniture, at least 3 feet away from heating equipment.
• Turn portable heaters off when you go to bed or leave the room.
• Plug power cords only into outlets with sufficient capacity and never into an extension cord.
• Inspect for cracked, frayed or broken plugs or loose connections. Replace before using.
• Holiday lights are considered seasonal devices and should not be in use for more than 90 days, or they become prone to damage.
• Have your chimney inspected each year and cleaned if necessary.
• Use a sturdy fireplace screen.
• Allow ashes to cool before disposing. Dispose of ashes in a metal container.
• Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home. For the best protection interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home — when one sounds, they all sound. Test smoke alarms at least once a month.
• Install and maintain a carbon monoxide alarm in a central location outside each sleeping area.
• Never use an oven to heat your home.

For more information about these matters, please see the NFPA's website at www.nfpa.org