Man is repairing radiator battery in the room. Maintenance repair works renovation in the flat. Heating restoration. Wrench in hands.

Home Heating Safety Tips

Man is repairing radiator battery in the room. Maintenance repair works renovation in the flat. Heating restoration. Wrench in hands.There are close to 400,000 home fires in the US every year. One of the leading causes of these fires – second only to cooking – is heating equipment. 

It is important to know how to heat your home safely to avoid a costly, dangerous residential fire, especially during the winter months when heating-related fires are more likely. Follow these home heating safety tips to keep yourself protected while staying warm and cozy this winter.

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Turkey being placed into a deep fryer

Thanksgiving Safety Tips for a Happy Holiday

Turkey being placed into a deep fryerThanksgiving is a time for food, family…and fires. The holiday boasts more home cooking fires than any other day of the year. Turkey fryers alone account for more than 900 destroyed homes and over $15 million in property damages annually.

Fires aren’t the only cause for concern during Thanksgiving weekend. Break-ins are just as likely during this time as any other season. Keep your family protected by following a few simple safety procedures. These tips will ensure that your family can enjoy a happy and safe Thanksgiving.

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A depiction of a house fire, indoors. Smoke and light from a fire pour through a cracked room door, a person visible sleeping in their bed. Horizontal with copy space.

National Fire Prevention Month

A depiction of a house fire, indoors. Smoke and light from a fire pour through a cracked room door, a person visible sleeping in their bed. Horizontal with copy space.Wildfires and residential fires cause millions of dollars in damages every year. As the weather becomes drier, the risk of brush and home fires increase.

While fire deaths are lower than the national average in New England, there is still a need to practice certain precautions to keep you and your family safe.

Here are a few fire safety tips to reduce the chance of fire.

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fire place glowing outside

5 Summer Fire Safety Tips

fire place glowing outside

Fire-related incidents are responsible for thousands of deaths and injuries each year, as well as millions of dollars in property damages. The best way to stop a fire is to prevent it from starting in the first place. Consider these five summer fire safety tips to greatly reduce your risk of a fire taking hold of your home. Using caution, campfires, cookout grills and more can be safely enjoyed all summer long.

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Celebrating Independence Day Through New England: Firework Laws and Safety Tips

Nothing is better than a day of celebration with family and friends, followed by a night under the stars watching fireworks. There is something magical about watching a pitch black sky ignite with bright, colorful explosions. So on July 4th, many of us will be closing out our Independence Day celebrations with a firework display.

For those of you who will be using consumer fireworks this holiday, please read our firework safety tips! Being informed and prepared saves lives. Read more

Home Safety Seasonal Checklist

BlogPostImage-Seasonal Checklist (source TheStocks.im - free to use)

Whether springing forward or falling back, Daylight Saving Time is the perfect opportunity for a home safety seasonal checkup. Here’s a quick checklist.

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Fall Fire Safety Tips

Couple by bonfireAs the colder weather approaches and the leaves turn radiant shades of red, yellow, orange and gold, this is the perfect time to refresh your memory about fire safety – inside and outside your home.

Don’t forget, when you turn your clocks back on November 6 to signal the end of daylight savings time, remember to change the batteries in your smoke detectors and your carbon monoxide detectors if they are not hardwired.

You should also replace CO alarms every five years and smoke alarms every 10 years so be sure to check their expiration dates when you change the batteries.

Here are some other fall fire safety tips that you should keep in mind:
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September Is College Campus Fire Safety Month

As college students move in to new apartments this week, now is a good time for them to check and make sure they have working fire alarms.

We all were tragically reminded of the importance of this early Wednesday morning, when a four-alarm fire destroyed an apartment building on Myrick Street in Allston, Mass., a community popular with college students. After it took about five-and-a-half hours to put the blaze out 11 college students and young professionals who lived in the building were displaced .

Fire investigators said it could have been much worse because the two-and-a-half story house had inadequate smoke detectors and sprinkler protection, according to Boston Fire Commissioner Joe Finn. Damage to the building was estimated at around $1 million.

“We’re very fortunate last night that we didn’t have a loss of life,” Finn told WBZ NewsRadio 1030. “I think the fact that the tenants who were on that third floor weren’t home is probably the reason why, because I think if they were home, they never would have made it out.”

Fire inspectors think the fire started in a rear bathroom, but they were still trying determine the cause. The fire commissioner said investigators found several issues with the house.

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After School Safety Tips for Kids Home Alone

Latch Key KidBeing a working parent is never easy. Now that school is about to start, you’re probably doing some extra worrying about how to make sure your children are safe at home until you get back from work.

The truth is, no matter how sensible you think your kids are, you are still going to worry about them. If leaving your kids home alone is your only option, there are steps you can take to keep them safe.

If your child will be home alone after school you should:

  • Make sure your smoke detectors are functional – A working fire alarm system is one of the most effective ways to protect your children in case of a fire in your home.
  • Make a list of key people and telephone numbers – You should post this where your children can find it in the event of an emergency.
  • Tell your children where the flashlights are located – Be sure that the batteries are fresh.
  • Create an emergency plan with your children – Practice it with them so they’ll know what they should do in case there’s a fire, or other emergency or if they get hurt. Write the plan down and make sure your children know where it is. Read more

Off Campus Fire Safety Tips

American Alarm Video IconIt’s a calm day today on this college campus. But when fire strikes, calm can quickly turn to chaos.

Most dorms are equipped with commercial grade fire systems that are interconnected and monitored regularly to keep students as safe as possible. But, it’s a completely different story for students living off-campus.

According to the Center for Campus Fire Safety, almost 80-percent of fire-related fatalities in student housing occur off-campus. These fires are typically caused by a lack of automatic fire sprinklers, missing or disabled smoke alarms, and careless disposal of smoking materials.

Here are some simple steps to ensure your off-campus housing is a fire-safe environment.

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