Remember fire safety while spring cleaning

With the arrival of spring come blue skies, blooming flowers and spring cleaning.  This is the perfect time for a refresher on fire safety tips that should be followed year-round.  Keeping fire safety in mind when doing things around the house, like cleaning dryer’s lint filter after each load of laundry, will help prevent fires.

Important spring cleaning home fire safety tips from the NFPA:

Fact: The leading cause of home clothes dryer fires is failure to clean them.

• Clean the lint filter before or after each load of laundry. Remove lint that has collected around the drum.
• Keep the area around your dryer clear of things that can burn, like boxes, cleaning supplies and clothing.

Fact: Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in reported home fires in half.

• Ensure smoke alarms are installed inside every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement.
• Test them at least once a month by pushing the test button.
• Replace batteries in all smoke alarms at least once a year. If an alarm “chirps,” warning the battery is low, replace the battery right away.

Fact: Most cooking fires in the home involve the stovetop.

• Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains — away from your stovetop.
• Always stay in the kitchen when frying on the stovetop.

Fact: Extension cord fires outnumbered fires beginning with permanent or detachable power cords by two-to-one.

• Check electrical cords to make sure they are not running across doorways or under carpets. Extension cords are intended for temporary use.
• Have a qualified electrician add more receptacle outlets so you don’t have to use extension cords.

For more fire safety tips, visit www.nfpa.org/safetytips.