ANNISTON ARMY DEPOT, Ala. -- How many times have you left the house in the morning and wondered, "Did I turn off the stove?"
With our busy lives, the safety of our homes and families are sometimes relegated to the back of our minds -- an afterthought as we hop in the car to start the day.
According to Fire and Emergency Services Division Chief Donald Heard, as of Jan. 25, Alabama had 20 fire-related deaths for 2016.
Alabama consistently ranks in the top five in the nation for fire-related deaths, according to Corey Railey, the deputy state fire marshal.
Anniston Army Depot Fire and emergency Services wants you to make sure that the stove burner is turned off and the damaged electrical cord you've been meaning to fix is your top priority.
Always think fire safety and act accordingly.
According to the latest statistics from the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association, there were an estimated 494,000 reported structure fires in 2014, resulting in 2,860 civilian deaths, 13,425 civilian injuries and over $9.8 billion in direct damage in the United States.
The overall broad picture indicates that every 169 minutes a fire-related death occurred and a fire injury occurred every 30 minutes.
While the statistics are daunting, most home fires/injuries are easily preventable when we narrow our focus and take personal steps to increase our safety.
One way to do this is by proactively combing through each room in your home to find signs of danger and fix them.
Anniston Army Depot Fire and Emergency Services encourages installation employees and their families to put their safety first by performing a home hazards inspection.
You can download a checklist from www.NFPA.org. There are 12 steps on the checklist, including:
• Electrical cords -- make sure they are in good condition
• Appliances and lights are plugged into separate outlets
• All smoke alarms work
• All escape routes are free of clutter and easily accessible
• Curtains and other things that can burn are away from the stovetop
• Portable space heaters are turned off when you leave the room
• The clothes dryer has a clean vent and filter
• Stay in the kitchen while food is cooking
• All extension cords are used safely (not under carpets or across walking areas)
• Portable space heaters are 3 feet away from anything that can burn
• The furnace has been inspected in the past year
• The chimney has been inspected and cleaned in the last year
As firefighters and fire protection specialists, fire prevention is always on our minds. We hope you use the checklist and home fire prevention tips to put you and your family's safety first today and year-round.
The Alabama Fire Chiefs Association supports a program called "Turn your Attention to Fire Prevention." Visit their website at http://www.turnyourattention.com/ for fire safety tips.
There are a number of simple steps you can put into action to keep your home safe from fire:
• Cooking: Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
• Heating: Keep all things that can burn, such as paper, bedding or furniture, at least three feet away form heating equipment.
• Electrical: Replace cracked and damaged electrical cords; use extension cords for temporary wiring only. Consider having additional circuits or receptacles added by a qualified electrician.
• Smoking: If you smoke, smoke outside; wherever you smoke, use deep, sturdy ashtrays.
• Remember to always have an escape plan and practice the plan.
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