LAKE COUNTY – This week fire officials are reminding area residents about the important steps they can take to protect their homes from fire.

The National Fire Protection Association's theme for Fire Prevention Week 2008 – which is Oct. 5 through 11 – is “Prevent home fires.”

The importance of this effort is made clear in the numbers – home fires killed an average of seven people every day in 2006, the association reported.

You can protect yourself and your home from the major causes of home fires by taking some basic precautions.

Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit Chief Ernie Loveless is asking everyone to check each room in their home for these common hazards and learn to spot situations that may cause a fire risk.

THROUGHOUT YOUR HOME

• Are portable heaters placed at least 3 ft. from anything that can burn?

• Are matches and lighters kept in a locked cabinet where children cannot reach them?

• Has your wiring been inspected to make sure that it meets code requirements?

• Are electrical cords in good condition, not frayed or cracked?

• Do you have a smoke alarm in each bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of your home?

• Are smoke alarms interconnected so that when one sounds that all sound?

• Do you test your smoke alarms once a month?

• Does your family practice your home fire escape plan twice a year?

• Does your home have an automatic sprinkler system, which will contain a fire?

• Does your home have carbon monoxide alarms?

KITCHEN

• Is your stove top clean and free of clutter?

• Do you stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food?

LIVING ROOM

• Do you have a sturdy metal fireplace screen?

• Do you have your chimney cleaned and inspected at the beginning of each heating season?

• Do you encourage smokers to smoke outside the home?

BEDROOM

• Do you have arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs)?

• Do you burn candles in your bedroom? National Fire Protection Association discourages the use of candles in the bedroom – the largest number of candle fires occur in bedrooms.

BASEMENT

• Do you have heating equipment cleaned and inspected by a professional each year?

“Fire Prevention is everyone’s responsibility,” said Loveless.

He encourages everyone to talk with your family members about fire prevention and check areas in their homes for hazards.

{mos_sb_discuss:2}