237 Main Street, New London, NH 03257

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Fire Prevention Week was

October 9 - 15th

The New London Fire Department had over 500 children visit the firehouse this year during the month of October.  

Kids - When you hear the smoke alarm, Sparky says: "Get out and Stay out!"

 Test your Smoke detectors!

This group of school children stand in front of the ladder truck after visiting the Fire House during the month of October.  Over 500+ kids went through the Fire Prevention Program at the station. 

Home Fire Prevention Check

Kitchen Safety -  

• Is your stove top clean -no grease, spills, or clutter?  

• Does a grown-up always stay in the kitchen when the food is cooking on the stove?

• Are pot handles turned toward the back of the stove?

Heating Equipment-

• Are space heaters at least three feet away from walls and anything else that can burn?

• Does your fireplace have a sturdy screen to catch a sparks?    

• Has your heating system been professionally inspected or serviced in the past 12 months?  

• Has your chimney been inspected or cleaned in the past 12 months?

Smoking Materials

• Do you have large, deep, non-tip ashtrays for smokes?

• Are matches and lighters locked up high, out of children's sight and reach?

• Do smokes wet all butts and ashes before throwing them away?

House Wiring

• Do your fuses of circuits-breakers match the circuits they protect? (Have them professionally inspected.) A new device required in many areas is an AFCI (arc-fault circuit-interrupter), which detects abnormal arcing in a circuit.

• Are bathroom and kitchen outlets protected by ground-fault circuit-interrupters (GFCI's)?

Candles

• Are candles blown out when grown-ups leave the room or go to sleep?

• Do you have sturdy non-tip and non-combustible candle holders?

• Are lit candles kept a safe distance from anything that can burn?

Hazardous Materials

• Are paints, gasoline, LP Cylinders and other flammable liquids stored away from flames and sparks?  Are they outside the home in a shed or detached garage?

Home Protection Checklist

• Do you have smoke alarms ion every floor of your home - and near or inside all sleeping areas?  New construction requires a smoke alarm in each bedroom. It is recommended that alarms be wired together such if one sounds, they all sounds.

• Do your smoke alarms work? (Test them monthly.)

• Are any smoke alarms in your home more than 10 years old? (If so replace them.)

• Does your family have a home fire escape plan?  And do you practice it every six months?

• Automatic home fire sprinkler system can control or extinguish fires in less time than it takes the fire department to arrive.  Have you considered installing them in your home?

• Are your portable fire extinguishers in good condition and fully charged?

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During the Christmas months  there is a higher risk of fires.

Here are some safety tips

• Christmas Trees - Make sure your Christmas tree is fresh and well watered. Cut the truck at an angle and install the tree in a a large, deep non tip stand well away from fireplaces, exits, and heat sources.  Be shore your tree has a constant supply of water - Check the level daily. If your your tree dries out, remove it promptly and store it away from your house until you can dispose of it.

• Decorative lights - Use lights that bear the label of an independent testing lab.  Throw away sets of lights that have cracked or frayed cords or loose or damaged sockets. Don't over load electrical cords under carpets, across doorways, or near heaters.  Be sure extension cords aren't pinched behind or under furniture, and unplug all decorative lights before leaving your home or going to bed.  Never use electrical lights on a metal Christmas tree.

• Candles - Put candles securely in non-tip candle holders.  Keep candles well away from Christmas trees, decorations, curtains, and other combustibles, and never put candles in windows or near exits.  Don't leave candles burning unattended or within the reach of small children, and blow them out before you leave the room or go the sleep.

• Space heaters - Keep all space heaters and portable heaters at least 3 feet away from anything that can burn - Newspapers, furniture, even walls

• Central Heating - Have furnace installations and all chimneys inspected at least once a year (before the heating season begins) and cleaned as appropriate or whenever you suspect a problem.

• Fire Places - Keep fireplaces fires small, and use a fireplace screen to prevent sparks from flying into the room.  Don't leave leave children alone in a room with a unattended fire.  Never burn trash or paper in a fireplace: burning paper can float up your chimney and onto the roof or start a chimney fire.  Remove ashes in a metal container and don't store ashes indoors.  Every year the New London Fire Department responds to structure fires caused by incorrect disposal of ashes.

Have a happy and safe Holiday Season