By By ANDY HAMILTON / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Local fire officials are reminding residents the first steps to preventing a fire start with the occupants of the home.
Battery-equipped and functioning smoke alarms in proper locations can save lives. Furnaces, space heaters and wood- and corn-burning stoves that are properly installed and operated can safely keep a home warm. And, being aware of overused outlets and damaged extension cords can limit the fire hazards for families.
"Most every fire that occurs in this country is preventable," said Larry Lamb, Niles fire chief. "The best chance we have of saving lives in this community is before it starts."
Lamb said smoke alarm batteries should be changed twice a year and always left in the device. Too many people remove the batteries when a smoke alarm is triggered by heat from cooking and forget to replace them, he added.
A good way to remember is to change the batteries when clocks are moved forward or back in the spring and fall. It is also important to frequently test smoke alarms once a month.
A smoke alarm should be placed on every level of a home and near all sleeping areas. Since smoke and dangerous gases like carbon monoxide rise, the devices should be installed on the ceiling or at least above eye level.
The fire departments of the City of Niles and Niles Township currently have a limited supply of free smoke alarms and will also install the devices at no charge. Lamb said walk-thru inspections by firefighters to point out fire hazards are also available.
"There's basically no excuses. Every room in every house in this city should have smoke detectors," Lamb said.
Niles Township Fire Chief Gary Brovold said newer and remodeled homes are required by building codes to have all smoke alarms attached. So if there is a fire in the kitchen then the main floor smoke alarm will trigger a chain reaction and set off all devices in the home.
He also said studies are finding common smoke alarms with the high frequency alarm signal are not necessarily always efficient in waking up children, sober and alcohol-intoxicated young adults and adults older than 65. Tests are still taking place to determine alternatives to noise alarms and other options being considered are vibrations and flashing lights, however he reaffirmed the importance of always having working smoke alarms in the home.
"There is concern, but definitely a smoke alarm is better than no smoke alarm," Brovold said.
That point was made clear one week ago in a Goshen, Ind. fire that claimed the lives of a mother and two of her children. The rented home they were living in had four smoke alarms, all of which had batteries that needed replacing.
"People don't realize how important it is to push the button once a month and change the batteries twice a year," Lamb said.
Another key in surviving a fire is having an escape plan for everyone in the residence, including the available exits in each room – especially bedrooms – what to shout while in the home moving toward an exit and where to meet once everyone is outside. Second floor bedrooms should be equipped with a fire escape ladder and residents of the home should practice escape routines, Lamb said.
"It's all about getting people up and out as soon as possible," he added.
Preventing fires before they happen is equally important as escaping them.
Lamb said there are important measures and manufacturers' directions to follow with furnaces, space heaters, kerosene heaters, wood stoves and fireplaces. Proper installation and regular inspections should be top priorities for all home heating devices, he said.
"We have to realize we live in cardboard boxes with candles."
People should also avoid branching too many plugs off one outlet, make sure to discard damaged or frayed extension cords, be aware of lit cigarettes and overflowed ashtrays, keep lighters away from children, and only burn candles when they are in the room, Lamb said.
"[Candles are] different than other kinds of fire starters because they are already in the flame stage. It doesn't take much for a candle to start a fire that takes over the whole room," Lamb said.
Anyone with questions on home fire safety and prevention can call the Niles Fire Department at (269) 683-0160 or the Niles Township Fire Department at (269) 683-3311.