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Home My WebLink AboutThe Huron Expositor, 1995-10-11, Page 8S -TNS HURON EXPOSITOR, October 11, 111115 PIZZA TRAIN 527-0180 MAPLEYVOOC MANOR 527-1440 McGAVIN FARM SUPPLY & EQUIPMENT 527-0245 VINCENT FARM EQUIPMENT 527-0120 TREMEER COMMERCIAL PRINTERS. 527-1640 HENSALL DISTRICT - CO -OPERATIVE 527-0770 L. McGRATH PLUMBING & HEATING 522-0493 SPARKY'S PLACE FAMILY DINING 527-1964 BOX & SMITH FUNERAL CHAPEL 527-1142 SILLS t0/4161MRE •New Fire Extinguishers & Recharging Depot •Replacement Batteries 527-1620 • FIRE PREVENTION WEEK OCT. 8-14 W ELP STOP IMPORTANT FARM FIRE SAFETY TIP: Make sure all farm chemicals are safely stored away from extreme temperatures, in secure, leakproof containers. FARM F■ IR' IMS2 Smoke detectors s important & save lives by M. H. Parnu A smoke detector is one of the most important pieces of safety equipment you'll own. As the name implies. it is de- signed to alert you to a fire in its earliest stages and give you a chance to get out of the house. Most fatal fires start at night, when you're asleep. Victims are often overcame by smoke and never even wake up. Seconds can make the difference be- tween life and death. By detect- ing smoke in the early stages of a fire and sounding an alarm, a smoke detector can give you those vital seconds. , While. a smoke detector may look better hidden in a comer or off to the side, it must always be placed where it can work most effectively. Smoke rises, so it's critical to attach the de- tector up on, or near, the ceiling (see manufacturer's recommen- dations). You should install detectors on each level of your home (including the basement), in hallways adjacent to stairs or bedrooms. Avoid placing smoke detec- tors near furnace rooms, kitchens, . and washrooms, where steam can accidentally activate it. The alarm could end up sounding so often that you ignore it, or respond slowly. in an actual fire. Check Your Batteries Regularly A dead battery in your smoke detector leaves you and your family unprotected. Test your alarm monthly to make sure it's working. Hold a candle or in- cense to the alarm until it sounds. If the alarm is battery - powered and doesn't sound, re- place the battery and try again. If it's electrically -operated and SMOKE ALARM doesn't sound, check the fuse and try again. In either case, if the alarm still isn't working, replace the entire unit. A dead unit is worse than none at all, as it can give you a false sense of security. To ensure proper operation, replace the batteries at least once a year. or when you hear intermittent beeping. It's best to change the batteries on a regular schedule, e.g. in the spring and fall with the time changes. Don't use rechargeable bat- teries for smoke detectors; when they loose their charge they won't emit a warning "chirp" Always read the manufac- turer's instructions for specific installation, maintenance, and testing information. And use. only CSA or ULC approved smoke detectors. Keep Smoke Detectors Clean When smoke detectors get plugged up with dirt and dust, they can become inoperable - even if the batteries are stili good. As part of your maintenance. clean out the alarm detection chamber and protective cover with the soft brush attachment on your vacuum, every month or so. Clean smoke alarms more often if there's someone in your house who smokes. FIRE PREVENTION "Never Try To Fight A Fire Alone" ALWAYS KEEP A FRESH BATTERY 44111IIIIIIUdI�a'��'`��` SMOKE DETECTOR For more information on Fire Safety call the following... REMEMBER TO HAVE THEM CHECKED! CHIEF DEP. CHIEF George Garrick Tom Phillips 527-0873 522-0921 CAPTAIN Jim Sills 527-1248 CAPTAIN Rene Dupuis 527-1804 FIREEME527.1NUMBER100 LL-) /OUR EARN ■ I Seaforth & Area Fire Dept•youRl HELP ST • P IMPORTANT INDUSTRIAL FIRE SAFETY TIP: Do not attempt to use the elevators in the building. Always use the stairs in case of a sudden shutdown of power. INDUSTRIAL u RESo How does your chimney stack up? Blocked and improperly vented wood -stove chimneys can lead to carbon monoxide build-up, forcing deadly gases into your home. A blocked . chimney can also cause chim- ney fires. A regular professional in- spection can alert you to trouble spots before they turn into major headaches and potential hazards. It is a good idea to have your chimney inspected and cleaned annually by a .pro- fessional chimney sweep. The best time for cleaning is in the spring,' but fall is also good. A chimney fire could just be waiting to start, needing only . the first fire of the year to ignite the creosote. Look up the chimney with a flashlight and a mirror to check for any obstructions, such as rubble or a bird's nest. If your chimney is clean, you should be able to see daylight., Check to see if your chimney liner is black or coated with • creosote, a tar -like deposit that's caused by burning wet or unsea- soned wood. Creosote can build up in your flue and be ignited by heat; the resulting flash fire could be intense enough to crack the masonry, or generate enough sparks to start a roof fire. Burn only wood that has been split, dried, and seasoned for 6-12 months. Along with being safer, dry wood also ignites faster and burns 25% more effi- cient. You shouldn't be able to smell wood smoke from your fire; all the smoke and as- sociated pollutants should be going up the chimney. In fact, smoke contains toxic chemicals that are dangerous to breathe. Some causes of smoke include: inadequate venting to the out- side, chimney blockages, com- petitioh for air in the house (e.g. exhaust fan in operation), and an insufficiently hot fire. If smoke is spilling into the house, call a professional to diagnose and correct the problem. Check the chimney annually to make sure that the liner isn't worn or cracked. Look for buckling, deformations or cor- rosion of the metal, clay tiles that aren't aligned properly, or holes in the liner. Apart from any fire hazards, a deteriorating chimney could be a hazard to anybody walking next to the house. Install an extra smoke alarm in any room adjacent to the fireplace to detect excessive smoke escaping into the home, as well as a general-purpose fire extinguisher near the fireplace. As winter approache, we all look for ways to keep ourselves and our families warm and safe. Make sure smoke detectors are installed properly and main- tained regularly. Have your wood stove and chimney thoroughly inspected at least once a year. ORF.00R CAMPBELL PHOTO MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY DONATION - Tracy Simpson of the district office of the • Muscular Dystrophy Association of Canada accepts a cheque for $4,012.25 from Dan Pearce of the Seaforth and District Fire Area, while fellow local fireman Jim Sills looks on. The money was raised by toll in Seaforth Labour Day weekend, up from a total of $3,750 last year and $3,000 the year before. Simpson says because of recent government cutbacks the organization's caseload Is increasing so donations are becoming more important. ARCHIE'S SERVICE 527.OT• � 1 SEAFORTH MANOR 527-0030 JIM ETUE INSURANCE 527-0720