October Is National Fire Prevention Month

TRENTON - Across the nation, October is recognized as Fire Prevention Month. To encourage increased fire safety and prevention in the Garden State, the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs' (DCA) Division of Fire Safety has some simple, but important tips for keeping you and your family fire smart and fire safe.

Here are a few fire safety guidelines to remember:

  • Smoke alarms should be installed in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement. The batteries in smoke alarms should be tested every month and replaced every time we change our clocks.

  • Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment such as furnaces, fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, or portable space heaters. Establish a three-foot-wide "Kid Free Zone" around open fires and space heaters.

  • Fires involving clothes dryers are becoming more and more common in recent years. But they are also easy to prevent. Never use the dryer without the lint filter, and be sure to clean out the lint filter before or after each load of laundry.

  • Blow out all candles when you leave the room or go to bed, and avoid the use of candles in the bedroom and other areas where people may fall asleep. Also, keep lit candles at least 12 inches away from anything that can burn.

The Division of Fire Safety serves as the central fire service agency in the State. The Division is responsible for the development and enforcement of the State Uniform Fire Code, as well as for implementing public education and firefighter training programs. For more information, log on to http://www.state.nj.us/dca/dfs/ on the DCA website.

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