I was in the midst of putting together an article about the typical winter prep suggestions like turning off and draining outdoor spigots, disconnecting garden hoses, air sealing windows, and breaking down what frequently causes ice dams when I smelled the smoke.
I then looked out my window and saw the smoke. And I think to myself,” it’s way too warm to burn a boatload of plastic.”
This begins my article. My neighbor’s house caught on fire. Everybody is safe, the family cat “Bob” took refuge under my ‘79 International Scout in the barn where I find him sometimes. He’s an aloof guy and for the most part, has stopped peeing on my dropcloths. I believe we have come to a silent understanding. The home appears to be a total loss. Five towns responded and a backhoe was called in to pull the metal roof off to get to the burning rafters.
No word yet as to what started the fire, but I will use this as an opportunity to convey what I know about the fire safety code in no particular order. You may have heard this before but…. Smoke detectors only work if they have power to them. Hard wired, interconnected, photo electric, with battery back-up is the standard. It is a good idea to test them monthly.
There currently is no “National Change Your Smoke Detector Battery Day” but it is recommended by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to replace old batteries with new ones every six months and replace the detector itself every 10 years. It is a common First Responder recommendation to change the batteries in your alarms when Daylight Savings begins in the spring and ends in the fall, as this is an easy way to remember to do it twice each year.
Egress windows for bedrooms
In Maine, egress windows must meet the following minimum size. A minimum of 5.7 Square Feet, a minimum height of 24 inches, a minimum width of 20 inches, and be no more than 44 inches above the finished floor. These minimums are not based entirely on the occupant’s ability to escape but by the fire/rescue personnel, and their gear, to enter the building.
Fire extinguishers
Our friends at NFPA have some more recommendations. A multipurpose ABC, dry chemical extinguisher is a good choice for homes but needs to be readily accessible, stored away from a heat source, and kept out of reach of children and a certain Black Lab named Misha (buy me a beer and I’ll tell you the story). You should also consider keeping an additional “Class K” extinguisher in your kitchen for cooking fires. Class K extinguishers use alkaline chemicals to mix with cooking oils and fats to form a foam that cools the fire. In an emergency baking soda or salt can be used only if the fire is small. It takes a lot of baking soda to do the job, so be sure to sprinkle in an even layer. The heated powder releases Carbon Dioxide which smothers the flame.
Plan for fire emergency
Pull together everyone in your household and make a plan. Walk through your home and inspect all possible exits and escape routes. Households with children should consider drawing a floor plan of your home, marking two ways out of each room, including windows and doors. You can share your updated floor plan with the town office, so they have it in your property file. Rescue personnel can pull that floor plan en route and be able to navigate through the home more quickly than they could otherwise.
This is just a short list of what you can do to prepare for a worst-case scenario. When it happens, it happens so fast there is little time to think. Preparation is the key.
Warren O'Shea is the owner of O’Shea Builders LLC, Maine’s most award-winning remodeling contractor. He has 35-plus years of residential remodeling experience. He is a certified home inspector and has been featured on HGTV, Food Network, and Maine Cabin Masters. He is a recipient of the Portland Police Department’s “Citizen Award,” and is a staunch consumer advocate. Warren has, and continues to, co-author articles for nationally distributed trade magazines. <
No comments:
Post a Comment