Wilmette Fire Department
Wilmette Fire Department |
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The Wilmette Fire Department urges all homeowners to install fresh batteries in their smoke detectors when they change their clocks to daylight savings time on March 11. We also ask that you test your smoke detector at least once each month. In addition, some studies are showing that smoke detectors should be discarded and replaced every seven to ten years.
Consider these statistics provided by the U.S. Fire Administration:
It is a law in the State of Illinois that a smoke detector be installed outside of all sleeping areas and on every level of the home. Smoke detectors should be tested at least once a month and the batteries replaced two times a year or whenever the alarm begins to “chirp", signaling that the battery is low.
Right now, in your home, there are probably dozens of hazardous materials that could be very dangerous if you have a fire or could cause a fire if used or stored improperly. Protect yourself and your family by becoming familiar with the hazardous materials in your home.
Let's begin in the bedroom, the last place you would expect to find hazardous materials. Do you have any aerosol cans of hair spray, deodorant, or other personal care products? Hair spray is highly flammable. Never use it near a heat source or open flame. All aerosol cans will explode if exposed to high heat. Nail polish is also flammable. Nail polish and nail polish remover, as well as cotton balls or tissues used to apply them, burn easily if exposed to flame or high heat.
In the bathroom, some disinfectants, such as toilet-bowl cleaners, are also flammable. Drain-cleaning products are extremely caustic which can cause severe burns on contact with the skin. Carefully follow all instructions for use printed on the labels of these products.
In the kitchen, cleaning products should be used and stored with care. Floor and furniture polishes, spot removers and oven cleaners are flammable liquids that can ignite if exposed to high heat or flame.
Your basement, workshop, or hobby area is very likely to contain hazardous materials such as turpentine, mineral spirits and other solvents; oil-based paint, stains and varnishes. Your basement is also likely to contain a furnace and hot-water heater - sources of heat and flame that could ignite vapors from such flammable liquids.
It is best to store all flammable liquids outside your home, in a garage or shed. Always store flammable liquids in approved, labeled safety containers with tight fitting lids. NEVER store flammable liquids in glass jars, which can break easily. Rags soaked with oils or paint thinners should be disposed of after use, or store them in a tightly closed metal container.
NEVER store gasoline in your home. Treat gasoline with extreme caution, since even a tiny spark can ignite gasoline vapors. Store gasoline only in containers approved for this purpose. This also applies to propane tanks used for grills
For information on handling or disposal of home hazardous materials, call the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency at 312-814-6026.
Please refer to Sparky's Corner for more fire safety information and tips. If you have any questions about this, or any other topic, please contact the Fire Marshal, Lieutenant Mark Cacchione at 847-251-1101.