Maryland

Fall into Fire Safety Habits

October 7-13 is National Fire Prevention Week

State Farm wants to remind its policyholders that the start of cooler temperatures is the perfect time to review their fire safety plan and make sure their family is prepared in case of an emergency.

Fire Extinguisher –Have an “ABC” dry chemical fire extinguisher on each level of your home, including one in the kitchen.

Smoke Alarms – Place at least one smoke alarm on every floor, including one in every occupied bedroom. In the kitchen, placing the smoke detector away from the stove will prevent false alarms. But smoke alarms won’t help if they don’t work; don’t forget to use the change of the clocks to change the batteries and replace your smoke detectors after 10 years. 

Fireplaces – Before you curl up in front of the fireplace, prepare it for the winter season. Have your chimney swept annually, and make sure you have a sturdy screen to prevent sparks from flying into the room. Also, allow fireplace and wood/pellet/coal stove ashes to cool before disposing in a metal container.

Candles – Keep lit candles away from materials that could easily catch fire. Never light candles when you’re feeling drowsy—accidentally falling asleep plays a role in 12 percent of all candle fires. If you want a little bedtime glow, opt for battery-operated candles.

Have a plan – If a fire strikes, you won’t have much time to react. Smoke inhalation can overwhelm a child or adult in less than two minutes. Be prepared by making a fire evacuation plan with your family and conducting drills. 

October 7-13 is National Fire Prevention Week, established to commemorate the 1871 Great Chicago Fire that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres in October of that year.

About State Farm®

State Farm and its affiliates are the largest provider of car insurance in the U.S. and is a leading insurer in Canada. In addition to providing auto insurance quotes, their 17,800 agents and more than 65,000 employees serve 81 million policies and accounts – more than 79 million auto, home, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and nearly 2 million bank accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is also available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 43 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com or in Canada http://www.statefarm.ca.