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Fire Safety

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How can I protect my home and family from fire?
Most apartment fires are caused by grease on stoves, unsupervised children, or careless smoking. Tragedy can be prevented by practicing these home fire safety tips every day:

  • Clean grease off of your stove so it can't catch fire while you are cooking.
  • Don't leave food cooking if you can't be there to watch it.
  • Never store flammable or combustible products in your unit.
  • Never smoke a cigarette, pipe, or cigar in bed.

How do I avoid hidden fire dangers around my home?
Fires can be prevented by spotting dangerous items around your housing unit and taking action to make them safe. Here are a few suggestions about common hazards:

  • Keep your TV set, stereo, kitchen appliances, switches, and electrical outlets in a safe condition. Replace frayed or broken plugs and cords.
  • Don't run electrical cords under your rugs or where people walk.
  • Move rags, paper, trash, and other materials that burn easily away from stoves, room heaters, water heaters, TV sets, and other appliances that get hot.
  • Avoid leaving children alone at home, where they can start fires by playing with matches, lighters, and candles.
  • Don't overload electrical outlets. Each outlet is designed to safely handle only one lamp or appliance at a time. Overloaded circuits sometimes cause fires.
  • Do not store anything in the water heater or furnace closets.
  • Do not block access to the water heater or furnace closets.

How do I get out of my unit in case of a fire?
All exits must be clear so you can get out in case of a fire. The sliding side of bedroom windows must not be blocked by any furniture or obstruction that cannot be moved easily.

How does the smoke detector help protect my family?
All housing units have smoke detectors and are inspected quarterly for fire hazards. The alarm sometimes makes a loud, annoying noise during cooking or other normal activities. If this happens, open your windows and doors to let in the fresh air. Do not disconnect the smoke detector - this is grounds for termination of your lease!