Make your home safer with free fire evaluation
The Bensenville Fire Protection District No. 2 wants to make your home safer.
It's launching a new prevention program that encourages residents to schedule free fire and emergency proofing evaluations. Residents can call the fire department and request that someone visit their home and conduct a safety inspection or draw up an emergency escape plan.
"It's an excellent program but people typically don't want it because they are afraid of being fined," Bensenville Fire Chief Mike Spain said. "But if they call us, there's no fine."
Inspectors may point out too many extension cords, candles placed in dangerous locations or inoperative smoke detectors. They also can make suggestions about where to place fire extinguishers, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, sprinklers and other safety measures.
The fire department is taking preventive safety measures to a new level, Spain said. It recently won the Life Safety Achievement Award from the Residential Fire Safety Institute.
The award recognizes a district or fire department for activities that help reduce the number of lives lost in residential fires.
"We are pleased and proud of the residents of Bensenville because they've become extremely fire safety conscious."
Bensenville qualified for this award because nobody died in its district in a structure fire that year. It responded to 17 structure fires in 2006, Spain said. The total number of calls, both fire and ambulance, totaled 2,989.
"The reality is that if we can help people understand the safety concerns, it's going to make a better and safer community," Spain said. "That's what our goal is."
Fire prevention tips
• Candles are the No. 1 cause of fires. Never leave a room with a burning candle. Do not place them near curtains, on a stove or on paper. Be especially careful with gel candles. If left in sunlight, they can spontaneously combust and start a fire.
• A smoke detector should be installed in each bedroom, and one on each floor of the house.
• Carbon monoxide detectors are important, especially in newer homes. Many homes are now extremely energy efficient, but that may lead to carbon monoxide buildup.
• Furnace filters should be cleaned or replaced regularly.
• Place one fire extinguisher on each floor of the home. It should be stored away from heating elements. For example, do not place a fire extinguisher next to or above a stove. It will be more difficult to grab in the event of an emergency. You may have to pass through a fire to get to it and may be too hot to touch.