Ask the Expert

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Candle Illustration
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Candle Illustration

What fire safety precautions should my family take at home, especially during the colder months of the year?

"The first thing you should do is to install a smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector on every level of your home and in the bedroom," says Chief Joseph Gray, fire marshal with the Little Rock Fire Department. "And you should test the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors every month."

Smoke is responsible for three out of four fire deaths, a safety brochure from the Little Rock Fire Department notes, and making sure the smoke detectors are working offers extra minutes to escape safely in the event of a fire.

• Families should create a fire escape plan and practice it at least twice a year, he says.

"Also, every room should have at least two escape routes including the windows." Gray says residents should make sure windows are not painted shut.

• Placing fire extinguishers throughout the home is also important.

There are several types of fire extinguishers -- Type A, which extinguishes, wood, paper and fabric fires; Type B for grease, oil, gasoline, petroleum and other flammable liquid fires. Type C extinguishes electrical fires. The ideal one for most homes is type ABC, which will extinguish all three types of fires.

Each year in the United States more than 300,000 house fires occur, most of which are preventable. There are several precautions people can take to lessen their chances of a fire, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

"Make sure to keep trash and chemicals away, and other combustibles away, from your furnace," Gray says.

"Fireplaces, chimneys [and furnaces] should be checked by a certified specialist each year," he says. "And make sure your fireplace opening is covered with a screen or tempered glass door." He also advises homeowners to extinguish all fires completely before going to bed or leaving the house.

Space heaters should always be at least three feet from anything flammable when in use.

"Portable heaters should be plugged directly into the wall and not attached to an extension cord," he says. They should be turned off when the family is sleeping.

In the winter months, more people may include candles in decorations.

"We suggest you use the flameless ones but some people like to have the scent of a real candle," Gray says. "If you burn candles make sure you blow them out before you leave home or go to sleep." It's also a good idea to have the candles on a high shelf where children or pets can't reach them.

During the holidays, another fire hazard can be a real Christmas tree.

"If you use a live Christmas tree, make sure that you have water in the bottom of the pan, because those trees dry out, and once those lights get hot, the dried-out needles can catch on fire," Gray says.

"Just use common sense," Gray concludes. "It's always best to err on the side of caution."

In a worst-case scenario, should someone catch on fire, it's important to remember to stop, drop, roll and cool.

Running fuels the flames and standing up allows the fire to spread to the face. Instead, fold arms high on chest to protect the face, and slowly roll on the floor or ground or in a rug or blanket to help extinguish the flames. For first- burns, cool off with water as soon as possible. Second- and third-degree burns require immediate medical attention.

Do you have a decorating or remodeling question? We'll get you an answer from an authority. Send your question to Linda S. Haymes, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, Ark. 72203 or email:

[email protected]

HomeStyle on 10/22/2016

Upcoming Events