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Fire Department Update Put a FREEZE on Winter & Holiday Fires Home fires occur more in winter than in any other season. As you stay cozy and warm and celebrate this winter, be fire smart •Cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and home injuries. •The leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking. •Heating equipment is involved in 1 in every 7 home fires and 1 in every 5 home fire deaths. •Install and test smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms at least once a month. Working alarms save lives! •Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from any heat source like fireplaces, wood stoves, radiators or space heaters. •More than half of the home decoration fires in December are started by candles. •Although Christmas tree fires are not common, when they do occur, they are dangerous. On average, 1 of every 52 reported home Christmas tree fires resulted in death. •A heat source too close to the Christmas tree causes 1 in every 4 winter fires. •Make sure your tree is at least 3 feet away from heat sources like fireplaces, radiators, space heaters, candles or heat vents. Also, make sure your tree does not block exits. •Get rid of your tree after Christmas or when it is dry. Adopt a Fire Hydrant - Help Us Help You or Your Neighbors! Chances are, it’s going to snow this winter in Lake Elmo! If there was an emergency in your neighborhood, could firefighters locate the closest fire hydrant? We ask residents to help your firefighters by clearing snow and ice a minimum of 3 feet around fire hydrants and clear a pathway to the street. This will allow firefighters to focus on fire department operations during emergencies when every second is critical. Smoke Alarms at Home Smoke alarms are a key part of a home fire escape plan. When there is a fire, smoke spreads fast. Working smoke alarms give you early warning so you can get outside quickly. •Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old. •Install smoke alarms in every bedroom. They should also be outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home. Install alarms in the basement. Large homes may need extra smoke alarms. •A closed door may slow the spread of smoke, heat, and fire. •It is best to use interconnected smoke alarms. When one smoke alarm sounds, they all sound. •Test all smoke alarms at least once a month. Press the test button to be sure the alarm is working. •Current alarms on the market employ different types of technology including multi-sensing, which could include smoke and carbon monoxide combined. •Today’s smoke alarms will be more technologically advanced to respond to a multitude of fire conditions, yet mitigate false alarms. •A smoke alarm should be on the ceiling or high on a wall. Keep smoke alarms away from the kitchen to reduce false alarms. They should be at least 10 feet (3 meters) from the stove. •People who are hard-of-hearing or deaf can use special alarms. These alarms have strobe lights and bed shakers. For the most up-to-date information and activities of your fire department, follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lakeelmofd/