Autumn is upon us. It seems like only yesterday the summer season was in full bloom; warm days, lazy summer nights, picnics, cookouts and fun in the park; the kids out for summer vacation. It was a glorious experience. But now it’s almost over, the kids are back in school and we seem to be mourning the end of summer right along with them. Don’t despair! Summer will be back before you know it. For now we need to prepare for fall. There are many things that are awaiting us in the fall season; cooler weather, colorful leaves and, of course the holidays; Halloween and Thanksgiving are right around the corner. As we look forward to the season, there are things we have to prepare for to keep us secure. Make sure to follow these safety tips for fall.

Time and weather changes

As autumn approaches we need to remember to change our clocks back (if we live in time zones that are affected by Daylight Savings Time). This is a good time to remind ourselves to change the batteries in our smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. While you’re at it, check your fire extinguishers and make sure they’re fully charged. Cooler weather is upon us and it’s important to check your heating devices to make sure they’re in working order.

• Central heating – get your central heating system cleaned and inspected by a certified HVAC contractor before starting it up
• Space heaters – make sure these are situated at least three feet from walls or furniture and far from draperies; don’t put them near combustible items. Never use space heaters to dry objects. Make sure you turn them off and unplug them when not in use.
• Fireplaces – have your chimney inspected for fire safety; have it cleaned by a chimney sweep every fall. Do not use combustible fluids to start a fire in your fireplace and don’t store them nearby. Never leave a fire unattended.
• Holiday decorations – don’t use candles in jack-o-lanterns; instead opt for battery-operated lights. Make sure costumes and holiday decorations are flame retardant.

Outdoor safety

Fire safety is not restricted to indoors, you must also consider outdoor fire safety as well.

• Clean out gutters of buildup and debris
• Never engage in illegal burning of leaves
• Don’t park your vehicle over a pile of leaves; the exhaust could ignite the foliage.
• Don’t store flammable liquids in the home or in an attached garage/shed.
• Remove excess fuel from lawn mowers before storing

For emergency fire damage cleanup

Taking safety precautions can reduce your risk of fire; but there’s no guarantee that your home is 100% safe. In this case it’s always good to have someone to call if the worst happens. Soil-Away Cleaning and Restoration is an IICRC certified company with over 25 years of service. They are qualified to remove soot, repair structural damage caused by fire and water and deal with any smoke damage issues with ease. Call them 24/7 at (603) 641-6555.

Written by E. Aceves