With our unusually cold winter, many Smithtown residents are spending more time indoors. This is an excellent time of the year to work in your home to remove clutter. Unwanted or improperly stored items can lead a dangerous path if a fire in your home occurs.
Not only does clutter provide fuel for a possible fire, it can be difficult to get past should a fire occur. Clutter doesn't just complicate your family's escape from a fire—it can cause harm to Smithtown firefighters who are coming into your home to put the fire out. Remember, they'll have no idea what all these things are blocking their way, and could be caught in the smoke and flames. • Is there any furniture blocking potential exits? Move furniture, storage cabinets, paper, bicycles, boxes, books, toys, plants away from exit doors, hallways, stairs, foyers, and windows that lead to fire stairs and escape routes. • Clean up stacks of paper and don't let it build. If you have paper, newspapers, magazines, catalogs and mail, recycle and discard as many un-needed papers as possible. • Do not store paper, wood or fabric near open flames or heat sources, such as stoves, boilers, electric space heaters, candles or fireplaces. Sparks and embers could fly out and ignite anything close. • Keep wastebaskets at least 3 feet away from heat sources, such as candles, stoves, electric space heaters, fireplaces and boilers. • Donate or discard the old clothes that have been lying around. • Move living room furniture, beds, desks, curtains, pillows and other wood and upholstered items at least 3 feet from heat sources and open flames, especially electric space heaters and candles. • Make sure bedroom sheets and blankets are well away from any heat sources. • During the fall and after a snow storm, clear the vents for the dryer, furnace, stove, and fireplace from leaves and snow buildup. • Cover the fireplace when in use with a closed screen or glass doors to prevent sparks or embers from flying out and igniting anything in its path. • Keep aerosol cans, cleaning supplies and chemicals such as paint cans away from heat sources and open flames.
