Sage Advice
1 - smoke in bed- This one is worst because you will burn up also.
2 - smoke while resting on the couch or an open recliner watching TV.
3 - cook for supper,leave the pot on the stove and go watch TV (How can this happen?) (Gas Stove) a pot boils over, extinguishing the flame under it. Gas continues to come out pilot light causes an explosion (Electric Stove) a pot boils over causing an electrical short circuit; sparks cause grease under stove top to catch fire
4 - empty all the ash trays into the trash and go to bed.
5 - leave candles or any open flame device burning and go visit your neighbor. The dog and cat are left inside.
6 - leave all flame producing device and matches where a child can reach or find them.
7- Install beautiful fluffy curtains on the window behind, next to the stove, or near a wall heater.
8 - have no fire extinguishers any place in the house. (Water will not put out a grease fire on the stove.)
9 - use ANY flammable liquid you like as a cleaning agent inside the house and store them under the sink. Make sure the kids see where it is and what you use it for.
Let's go to school.
- (What is A WATT?) A watt is the incoming electric voltage times the size of the fuse or breaker (AMPS), usually 110 volts in X 15 amp fuse =1650 Watts available at each plug-in protected by that Circuit.
- (What is a CIRCUIT) a number of plug-in receptacles protected by one fuse or breaker.
No circuit should exceed 1650 Watts at incoming volts of 110V and fused at 15A or the fuse or breaker will blow and the risk of a fire at a receptacle can happen. Every time a fuse or breaker blows some damage has been done to the receptacle that caused it to blow/ lowering the circuit load and increasing fire danger each time Note About Incoming Voltage
Do not assume that your incoming voltage is 110 volts, that depends on the function of the transformer at the top of the pole feeding your house-- it can vary and be as low as 108 volts or as high as 116 volts. A simple electric meter stuck into one of your outlets will tell you exactly what your incoming voltage is. than you can use the calculation to determine what your circuit load is in your house. Volts times amps equals Watts
Extension cords need to be able to carry the load of the thing being plugged in. That is ---- a lamp---- a TV ---- a floor heater. The lamp bulb = 100 watts; a TV= 400 to 500 watts; a floor heater= 750 to 1500 watts. If not, the electric cord can heat up and spark, and start the wall outlet,the rug or the floor on fire. Never plug in the big watt things unless the cord is rated to carry that load.
All extension cords have a rating. Question to ask also--OK the cord is big enough but will the circuit be overloaded if I plug this thing in? If yes, shut off the TV, the computer, the toaster oven if they are on, then plug it in.
10 - Overloading a circuit or failure to use an extension cord large enough to carry the load of the appliances being used. Note: you will see the report on TV, this fire was, "an electrical fire"
11 - fail to have your furnace,wood stove,open fire place and chimney inspected and cleaned once a year. Only costs $150 or $12.50 a month. A small price to pay to prevent the loss of a multi thousand dollar house: Note you will see the report on TV this fire was, "a chimney fire"
A quick closing by me to you. A smoke and Carbon Monoxide alarm on every floor of your house is a better investment than any you can make on the stock market. The lives it may save could be yours and your children. My dad had a one inch diameter hemp rope coiled up and tied to a radiator under a window on the third floor of the house I grew up in. When asked, "Why?" his reply was always just in case!!!!!
Buy the alarms---just in case!!!!!!