Summer fire safety tips

As the weather starts to warm up, the Brick Township Department of Fire Safety advises people to look around the inside of their homes and ask themselves the following fire safety questions:

How did the windows and doors fair over the winter — are they easy to open in case of a fire emergency? Do they need to be repaired or replaced?

Is there as escape plan and do you have two ways out? Now is the time to consider a family egress plan. Practice with your family and have a safe meeting place.

When was the last time you checked the batteries in your smoke detector and in your carbon monoxide detector? (Hopefully on or about April 2, when you changed the clocks in your home.) It is also time to clean the dust from the covers of the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

When was the multipurpose fire extinguisher last used? Does it need to be serviced or replaced? Is it placed in the kitchen, easily accessible?

Are any electrical cords becoming brittle, worn or damaged? Replace them.

Do you have too many electrical appliances plugged into an outlet? Time to remove overloads.

The clothes dryer has probably been running all winter — when was the last time you cleaned out the exhaust duct, damper and space under the dryer?

Check and have your air conditioners serviced before the weather gets too hot. Don’t wait to the last minute!

Did the outside of your home suffer damage over the winter? Time to assess any potential fire hazards. (Leaking roofs, damaged gutters may allow water to leak into electrical wiring).

Is there an accumulation of debris (leaves, brush, etc.) in the yard that could be easily ignited? Time to rake or dispose of them properly. (Remember, no open burning is allowed).

When was the last time you used the barbecue grill? Are there any leaks or cracks? Was the propane tank stored properly?

Check for leaks and proper use before lighting propane tanks and barbecue grills. Do not store tanks in the hot sun, and keep them from all heat sources.

Are there old rags and debris piled around the gas can and lawn mower? Get rid of them now. Remember when refueling your mower to insure that the engine is off and cool. Don’t spill gasoline on an engine and don’t smoke while pouring gasoline.

Outdoor machine use:

Fuel must be stored and dispensed into the right container. Red is for gasoline. Make sure the cap is on properly. Don’t leave the fuel in the hot sun when transporting it. Store all fuels away from heat sources.

Does your garage need a spring-cleaning? Insure that hazardous chemicals, paints and poisons are marked and stored high off the floor to prevent accidents. Remember to dispose of any leaking or expired chemical properly (Contact the Brick Public Works Department for proper disposal procedures).

Are you going camping this summer? Camping and cooking are commonplace when the weather gets warm. Keep children and adults a safe distance from open flames to insure they don’t get burned. Closely monitor the campfires and cooking grills to insure safety. Have a water bucket handy.

Dispose of any fireworks you might find. Leave fireworks up to the professionals to use. Enjoy watching them but don’t handle them.

Agree to review your fire escape plan with your family. Does everyone know where to meet in case the smoke detector and/or carbon monoxide detector goes off? Where is your meeting place? Who do you call in case of an emergency (911)?

Take the time now to insure you have a fire safe spring and summer. Details and questions: (732) 458-4100.