Laurel Volunteer Fire Department Fire Safety Tips
If you wish to report a possible hazardous condition, please dial 911. If you
have any fire safety questions or would like more information on any fire
safety issue, please dial
the Laurel Volunteer Fire Department Information Request Line at (301)776-2125.
The information contained on this page is not complete by any means. Please
stop back by again to see what we've added. Thank you.
Return to LVFD home page
- Keep a fire extinguisher in your home and car, and read the directions.
- Dial 911 before attempting to attack the fire yourself, no matter how small
the fire seems.
- Remember that lives are much more valuable than property. If you're out
of the building, STAY OUT!
- Don't smoke in bed.
- Don't leave your cigarettes or other lit smoking materials unattended.
- Keep ashtrays away from curtains, upholstered furniture, and other
combustibles.
- Always look for the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) or Factory Mutual (FM)
labels when purchasing appliances, storage containers or electrical accessories.
- Remember that smoke, heat and toxic gases from fires can kill you long
before flames get to your part of the structure. KEEP LOW when evacuating.
Return to top of LVFD Fire Safety page
Return to LVFD home page
- Set up Evacuation Drills In The Home (EDITH) - practice evacuating your
house, and meeting at the designated point OUTSIDE.
- GET OUT of your house if you have a fire - call 911 from your neighbor's
house.
- Take a walk around your house, shed, garage and property. Repair or
discard any unsafe items, and make sure you have any flammable
materials stored safely.
- Discard properly any soiled cleaning rags or towels. Soiled material can
spontaneously combust under certain conditions.
- Clean your clothes dryer's filter between each load.
- Pull your dryer out from the wall, and ensure that there isn't a dangerous
buildup of lint behind the dryer or in the exhaust hose.
- Make sure that everything you put in the dishwasher is safe for dishwasher
use - plastic can burn from contacting the heating element.
Return to top of LVFD Fire Safety page
Return to LVFD home page
- Take a smoke detector with you, in case your hotel/motel room doesn't have
one installed.
- Take a moment to note the evacuation route(s) and instructions before you
settle in for the night.
Return to top of LVFD Fire Safety page
Return to LVFD home page
- Keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children.
- Teach your children never to play with matches, lighters, or fireworks.
- Teach your children how to call 911, as well as their address and
telephone number.
- Teach your children the "Stop, Drop, and Roll" method to extinguish
flames on themselves.
Return to top of LVFD Fire Safety page
Return to LVFD home page
- Never "Barbecue" or grill indoors on a smoker or barbecue grill. These
devices are intended for outdoor use only.
- Keep your grill at least 30 feet from any structures - for residents of
apartments, condominiums and townhouses, it's the law. For the rest of us,
it's just an excellent idea.
- Don't leave food unattended on the stove.
- Keep dangling clothing away from burners.
- Turn handles on pots and pans so that they can't be knocked off the stove
accidently.
- Keep appliances clean and free of grease and crumbs.
- Make sure your stove is turned off and small appliances unplugged before
leaving the house or going to bed.
Return to top of LVFD Fire Safety page
Return to LVFD home page
- Make sure that storage areas are free from excess clutter. It adds to the
fire load, and can impede your evacuation as well as our attack in case of
an emergency incident.
- Make sure that flammable materials are stored in proper containers, well
away from sources of heat or ignition.
- Don't store gasoline in your house.
Return to top of LVFD Fire Safety page
Return to LVFD home page
- Don't fill your portable gasoline cans in your vehicle - remove the can
from the vehicle.
- When transporting portable gasoline cans, ensure that the container
- is approved for gasoline storage
- is sealed tightly
- is not left in the vehicle for longer than absolutely necessary, especially
on a warm or sunny day.
- If you smell gasoline or suspect a gasoline leak, don't operate the car
until the leak is repaired.
- If you smell smoke or see flames, pull over well off the traveled roadway as
soon as safely possible to do so. Don't attempt to drive any further.
Return to top of LVFD Fire Safety page
Return to LVFD home page
- Replace frayed or cracked electrical wiring.
- Don't run electric power cords under rugs.
Return to top of LVFD Fire Safety page
Return to LVFD home page
- Plug electric space heaters directly into the wall socket, not into
extension cords.
- Place heaters where they will not be knocked over easily.
- Unplug heaters when they are not being used.
- Do not use heaters to dry clothing or other items.
Return to top of LVFD Fire Safety page
Return to LVFD home page
- Make sure your fireplace or woodburning stove is clean and in good
repair before using it.
- Keep all combustible materials well away from the heat.
- Make sure you use the proper fuel for your heating device:
- DON'T use gasoline in a kerosene heater.
- DON'T burn coal in a device meant to burn wood.
- Portable kerosene heaters are illegal in residences in PG county, and are
generally not recommended anywhere.
Return to top of LVFD Fire Safety page
Return to LVFD home page
- Consider installing both a photo-electric and ionization smoke detector in
your house. While photo-electric detectors may react quicker than
ionization detectors, the photo-electric detectors may not detect the black
smoke generated by synthetic materials as quickly as the white smoke generated
by natural materials.
- Check your smoke detectors monthly, and replace the batteries in them
in the spring and fall when you adjust your clocks.
- Install at least one smoke detector on each floor of your house, away
from air vents, and at least six inches away from walls and corners.
- Install smoke detectors near bedrooms.
- If there are any smokers in the house, install a smoke detector in their bedroom.
- If your smoke detector sounds while you are in bed, DON'T SIT UP! Roll
out of bed, and stay low to the floor - remember that the heat and toxic gases
are up higher.
Return to top of LVFD Fire Safety page
Return to LVFD home page
If you burn anything in your house, such as wood, natural gas, propane,
kerosene, or coal,
install a Carbon Monoxide (CO) detector. This device can warn you of
potentially deadly CO gas before the concentration reaches the harmful level.
Learn the warning signs of CO poisoning: redness of the skin, headaches,
dizziness, nausea, weakness, loss of muscle control, chest tightness, heart
fluttering, sleepiness, confusion, vomiting or diarrhea. If more than one
person in the household is sick, and they feel better after being away from
the house for a while, CO poisoning should be suspected. If you suspect CO
poisoning, get out of the house and call the fire department.
Return to top of LVFD Fire Safety page
Return to LVFD home page
Baby-Sitters