TigerChef

The flames of a fire, in a romantic, poetic setting such as a fireplace, campfire, etc., can be beautiful and relaxing. However, if the right precautions are not taken, fire can be dangerous, disastrous and a person’s worst nightmare. It can turn a person’s world up-side-down within seconds. Here are some safety measures that we can take so that this way we can enjoy the beauty of fire. 
 

1. We all know that candles aren’t safe. The problem is that we don’t realize how unsafe jar candles can be. Jar candles seem to give people a sense of security since they are enclosed. What can happen to a mason-jar candle is that the flame super-heats the glass, which possibly will result in the glass exploding.   In this case, melted wax oozes out, along with the metal tab that contains the wick, which can then ignite the surface. When this scenario takes place, and it does, homeowners are always shocked because they thought that the jar offered foolproof protection. In reality, any candle that is three quarters of the way melted poses a risk and should be doused and discarded.

2. It may not be on top of our minds, but fires can start in the laundry room- often because of problems with dryer vents. Lint can and does collect in unexpected places. Your best defense is to check, every now and then, where the dryer vent attaches to the back of the appliance and the wall to make sure that it is securely attached. In the event that you find it to be loose, clean away all the lint from around the surrounding area and tighten the clamp using a screwdriver.

3. Adapters + Power Strips = Trouble. When too many cords are plugged into the same outlet, it can cause a circuit overload. A power strip that has additional adapters plugged in, in order to be able to add more wires, is at very high risk of causing a fire. The amount of current running through an overloaded outlet is more than it can handle. What happens is that the wire overheats and catches fire. Use only as many outlets as the power strip allows, and never use adapters with it.

4. Cords can fray when wired under rugs. Foot traffic causes the carpet to rub against the cord, and over time, from all the rubbing, the cord’s wires become exposed and can then trigger a fire. All cords are vulnerable to this problem. Therefore, you should never run a wire under a rug or carpet. It’s a recipe for danger.

5. Everybody knows that fire can’t compete with water. However, when it comes to a grease fire, water just seems to intensify the fire. What makes grease fires especially dangerous is the fact that they spread so quickly. Instead of tossing water on a grease fire, toss handfuls of baking soda, which will smother the flames. People know to place a lid over a grease fire, but baking soda works just as well and is safer since it lets you keep your distance and there is less of a chance of your getting burned. It’s a smart choice to always have a full box on hand, just in case.

Filed under: How-To • General

Tags: fire