Nearly three of every five home fire deaths occur from fires in homes with either no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. The Laramie Fire Department (LFD) aims to raise fire safety awareness during Fire Prevention Month this October with tips and education that help protect homes from fires.

With unattended cooking as the number one cause of house fires, fire safety must not be ignored. Ahead of the busy holiday season, often celebrated around food, here are practices to implement during Fire Safety Month to ensure homes and their inhabitants stay safe: 

• Install a smoke detector in every sleeping room and hallway in your home and ensure batteries are checked regularly. 
• Never leave a hot stove unattended, keep a fire extinguisher nearby, and remove flammable items from the area.  
• Get wood-burning stoves and chimneys serviced and cleaned. Lack of maintenance can result in unwanted fires and possible fatalities. 
• Ensure proper usage of interior and exterior lights; i.e., don’t use outdoor lights on your indoor Christmas trees.  

LFD also recognizes Fire Prevention Week from October 6^th to 12^th. This year’s campaign, through the National Fire Protection Association, focuses on ensuring smoke alarms are installed and work properly in each home.

“Fire Prevention Week is essential in Laramie because it empowers our community with the knowledge and tools to prevent tragedy. With our unique weather conditions and rural landscape, proactive fire safety can save lives, and property, and preserve the natural beauty of our region,” says LFD Shift Commander, Gus Stonum.

When it comes to home smoke alarms, LFD encourages Laramie residents to follow the National Fire Protection Association’s three-step guide to smoke alarm safety: install, test, and replace.

1. Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, hallway, and on each level of a home.
2. Test smoke alarms every month by pushing the test button.
3. Replace all smoke alarms every 10 years (or when they stop working) and batteries every six months.

These three simple steps could save lives and help protect the lives of Laramie residents. Working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors at home is critical for fire safety as they are the first line of defense. Additionally, because carbon monoxide is the number one cause of accidental poisoning in the U.S., LFD encourages residents to reach out for questions on installing smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in their homes at https://www.cityoflaramie.org/93/Fire. For more information on fire safety please visit https://www.cityoflaramie.org/235/Life-Safety-Fire-Prevention.