Today Is Fire Prevention Day

Today is Fire Prevention Day and officials say it is a good time to remember some important fire safety tips.

According to the Georgia Arson Control Board, those tips include the following:

• Always be sure that you have a smoke detector that is working with fresh batteries.
• Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn the stove off.
• Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace with a fire screen, wood stove or portable space heater.
• Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters.
• Replace or repair damaged or loose electrical cords.
• If you smoke, smoke outside.
• Use deep, wide ashtrays on a sturdy table.
• Blow out all candles when you leave the room or go to bed. Avoid the use of candles in the bedroom and other areas where people may fall asleep.

Fire Prevention Day is part of Fire Prevention Week, which started on Sunday and runs through Saturday.