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Fire-proofing your house:
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Build roof and exterior walls of fire-resistant material.
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Treat exposed wood in roofs, siding, decks or trim with
UL-approved
fire-retardant chemicals.
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Install electrical lines underground if possible.
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Install smoke detectors on every level of your home
and near bedrooms.
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Consider building stone walls that can act as heat
shields and deflect flames.
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Swimming pools and patios can buffer the house
from fire.
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Protective shutters or heavy fire-resistant drapes can
stop embers from being
blown into house when flames shatter windows.
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Maintenance:
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Work on your property regularly. You never know
when a disaster will strike.
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Remove leaves and trash from under buildings.
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Regularly dispose of newspapers and rubbish.
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Stack firewood at least 100 feet away and uphill
from your home. Use only UL-approved wood stoves.
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Store gasoline, oily rags and other flammable materials
in approved safety cans.
Place cans in a safe location away from the base
of buildings.
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Inspect chimneys at least twice a year. Clean them
at least once a year. Keep the dampers in good working order.
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Do Not Panic:
Be ready to evacuate. Tune your radio to fire reports and listen for the
order to evacuate. Don’t be a hero. When fire fighters tell you it’s
time to go, they mean it. Until then, get busy and protect
your home.
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