By Jill Sperling

KFR asks people to look, listen and learn during Fire Prevention Week

Oct 10, 2018 | 4:24 PM

KAMLOOPS — Three simple actions could save your life: look, listen and learn. 

That’s the message Kamloops Fire Rescue is hoping to relay during Fire Prevention Week. 

“We’re asking people just to look around their home and look for those different hazards in their home,” said Lyle Weninger, fire safety educator for Kamloops Fire Rescue. “Check your electrical cords, make sure they’re not frayed, they’re not running under a doorway where you’re going to step on them.” 

Weninger says cooking fires are the number one cause of house fires in Kamloops and many blazes are caused by unattended or carelessly placed candles. 

Last week a space heater placed too close to combustible materials caused a fire that destroyed a home on Paulsen Place in Brocklehurst. 

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Because fire can spread so quickly, it’s important to have a working smoke alarm to listen for your cue to leave. 

“You want to change your batteries in your smoke alarm every six months and you want to test your smoke alarm every month,” Weninger said. “Sometimes people think you’re supposed to check your smoke alarm once a year, but you want people checking their smoke alarms at least once a month.”

The smoke alarm itself should be replaced every 10 years. An expiration date can be found printed on the unit. 

Kamloops Fire Rescue also wants people to prepare an escape plan, learning two ways out of every room. 

“Practice your home escape plan, make sure every one knows how to get out either a doorway or a window, so two ways out,” Weninger said. “Practice that with your family, have a place outside that you’re going to meet and make sure everyone gets out and then calls 9-1-1 from outside.”

KFR will be posting safety tips on their Facebook page throughout the week.