Tips during Fire Prevention Week

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Scott Majeski
PuroClean Property Restoration Specialists
(312) 806-9963
smajeski@puroclean.com


Chicago, IL (Grassroots Newswire) September 23, 2009 -- Mark your calendars: Fire Prevention Week is right around the corner (October 4th – 10th). That means it is time for a refresher course on preventing fires in your home and your place of business.

During this time of year, people nationwide may begin using additional electrical devices and other items, such as heating units or holiday decorations. Therefore, PuroClean Property Restoration Specialists explains how careful use of those items can prevent fires on residential and commercial properties in the local community.

"You can never know too much when it comes to preventing fires," said Scott Majeski of PuroClean Property Restoration Specialists. "Fires are more common during this time of year – due to the use of heating items, holiday decorations, and the frequency of cooking for celebratory feasts. That is why we want to educate community members in Chicago."

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, there were an estimated 1.5 million fires that occurred in the country last year. In addition, the Administration notes that heating appliances are the leading cause of winter fires, followed by cooking. And, the use of holiday adornments, such as Christmas trees and decorations, provide additional points of ignition that increase the incidence of holiday fires.

Majeski has provided the following list of tips for people to use as a guideline for fire prevention checks around their homes and places of business:

• Be sure every level of your home or office has a working smoke alarm, and be sure to check and clean it every month.

• Holiday decorations should be made with flame-retardant or non-combustible materials.

• At home, use electrical devices that are in good condition and certified by the Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a trusted source for safety. At work, check with your building manager to ensure electrical circuits will not be overloaded.

• Use extreme caution when burning candles. Make sure they are in sturdy, non-combustible holders, and are kept away from decorations and other combustible materials. Check candles often to ensure they don't burn down too far or drip hot wax. Never leave burning candles unattended.

• Plug cooking appliances directly into an outlet. Never use an extension cord for a cooking appliance, as it can overload the circuit and cause a fire.

• Never use a range or an oven in your home as a supplemental heating device. Not only is it a fire safety hazard, it can be a source of potentially toxic fumes.

• Inspect walls and ceiling near your furnace and along the chimney line. If the wall is hot or discolored, additional pipe insulation or clearance may be required.

"We recommend that local residents and business owners post these tips in a common area, such as the refrigerator door, office, kitchen, or near the utility closet," Majeski said. "Our foremost concern is the safety of our customers and those in our neighborhood. We hope that people will find this information useful, follow the precautions, and spread the word to their families and friends."

If property is damaged by a fire during holiday festivities, or any time, it is important to call a restoration professional immediately. On call 24 hours a day, even on holidays, Majeski of PuroClean Property Restoration Specialists says the faster the response to a property damaged by fire and smoke, the greater the chance of saving property and possessions and minimizing claims.

For more information about PuroClean Property Restoration Specialists, please contact Scott Majeski at (312) 806-9963.

About PuroClean®
PuroClean is a leader in property damage restoration and has earned the trust of property owners, insurance professionals and home service providers throughout the United States and Canada since 2001. Backed by a comprehensive network of nearly 300 franchise offices and a national training and business support center, each PuroClean office responds promptly to property emergencies demonstrating a high degree of professionalism and compassion. PuroClean technicians are thoroughly screened, insured and trained in utilizing the latest in mitigation technology and procedures throughout the remediation process while operating under a strict code of ethics. In addition to serving the needs of property owners, PuroClean offers hundreds of Continuing Education classes each year to insurance professionals and property service providers nationwide. In 2008, PuroClean trained over 7,200 insurance professionals nationwide, helping them earn their Continuing Education credits. For more information, please visit www.PuroCleanChicagoLand.com.