National Fire Prevention Week is October 6th-12th as Perry Fire Chief Grason Hill gives safety tips to remember so that homes do not catch on fire this fall and winter seasons.

Hill tells Raccoon Valley Radio that with the fall season bringing cooler temperatures, people should have their furnaces checked by a professional before using them. He mentions that people can take the initiative to clean the filters on the furnace as well as clearing debris in the chimney. 

When it comes to smoke detectors, Hill emphasizes to confirm that each one properly functions. He explains that detectors should be placed outside of all bedroom doors, in the living room, the bathroom, and the kitchen. However, Hill offers a word of caution about being too close to kitchen surfaces. 

“You’ll want to keep them a little farther away because humidity and stuff can affect those, and you know how it is when you’re cooking, sometimes people have tendencies to burn something. It’s just a nuisance to have a smoke detector kicking off because of something burning on the stove.”

Hill describes that many materials are made up of fabric which can cause fires to happen at a faster rate, concluding that people have two to three minutes to escape their homes in a safe manner.