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Published Sunday, November 01, 2009 in Local

Photo by Sarah Fay Campbell

Coweta Public Safety Director Dennis Hammond retired Friday following 32 years with the county. Hammond is acting director of the 911 center, on a part-time basis, until a new director is named. With Hammond are 911 Coordinator Arlene Whisenhunt and Senior Dispatcher Dennis Madrey.

Veteran firefighter offers safety advice

By Sarah Fay Campbell

The Times-Herald

A house fire is one of the most terrifying things that can happen to people.

And though not all fires can be prevented, there are several things you can do to reduce the risk of a fire in your home, said Dennis Hammond, long-time firefighter and Coweta's retiring director of public safety.

"Do an inspection of your home. Check your outlets and make sure you don't have circuits overloaded. Make sure all your electrical appliances are kept clean and free of dust. There are a lot of things we can do as homeowners to give us that protection," Hammond said.

As the air gets cooler, we enter the season of heating-related fires.

"You need to have your heating system checked out. Check your filter and ducts. Make sure they're not blocked and air is able to flow freely both in and out of the system. Servicing your unit is critical," Hammond said. Your heating system should be professionally inspected periodically.

With fireplaces, check your chimney and clean it, if necessary. And make sure the fire is the appropriate size.

"Don't over-fire it. You can build too large a fire in them. Some of them are not designed for the types of fires that some people put in them," Hammond said. Also, make sure to burn the proper type of wood.

Clothes dryers can also be a danger. "Venting of the dryers, sometimes, is restricted or the lint filters are not cleaned properly. Sometimes, dryers are overloaded," Hammond said, or people put inappropriate things in dryers or washers. If something gets hung or caught, it can produce friction. "Friction produces heat, and heat produces fires. It's a chain reaction," Hammond said.

If you have a gas-fired water heater, be sure to keep the area around it clear. Flammable liquids should never be stored anywhere near a water heater, and even dust and lint particles can ignite.

Be sure to keep curtains and anything else flammable far away from space heaters. And keep your household appliances free of dust and grease.

"Some people don't realize the amount of heat produced by normal household appliances, like the refrigerator -- it has to have air space," Hammond said. Every so often, pull the refrigerator off the wall and vacuum out the dust.

You should always take special care with the storage of flammable products such as gasoline and some cleaning products. "All of these things have to be stored properly because they are dangerous," Hammond said.

Christmas decorations can also be a fire hazard. "Throughout the holidays, make sure you're not overloading circuits and that you are using decorations and lights that are suitable," Hammond said. That includes making sure all Christmas lights are certified by Underwriters Laboratories, and not exposing lights that are only for indoor use to the elements.

And for cooking, it's a good idea to keep the handles of pots and pans facing inward, so you don't accidentally knock them off the stove, filled with hot food.

"These kinds of things are not on everyone's mind," Hammond said. "Taking that extra minute to store it properly, clean it properly, use it properly -- goes a long way with safety around your home."

And, of course, be sure you have smoke detectors. All homes should have at least one; larger homes need more.

If Cowetans have "any questions about the placement of smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, or inspections," just call up the fire department.

"These guys are very knowledgeable about what you need to do to make your home safer," Hammond said.

"Give them a call. That's what they're for."