Firewise by Ed Brown

TGO FIREWISE INFORMATION

RESIDENTS REDUCING WILDFIRE RISKS Visit tgocsa.org to view Firewise video and brochure or TGO Firewise on Facebook

Remember, you must have written permission to remove any living shrubs or trees beyond your property line. Contact CSA if you have questions about removal and consult the Architectural Review Board before making landscape changes.

Smoke Alarms in TGO

by Ed Brown

Smoke Alarms are your second line of defense against fire in your TGO home. Of course, the first line is maintaining a Firewise Property outside the house. There are a number of preventative measures you can take to mitigate WILDFIRE on the outside and to keep it outside. This Fire Prevention takes many forms, all past subjects of this column: “Lean, Clean & Green Landscaping” around structures, the “30 foot Defensible Zone” around your home, “Fireproof Mulch” in plant beds, “Clean Roofs and Down Spouts” and other defensive priorities. At night, with the family asleep, no one notices the slight smell of smoke in the air. The cause could be an electrical short circuit caused by a mouse chewing the wiring. (Ask your Nature Center staff! It happened!) Regardless, your home SMOKE ALARM will know and will alert the household to the danger.

Smoke Alarm Tips:

1. Install Smoke Alarms in every bedroom. They should be outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home. 2. Large homes may need extra smoke alarms. 3. It is best to use interconnected smoke alarms. When one sounds, they all sound. 4. Test all smoke alarms at least once a month. Change batteries once a year. 5. Some smoke alarms alert for Carbon Monoxide as well. 6. Smoke alarms should be installed on the ceiling or high on the wall (heat and smoke rise). 7. Keep smoke alarms away from the kitchen to reduce false alarms from cooking. They should be installed at least 10 feet from the stove. 8. Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old. 9. People with a hearing deficit can use special alarms. These alarms have strobe lights and bed shakers. 10. Closed doors may slow the spread of smoke, heat, and fire. 11. If you suspect a fire is behind a closed door, feel the door surface with the back of your hand. If it’s too hot to touch, keep the door closed until charged hose lines and protected firefighters are in place. Smoke Detectors are a key part of a HOME FIRE ESCAPE PLAN and a solid Second Line of Defense against home fires for you and your family!

Firewise Committee - Contact Information

Tim Graham Chairman 561-262-8833 Donald Payne 407-222-0583 Ed Brown 321-383-8253 Mike Lavery 585-472-1538 Ron Peoples 407-509-0486 Betty Salter 321-223-8073 Ed Olefirowicz 919-360-3174 Karri Olefirowicz 919-265-4315 Christopher Miller 407-375-8310 O.M. Butch Jones 804-514-4458 Albert McGuire 810 338 5646 Sharon Maloney 770-294-6362