Most fires occur at night, and most fatalities are from smoke inhalation and poisonous gasses rather than flames. Within minutes, superheated smokewill reach temperatures of several hundred degrees.

Remember these home safety reminders: Use caution if you smoke. Smoking is the leading cause of home firefatalities.

Install smoke detectors. Replace batteries twice a year. Detectors areeffective and needed, especially since most fires occur at night. Make sureyou have detectors at the entrances to sleeping areas.

Bedroom windows should open easily from the inside.

Don’t overload electrical circuits.

Be alert in the kitchen. Don’t leave the stove unattended. Don’t try tocarry a grease fire. Keep a small fire extinguisher in the kitchen Do not store flammable liquids or fuels inside your home or in your utility room.

Pre-plan and discuss escape routes with your family, especially the young.

Don’t run through super-hot smoke.

Crawl under smoke.

Roll to put out clothing if on fire.

Don’t open a hot door, escape by an alternate route.

Don’t stop to get items, get to safety instead.

If you can’t exit a room, close the door and seal cracks around the bottom or vent. Breathe fresh air at a window and dial 9-1-1 if possible. Signal fromthe windows to alert rescuers.

Practice what you know about fire safety.

MIKE WILLIAMS, who writes this column every Wednesday in L’Observateur, is a local State Farm insurance agent.

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