Nor'easters can arrive on the Jersey Shore any time from October to April. The storm itself is only part of the risk. When power goes out, households reach for space heaters, candles and generators, and that is when home fires become more likely.
Check every alarm
Test each smoke alarm and replace any that are more than ten years old. Interconnected hardwired alarms with battery backup are the best choice for multi-story homes, because an alarm on the ground floor also sounds in the bedrooms upstairs.
Keep fire tools where fires start
Hang a fire blanket beside the stove and mount an ABC extinguisher near the kitchen exit, with a second in the garage. Everyone in the house should know where they are and how to use them.
Plan a second way out
Every bedroom needs two exits. For second-floor rooms, a folding escape ladder stored near the window turns a frightening situation into a manageable one. Practice the plan once with the whole family.
Heat safely
Keep space heaters three feet from anything that can burn, plug them straight into the wall, and choose models with tip-over and overheat shutoff. Never run a generator inside or in an attached garage.
Pieces from this story
Dry Chemical Fire Extinguisher$54.99
Prepared Hero Emergency Fire Blanket$39.98
First Alert Hardwire Smoke Alarm$74.25
Kidde Fire Escape Ladder$53.99Questions? Visit us at 237 40th St, Sea Isle City, NJ 08243, USA or call +1 609-263-2330.
