Fire Prevention

By Jenna Curtis, MVEC Safety Director

Not only is October Co-op Month, it is also Fire Safety Month. This is a great time to share some fire prevention reminders and to also share some tips to keep our area firefighters and first responders safe around electricity when responding to emergencies. Did you know that a fire department responds to a fire every 24 seconds in America (per the NFPA)?

Fire Prevention Tips:

• Use electric appliances and devices safely: avoid overloading outlets and replace damaged cords. 
• Practice extension cord safety: don’t use if frayed, don’t plug major appliances and unplug when not using. 
• Practice safe cooking: keep stove area free of flammable items, stay in the kitchen when cooking and keep a fire extinguisher or fire blanket nearby. 
• Never leave a burning candle unattended.

Fire Safety Tips:

• 3 out of 5 home fire deaths are the result of non-working or non-existent smoke alarms. Make sure you have working smoke alarms (and carbon monoxide detectors) on every level and in every bedroom. 
• Make sure you have functional fire extinguishers (and that you have tested them) in your home and that you know how to use them. 
• Have an emergency evacuation plan and safe meeting place for your family in the event of a fire (and practice fire drills).

Tips for our First Responder Members:
We recognize that emergency workers are often the first to
arrive on scene of an accident or fire and it is critical that you keep electricity hazards top of mind as you arrive to assess the scene, even when time is crucial.

This safety reminder is particularly timely as farmers are working long hours during harvest with oversized equipment navigating in and out of fields. With the increased size of agricultural and construction equipment, the potential for machinery to come into contact with electric lines is greater. Please know that all lines are considered energized until a qualified person from an electric utility has determined they are de-energized. Don’t assume that our utility was notified and is enroute—we are not typically called until after the 911 call is placed and our crews must first report to their trucks and then make their way to the scene. For more first responder tips and resources, please visit:
mvec.coop/first-responder-safety.