Time and again, fires with considerable damage and personal consequences for those affected can be traced back to avoidable causes. With just a few tips, you can help prevent fires yourself!
General information on fire protection
Pay attention to this:
- that corridors and stairwells are always free of objects such as baby carriages, bicycles, cardboard boxes, furniture or similar. Corridors and stairwells are escape routes that must be unobstructed in the event of an escape. They are not storage rooms.
- that doors in these escape routes are kept closed at all times. Doors along escape routes are usually designed to resist the spread of smoke and fire when closed.
- that your car does not block access to buildings or is parked in front of or above hydrants.
- that the safety equipment (fire alarms, smoke and heat extraction systems, extinguishing water pipes, fire extinguishers) in your home are not damaged.
- that children do not play with fire or damage safety equipment.
Take care when handling fire
- Smokers should always use ashtrays made of non-flammable material, never the waste paper basket or similar.
- Never leave open fires and other heat sources unattended.
- Immersion heaters, irons, hobs etc. are powerful sources of heat and just as dangerous as open fires.
Fire protection with smoke alarms
Smoke detectors - saving lives at home...
According to the Lower Saxony Building Code (Section 44), smoke alarms have been mandatory in all homes for bedrooms, children's rooms and hallways since January 1, 2016.
Every day you read that a smoke alarm has detected a fire in Germany and saved lives.
To ensure that you too are warned in good time, it is strongly recommended that you install smoke alarms in your home.
Below you will find important information that you should bear in mind when purchasing and installing them!
Am I obliged to install smoke alarms in my home?
In Lower Saxony, smoke detectors have been mandatory in all new, private apartments and houses since 2012!
What should I look out for when buying smoke alarms?
The "Q" in conjunction with the VdS or Kriwan test marks is an independent quality mark for high-quality smoke detectors that are particularly suitable for long-term use. The following performance features are decisive:
- Tested durability and reduction of false alarms
- Increased stability, e.g. against external influences
- permanently installed battery with a service life of at least 10 years.
How and where should I fit the smoke alarms?
One of the most important criteria for professional installation is that a smoke detector is fitted horizontally under the ceiling, preferably in the middle of the room.
Smoke alarms should be installed at least in bedrooms, children's rooms and corridors. However, optical smoke alarms should not be installed in rooms where there is normally a lot of steam and dust (kitchen, bathroom, hobby room).
Further information can be found here:
Fire hazard in the kitchen
- Electrical appliances and extractor hoods often pose a high fire risk in kitchens. Therefore, switch off your electrical appliances when you are away for long periods!
- Grease is a frequent cause of fire in kitchens. If fat is heated in a pan or pot for too long, it can ignite - this can lead to the wrong reaction (water is poured over the burning fat). The water suddenly evaporates, rises to the top and takes the burning fat with it, creating a metre-high jet of flame. If the fat is burning, slide a lid over the pan or pot from the side. This will smother the fire.
Fire hazard in the cellar
- Keep your cellar tidy and clean. Do not put any boxes or cartons in the way. Cellar passages must always be kept clear.
- It is forbidden to store propane gas cylinders in cellars.
- Do not store solvents in the cellar.
Fire hazard in attics
- Fires in attics usually cause very extensive material damage. Effective extinguishing measures are difficult to implement due to poor accessibility.
- Stored flammable substances have a negative effect on fire development and cause the damage to spread.
- Highly flammable substances must not be stored in roof spaces. The storage of flammable liquids and pressurized gas cylinders is also prohibited.
Measures in the event of fire
- Alert the fire department by calling 112!
- If this is possible without endangering yourself: then make risk-free attempts to extinguish the fire
- If the extinguishing attempts are unsuccessful, close the doors, get to safety immediately, instruct the fire department and warn your neighbors.
Preventing forest fires
Almost a fifth of Salzgitter's urban area is covered by forests. Large parts of these are located in protected areas such as the "Salzgitter Hills" or the "Beddinger Wood".
The risk of forest fires increases in dry summers in particular. Forest fires are among the most dangerous fires. They can spread quickly - destroying not only valuable timber stands, but also the habitat for many living creatures. And under certain circumstances, animals, people and even buildings can be endangered by the flames. To prevent this, they must be reported and fought in good time.
Whereas in the past forest fires were mostly caused by natural causes (e.g. lightning strikes), today it is mainly people who are responsible for the fires. Around three quarters of forest fires in Germany today are caused by arson and negligence.
To prevent forest fires, please take the following tips to heart:
- No smoking, open fires (e.g. barbecues, burning of cuttings), open lights (torches, lanterns) in forests or on meadows!
- Please never throw cigarette butts out of car or train windows!
- Access roads to forests, quarry ponds, excursion areas etc. must be kept clear for fire engines day and night!
- Do not drive or park on forest roads, hot exhaust pipes or catalytic converters could set the grass on fire!
- Please do not throw any waste into the countryside. It is rare, but fragments can act like burning glasses!
- Children should be educated about the dangers and consequences of arson!
- Many fires can be extinguished in the early stages by rapid intervention. Therefore, please always alert the fire department immediately (emergency number 112) - even if it is still a supposedly small fire or smoke development!