"Autumn" fire safety rules

Following a regrettable tradition, the number of fires in the private sector – in permanent residences and dachas – increases in autumn. With the onset of noticeable coolness, people begin to actively heat their homes using stoves and prepare their land for winter by raking withered grass, fallen leaves, and burning them along with garbage.

How to protect your home from fire in autumn? Study the following rules – and follow them:

• Stove heating. The critical time to assess the condition of your stove is early October, if you haven't done so already. Do not operate faulty stoves: stoves, the surfaces of pipes and walls through which smoke channels pass, must be free of cracks, and in attics – plastered and whitewashed. Ensure the presence of a non-combustible hearth mat made of tile or sheet material on a combustible floor. Pay attention to the firebox door: it must close tightly and securely. Remove soot from the stove: this will increase the draft;

• Grass: "overwintered" vegetation is nutritious for the soil, but if you intend to remove it in autumn – do it correctly. The best option is to collect plant debris (grass and leaves) into bags and take them to a designated area. If the grass is dry, you can rake it and burn it in small "portions" (how to properly start a bonfire on your property is discussed in the next point);

• Fallen leaves: The "languid" haze of bonfires is a sure sign of autumn. However, bonfires must be properly managed, even if you are disposing of fallen leaves, although the environmental impact of such actions should also be considered. Bonfires, as well as special cooking appliances, should be managed under continuous supervision of the burning and smoldering process. It is forbidden to use flammable and combustible liquids (except for liquids specifically designed for ignition). The burning and smoldering process should be carried out in such a way that flames and sparks do not fall on building or structure elements, while the distance to protruding parts of buildings and structures from the bonfire site must be at least 8 meters (for special cooking appliances – at least 2 meters). Upon completion of the burning process, extinguish the remnants of burning (smoldering) materials until smoldering completely ceases;

• "Conserving" electricity: If you are leaving your dacha for an extended period, disconnect the electricity by completely unscrewing the fuses or switching off the circuit breaker at the main distribution board. Electrical wiring short circuits can occur even during your long absence.

Remember! "Autumn" fires are mostly man-made emergencies. By setting fire to dry fallen leaves covering the ground of a household plot, a person does not consider that the fire can spread to a wooden shed, a bathhouse, or even a house. Fire requires control and does not forgive carelessness…