Every year, Fairpark Community residents look forward to summer vacations, camping, family reunions, picnics, and Labor Day. Summertime, however, also brings fires and injuries due to fireworks and outdoor cooking. We want to encourage summer fire safety in our community with helpful information obtained through the Salt Lake City Fire Department.

Think about emergency preparedness. Your ability to get out of your home in the event of a fire depends on advance warning from smoke alarms and advance planning. Pull together everyone in your household and make a plan. Walk through your home and inspect all possible exits and escape routes. Households with children should consider drawing a floor plan of your home, marking two ways out of each room, including windows and doors. Choose a safe meeting place outside the house. It is a good idea to keep a bell and flashlight in each bedroom

What can you do to prevent outdoor fires? Remove all dead plants, trees and shrubs. Reduce excess leaves, plant parts and low-hanging branches. Replace dense flammable plants with fire-resistant plants. The choice of plants, spacing and maintenance are crucial elements in any defensible space landscaping plan.

Fire Safety Tips

• Install smoke detectors and change the batteries once a year
• Post emergency numbers near telephones
• Have a safe fire escape plan and practice with your family
• Be careful cooking. Put a lid on a grease fire and reduce heat.
• Matches and lighters can be dangerous. Educate children.

For more safety tips, sign up for emergency alerts or visit the SLC Fire Department Website.