A rash of serious

fires in the past month has broken all records for Peachtree City's fire

and rescue department.

The amazing

fact is that among the 10 serious fires and 11 minor incidents, only two

minor injuries were recorded. And the two people hurt were helping rescue

residents or fight the flames, said Fire Chief Stony Lohr.

Some of the

fires can be attributed to carelessness, Lohr said. Some were started

Another blaze

was started by a three-year-old child who had access to a long-stem lighter

and set a bed on fire, Lohr said.

"I'm not

sure how nobody got hurt in that one," Lohr said. "They came

very close to losing their house."

Another house

fire was likely started by a dirty chimney, Lohr said. When firefighters

responded, there were flames shooting four feet high out of the chimney,

he added.

Thanks to quick

response from the department, the recent residential fires could be contained

quickly before the damage spread to the entire structure, Lohr said.

"The whole

idea is to get there early and knock it down while it's still reasonably

small or before it gets out of control," Lohr said.

In addition

to the residential fires, the department has also fought a significant

blaze at the Certainteed plant in the industrial park and a major field

fire near the Smokerise subdivision that started from a controlled burn.

"A small

break would be okay," Lohr said.

Lohr encouraged

local residents to exercise caution to help prevent fires. He warned that

becoming complacent with fire prevention measures can lead to trouble.

Here are some

fire tips prepared by the city to help residents prevent fires:

Candles and

incense. Keep burning candles or incense well away from decorations or

other combustible materials. Never display lighted candles or incense

in windows or near exits in case you need to use these accesses as a means

of escape. Never use candles or incense to decorate flammable objects

such as Christmas trees. Do not leave burning candles or incense unattended.

Electrical

circuits. When plugging in appliances, be careful not to overload electrical

circuits. If lights blink or dim, motors slow down, or the volume on your

TV or radio changes, turn off some appliances to reduce demand. Many fuse

or circuit breaker boxes are located in closets or confined spaces. Fires

can start in the box or the supply wires leading to it. If circuit breakers

trip or fuses blow continuously, contact a licensed electrician to check

your system.

Fireplaces.

Have fireplaces and wood burning stoves inspected annually and cleaned

as necessary by a professional chimney sweep prior to use. Use only seasoned

wood and burn small, hot fires. Furniture, draperies, and holiday decorations

should be kept at a safe distance, and no flammable decorations should

be placed on the mantel or the hearth. Never burn discarded wrapping paper

in the fireplace. When removing ashes from the fireplace, use only metal

containers. Take the ashes outside, drown them with water, stir the ashes,

and drown them again with water. Never leave ashes near your home or on

wooden decks or porches.

Kitchen area.

The kitchen is the leading room for fire injuries and fire origins. To

reduce the risk of kitchen fires: Keep flammable objects away from the

cooking area in your kitchen. Don't place towels, potholders, pizza boxes

or paper bags on the stove or near hot appliances. Clean any grease buildup

from the stove and oven. Cooking oil and grease ignite easily and burn

rapidly. Use a lid or a larger pan to smother a small pan fire. Do not

use water on a grease fire. It will make the fire bigger. Do not try to

carry a burning pan outside or to the sink. You may accidentally spill

the contents and spread the fire. Keep a lid, baking soda or an ABC fire

extinguisher handy in the kitchen. Avoid reaching over the stove for anything

while cooking. Store frequently needed items in other areas of the kitchen.

Do not keep cookies or treats near the stove. Keep young children and

pets away from cooking areas. Keep pot handles turned inward, out of reach

of children. Keep appliance cords up on counter tops. Check those cords

regularly for frayed or broken spots, and replace damaged cords or appliances.

Dress for fire safety in the kitchen. Do not wear baggy or loose fitting

clothing, such as nightgowns and bathrobes while cooking. Never leave

cooking unattended. If you must leave the kitchen, take something with

you to remind you that items are cooking. Shield yourself from steam when

uncovering cooking food. Steam can cause serious burns.

Matches and

lighters. Keep matches and lighters out of the reach of curious little

hands. Teach your children that if they find these items, they should

leave them alone and immediately tell Mom, Dad or some other responsible

person about them.

Outside. Wherever

possible, homeowners and businesses should remove any combustible landscaping

material (such as pine straw) that is directly adjacent to structures,

and replace it with noncombustible or combustion resistant material. In

this time of diminishing water and higher outdoor temperatures, pine straw

becomes increasingly susceptible to ignition. It may be ignited by radiant

heat or blowing embers. When ignited, it burns easily, quickly and hotly,

and may spread fire to other combustible surfaces near it. Using soil

based material or some type of rock around the perimeter of your structure

increases your margin of safety in the event of a fire, especially if

the exterior of a structure is a combustible material such as cedar or

a fire susceptible material such as vinyl.

Preparing

for fires. When fires do occur, people often make poor decisions because

they believe they have a lot of time to react and then because they are

affected by smoke, disoriented by being awakened abruptly, and frightened.

These reactions are not uncommon, but they can be overcome by planning

an escape route and practicing the plan. In today's home environment,

small fires can grow to flashover or other non-survivable environment

in as little as two minutes. Your well-being and that of your family can

depend on how effectively you use this short amount of time.

1. Draw a floor

plan of your home. Be thorough. Indicate primary and alternate escape

routes from each room.

2. Learn escape

routes and keep them clear. Walk through the primary escape routes and

the alternates, making sure that all exits are accessible to all members

of your household.

3. Decide on

a meeting place outside your home. Gathering at one location allows you

to count heads and determine whether anyone is left inside the building.

Never go back into your home for any reason. Firefighters are trained

and equipped to enter burning buildings, you are not.

4. Practice

an exit drill every six months. The more you practice the more prepared

you will be in the event of a true emergency.

5. Post your

escape plan near your phone so baby-sitters and guests will know about

escape routes.

When fires

occur. Have working smoke detectors to give you maximum warning and maximum

time to escape. Have at least one working fire extinguisher in place to

extinguish small fires, and get some training so that you will know its

capabilities and how to use it. Install and maintain a carbon monoxide

detector. Check smoke detector batteries regularly, and change then whenever

you change your clocks for time changes.

Finally, in

case of fire, Lohr urges everyone to get out, stay out and immediately

call 9-1-1 for help. Our response time is among the best in the metro-Atlanta

area, but it is of little value if we do not receive timely notification

of your emergency.

For more information

on fire safety topics, visit the Fire Department web site at www.peachtreecityfd.org

and click on the Fire Safety Division, stop by Neely Fire Station on Peachtree

Parkway North or call 770-631-2526.