Jennifer Geens
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 12/05) - Keeping a clean house may save your life.

During a home fire inspection, the inspector will check out the usual places, such as the fireplace, furnace or woodstove, but he or she will also take a peek in the oven.

"It's something people don't realize we look at, and they get embarrassed when we open it up," said Gerda Groothuizen.

Grease build-up near a heat source could potentially cause a fire.

Other places they check are the rangehood, the laundry dryer's lint trap, and the over-all tidiness of the house. You'll wish you had picked up your socks if you stumble over them in the dark while trying to make a quick escape.

Inspectors also check for dust build-up in the smoke detector. A quick swipe every time you vacuum will help keep the alarm working properly.

"A lot of people have them too close to a source of heat in the kitchen, so they go off," said Groothuizen. "If it's a battery-operated one, it's easy to move."

Some smoke detectors are hardwired into the home's power system, but it's good to have a battery-run unit as a backup, considering all the power outages in Yellowknife, said Groothuizen.

Make sure all the doors close and latch. This is necessary to prevent fire heat from blowing doors open. Closed doors also help control the spread of smoke.

Escape plans are a must. Groothuizen said every time firefighters get a chance to talk to kids they emphasize the importance of having an escape plan.

The plan should include alternate escape routes from each room in the house and a prearranged meeting spot outside the home.

At the end of the checklist, the inspector may make suggestions for improved safety, but won't follow up. The exception is home-based daycares, which require a yearly fire inspection. They could lose their licence for not fixing problems identified by the inspector. Homeowners can arrange an inspection by calling the fire department. They can also ask the department for a copy of the checklist to conduct their own inspection.