| Apartment complexes present unique fire dangers | | | | apartment is required to have a fire extinguisher |
| that are not present in many other types of | | | | inside each unit or down the hallway within a |
| residential areas. For this reason, residents and | | | | certain distance of each room. |
| building managers should understand particular fire | | | | - Do not overload sockets. Use a power strip with |
| hazards and work to reduce these risks. | | | | shock protection or an automatic shut-off |
| Apartments fires are often more dangerous than | | | | system. |
| other types of fires because: | | | | - Do not use extension cords for long periods of |
| - Fires can spread quickly from unit to unit. Since | | | | time or under rugs or carpet. Extension cords |
| an apartment is essentially a closely-packed | | | | should only be used as temporary solutions and |
| neighborhood, a fire can destroy many homes | | | | should never be overloaded. |
| and belongings very quickly. | | | | - Buy tools and appliances with automatic shut-off |
| - Inadequate parking. This can result in blocked fire | | | | functions. If you accidentally leave them on, they |
| hydrants, blocked fire lanes, or difficulty leaving | | | | will turn themselves off automatically. Look for |
| the building. | | | | auto shut-off functions in irons, ovens, stovetops, |
| - Lack of fire exits. Often apartment units have | | | | and hair curling and straightening tools. |
| only one exit. | | | | - Do not use barbecue or charcoal grills on |
| - Wooden stairwells. A burning stairway or | | | | apartment patios. |
| walkway can prevent residents from exiting the | | | | - Never park in front of fire hydrants or in fire |
| building. | | | | lanes. |
| - Inadequate alarm systems. Without proper | | | | - Always fully extinguish cigarettes in an ash tray. |
| alarms, residents may not know that the building | | | | - Know at least two different ways to exit your |
| is on fire. Therefore, it may be too late to escape | | | | apartment. Memorize your fire escape plan and |
| safely by the time the fire danger is apparent. | | | | have a designated meeting spot for family |
| Preventing Apartment Fires and Injuries | | | | members. |
| Residents should take proper precautions to | | | | - Be sure that there is a number on your |
| prevent fires and keep everyone in the building | | | | apartment door. Unmarked doors may go |
| safe: | | | | overlooked by a fire rescue team, and numbers |
| - Check your smoke alarms. Depending on the | | | | help firefighters determine which rooms to enter. |
| age of the building, smoking alarms may be | | | | By following these guidelines, apartment residents |
| required inside each unit, outside in the hallway, or | | | | can ensure the safety of other residents. To learn |
| inside the sleeping area itself. Check the batteries | | | | more about fire safety and accident prevention, |
| frequently and replace them as needed, at least | | | | visit the website of the Iowa personal injury |
| once per year. | | | | attorneys of LaMarca & Landry, P.C. |
| - Know the locations of fire extinguishers. An | | | | |