Photo by Brian Curry
Brian Curry
“All systems are go,” said Lead Home Assessment Fire Corps member Randy Smith, as the Arizona Fire & Medical Authority’s Home Safety Assessment program officially started back up last month. AFMA Fire Corps trained volunteers look for home hazards and make recommendations to Sun Lakes homeowners.
Smith explained, “Our men and women basically do a safety walkthrough and make recommendations based on our findings.” Some things that they will check are your smoke detectors—their placement in your home and if they are in working order? Did you know that smoke detectors have an average 10-year expiration date? Does your home have fire extinguishers? If so, are they properly charged? Do you know how to use them? And are they properly placed in your home?
The Fire Corps volunteers will also check your circuit breakers and GFCI outlets and determine if they are clearly identified. Does your hot water heater and furnace have a three-foot clearance from clutter or flammable material? The Home Safety Assessment team checks for other potential hazards, as well as possible tripping locations.
“We do not endorse or recommend any specific safety products. We simply offer you an assessment of how safe your home is and the steps you can take to make it safer for you,” Smith emphasized.
If you are interested, please call AFMA at 623-544-5400 and tell them you would like a Sun Lakes Home Safety Assessment.