Friday, 3 July 2015

House fires - something too awful to think about... but

Hi Val

This year's new French law requiring a smoke detector in each house makes a lot of sense. Practically, though, houses need more than one, since their position is often a compromise between where fire might break out and where you'll be during the day/night. 

To deal with a fire you need an A+B+C extinguisher. Fires are categorised A, B or C according to what's burning. Ideally two, in case fire breaks out between you and where you keep your extinguisher. A small one (1-2kg) will help if you can get to the fire early. A 4-6kg extinguisher will put out more flames, but heavier cylinders are harder to manoeuvre. Good ones come with a gauge to check the internal pressure, which saves replacing them purely on age. One of each size will set you back €60 or more, but the benefit will remain long after you've forgotten the price.   

Should the fire be in the kitchen, you can spare your extinguisher by using a 1m² fire blanket to choke the flames. To suffocate a clothing fire, use two, each of 1m².   

We got together with three other families recently to kit ourselves out, after mutual friends suffered a tragic fire. For TAG readers' information, here are links to the sorts of thing we bought. Special offers spring up all the time, so these (Amazon) prices are just examples. Delivery costs can vary with quantities, so may be saved if friends order together.  






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