written by Lin Donn illustrated by Phillip Martin

"I think we're in trouble, Mom. " I tapped the paper I was holding "I think we're in trouble, Mom." I tapped the paper I was holding. "I'm supposed to write down how many smoke alarms we have. We don't have any smoke alarms. Did you know that?" My mother looked guilty. "Actually, we have a boxful out in the garage that I bought at a yard sale last summer. I haven't gotten around to batteries yet. It's on my list."  

"Does it work?" I asked dubiously. "They can't be on my list unless they're working." I looked down at my homework. "We did horribly, Mom. We could die. We don't even have a fire extinguisher." My mother said quickly, "Yes we do!" She reached behind the corner hutch and pulled out a very dusty red metal cylinder. She blew on it. Dust flew everywhere. "Does it work?" I asked dubiously.  

"Lots," I told her seriously. "Want to see my list?"   "I admit," my mother admitted. "It is rather old." My mother sort of laughed. "It's a great assignment, Nancy - but it really doesn't apply to us. We're absolutely safe. What could go wrong?" "Lots," I told her seriously. "Want to see my list?"

My mother took the list I handed her and looked it over My mother took the list I handed her and looked it over. She looked it over again more carefully. "The window has a funny lock. I'll show you," she mumbled. "As for the rest ... some of these things can be fixed right now," she said in a surprised sort of way.  

Nancy's Fire Safety List No smoke alarms (correction - no working smoke alarms) No fire extinguisher. (correction - 1 extinguisher, possibly working) No escape plan Bunch of cords jammed behind headboard in bed room to get them out sight - cords bent and tangled 2 small cans flammable paint stored in laundry room behind box of laundry soap 1 small can of flammable wood stain stored with paint Rags with wood stain on them in paper bag, stored behind the stain. Stacks of newspaper in garage for recycling day, stored next to water heater  

Nancy's Fire Safety List Continued: 1 extension cord with 8 things plugged into it 1 frayed cord plugged into wall socket (Grandma's old lamp desperately needs rewiring) No emergency lights that come on when power goes out (the kind you plug into an outlet so you can see to get out) Colorful fabric potholders hanging on the wall above the stove Small can of charcoal lighter fluid left on deck, stored with bag of charcoal and the little grill Grill resting on legs directly on wood deck - not on a safety fire pad. Window in back bedroom impossible for me to open - may be painted shut.  

  Why are the items on this list potential fire hazards, and how do you fix them?   If you don't know the answers, you will need to look them up. See this site for help, and play some fire safety games!  http://facs.pppst.com/firesafety.html

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