Fire Safety on a Budget

You and your family's safety is nothing to take lightly, but there may be some circumstances where you can't spend a lot of money on top-of-the-line fire alarm and fire suppression systems. Don't worry -- there are still ways to keep your family protected in these situations, and you can do so without taking as big a hit to your wallet.

Smoke alarms are simple devices that offer big protection, at least in the warning stage. When a smoke detector catches a whiff of smoke, it emits a sound that is meant to get the attention of anyone who might be in your home. Some models will even flash a bright light to let those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing know that they should try to escape immediately.

Fire extinguishers are also very important tools to keep around. Should a fire start and should you be around while it's still in the beginning stages of formation, you can use a fire extinguisher to keep that small fire from becoming a large one. It's important to know which type of extinguisher is the best to use for which type of fire, however, as there are different types of extinguishers that can help suppress fires depending on their source type (paper, flammable liquids, electrical wiring, etc).

One of the best things you can do is develop a fire escape plan and practice it on a regular basis. The preparation will undoubtedly help in the event of a real emergency.

Ready to help protect your home or business from the dangers of a potential fire? Call Brother's Fire today for Iowa fire protection services at (763) 441-2290.

Sustainable Fire Protection

With many cities and municipalities experiencing financial crunches, innovative ways to keep costs low while still maintaining the services taxpayers are used to seems to be a priority. One of the highest-cost items for local governments is the cost of keeping a fire company. Firefighter pay sits just below a police force in terms of cost for these governments. Some fire departments, squeezed by budget cuts, are looking to a unique solution: student firefighters.

Fire companies that are stationed near colleges provide students with free housing and hourly pay in exchange for firefighting duties when the need arises. UA Fairbanks runs such a fire department, and when the students graduate or leave, they're replaced with incoming students. Costs are kept low, since students are paid a less-expensive hourly wage than professional firefighters, and because these students also don't accrue pensions, costs are also kept down going into the future.

This idea, of course, does not have to take place near a college campus, but having this be the case helps in the recruitment of younger adults. It's an innovative way to keep troubled fire departments afloat in times of economic strife.

Want to learn more about Brother's Fire and our Iowa fire protection services? Call us today at (800) 607-2767.