Chino Valley Fire Department urges new year safety tips

Chino Valley Independent Fire District Fire Chief Paul Benson encourages residents to include fire safety as part of their New Year's resolutions.

Officials say a good way to start the year fire safe is to create a home escape plan by drawing a map/floor plan of the home showing windows and doors that can be used as emergency exits. Smoke detectors should be marked and residents should identify two exits from each room on the map. Smoke detectors should be on every level of the home and in or near sleeping areas.

Residents should select a place outside the home where all can meet after evacuation. The escape plan should be practiced at least twice a year, fire officials said.

Exit drills reduce the chance of panic and injury in fires, and trained and informed people have a much better chance of surviving fires in their home, according to fire officials.

For more information, visit www.chinovalleyfire.org