Pesach Safety Tips from the Lakewood Volunteer Fire Department

lfd radio tlsWith the Pesach season upon us the Lakewood Volunteer Fire Department would like to remind the community to be mindful of the following safety hazards and take steps to ensure safety all around.

  • Self Clean Ovens – Ovens should be pre-cleaned well before turning on the self clean cycle. NEVER leave your home while the oven is self cleaning. Fires can and do happen. Last year a home owner lost their kitchen to an oven fire.
  • Covering the Stove Top – NEVER cover any vents. Leave all vents open to allow heat to escape. Failure to do so will destroy your oven and can likely cause a fire.
  • Setting up the Stove Top – The Blech should be positioned to allow heat to escapes on all sides. Many people keep a burner on for the duration of the holiday. Preferably choose a back burner. When not in use it is a good idea to keep a pot of water over the flame to serve as visual reminder.
  • Appliances – Keep all appliances away from the edge of the counter and with all wires safety out of the way. Leave ample space around any appliances to allow air to circulate and minimize the buildup of heat. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR APPLIANCES ARE UL COMLIANT AND THAT THEY ARE IN OPTIMAL CONDITION. A timer may be used with hotplates and crock pots etc. Speak to your Rov if you need further clarification using timers.
  • A safer method of cooking is to use an electric burner. These can be placed directly on your Blech and can be used with a timer as well. You will avoid any potential carbon monoxide and will only be on when needed.
  • Yahrzeit Candles – Place these on a heat resistant surface and away from any flammable objects.
  • B’Dikas Chometz – Be mindful of the candle! Please Keep away from curtains, sofas, clothing, etc. According to many Poskim a flashlight may be used. Better to use a flashlight to search those smaller, tighter areas. Make sure the candle is completely extinguished before placing aside.
  • Biur Chometz – Only use one of the authorized Biur Chometz sites.

 

  • PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU HAVE WORKING SMOKE ALARMS AND CARBON MONOXIDE DECTECTORS IN YOUR HOME. At the minimum have at least one working smoke alarm on each floor and near the sleeping area. Place a carbon monoxide detector outside each sleeping area in the home.
  • Calling the Fire Department on the Yom-Tov – NEVER hesitate to call the fire department even for the slightest suspicion of danger. What may appear to the uneducated to be ‘nothing’ can, in fact, be deadly. Call your Rov for clarification, if you must, BEFORE Yom-Tov. Once a situation arises it is too late to start debating Halacha.

The Lakewood Volunteer Fire Department wishes all of Lakewood a Safe, Happy and Kosher Pesach!

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