How to Keep Your House from Burning Up, Literally

In the middle of the night last Sunday, two Dobbs Ferry residents were lucky enough to have been awake to sense the flames beginning to build in their basement.  But Dobbs Ferry Volunteer Fire Chief Frank Farrington said it could have been much worse.

With families packing to go on vacation in the coming weeks, Farrington offers some tips to keep your house--your family, your pets and your assets--safe:

1) Make sure your circuits are not overloaded by having them checked by a professional electrician.  "We warn people 'do-it-yourself' jobs can be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing," Farrington said.

2) Get a fire alarm from a reliable company and make sure it is well maintained and checked frequently.

3) Get wiring in older homes inspected--the older the electrical wiring, the more likely it is to ignite.

4) Before leaving for vacation, take an extra 15 minutes to make sure everything is off in your home. Check stoves, gas pumps, coffee pots and any electrical sockets.

Though these tips may seem like common sense, Farrington stressed that taking extra precautions can save a home from a preventable disaster.  However, Farrignton does not like to place blame on victims of fires. "They can happen to anyone," he said. "The best you can do is minimize the risk."