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Last minute shoppers, still looking for the perfect Valentine’s gift?

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue officials are recommending smoke alarms as the PERFECT Valentine’s gift for loved ones this year. Nothing says you mean everything to me like the 24-hour protection that comes with a smoke alarm. And while you are busy planning the perfect evening, make it memorable for all the right reasons. A few tips to keep in mind:

• Cooking: Planning to put all those new cooking skills learned on Instagram? Be sure to 'Stand by your pan' and 'Keep an eye on what you fry.' Too many meals are ruined when cooks get distracted or forgetful and leave cooking unattended. As much as Fire/Rescue loves your cooking, you really don’t want us to have to extinguish that perfect meal. Cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires so keep anything that can catch fire – potholders, paper or plastic bags, dish towels, newspapers, and curtains – away from your stovetop, oven and appliances that generate heat and don't cook distracted.
• Candles: While candles may look festive and set the mood, did you know that unattended candles account for thousands of fires annually? The National Fire Protection Association reports that, on average, a candle fire in the home is reported to a US Fire Department every 30 minutes. Consider battery-operated, flameless candles instead. You really can’t tell the difference!
• Getting lit? If lighting up the fireplace is in your plans, make sure that’s all you light up. Believe it or not, every year people dispose of fireplace ashes before they have sufficiently cooled. Keep your ash out of the trash and only dispose of fireplace ashes in a sealed, metal container located far from anything combustible several days after they have cooled. Never dispose of fireplace ashes in your recycling bin, trash can, paper, or plastic bags or in a garage, carport, or on a deck or porch.
  

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue wants you to have a great (and safe) Valentine’s Day. Remember, smoke alarms save lives and they make great gifts. Did you know you can schedule MCFRS to check your home's smoke alarms? Schedule an in-person or "virtual" visit or a quick phone consult ... we'll even help you pick the perfect alarms for your home. You'll just need to add a bow. Call 311 or visit www.mcfrs.org/mcsafe for all the info on this free program to Montgomery County residents.