As winter comes, household fire and electricity usage is increasing, and consequently the fire disasters are increasing.

Fire-prevention specialists warn us that there are "three important points" for household fire safety in winter, which are electricity usage, fire usage and daily household fire prevention.

Firstly, you should utilize electricity safely. You'd better buy plugs and sockets with a brand and of good quality, and moreover, you should not overuse the electricity, or connect several high-power appliances to one socket at the same time. You should timely change the aging electric wires. If a modification to the household circuits is needed, you should not do it by yourself in order to prevent the fire hazard. Experts shall be arranged for that.

Household appliance is an important reason of fire disaster. Fire disasters caused by household appliances are due to misusage of electric stoves, electric mattress, electric heaters, electric irons, electric kettles, etc. or the intrinsic quality problems within these electric appliances. The long time connection with combustibles or default of temperature controlling equipment leads to the fire. Please be noted that there are several fire disasters due to misusage of electric mattress each year. Another type of fire comes from misusage of televisions, refrigerators, washing machines, etc., or aging of their internal components or circuits. Heat from the default parts leads to the fire. Therefore experts warn the citizens that if the household appliances are in default, you should repair them timely. In order to prevent fire, you should never make the electric appliances work with defaults.

Secondly, you should utilize fire safely. No matter whether you are using natural gas, liquid gas or briquette, there should be someone taking care of the fire. In winter, some families like braising soups which requires quite a long time. The fire may die out in case no one pays attention to it, and large amount of inflammable gas may run out to cause fire disasters. Families using liquid gas and natural gas shall regularly check the tightness of gas catheter by suds. If there are problems in tightness, it shall be changed timely. Concerning fire safety, citizens can also make reference to Japanese "Seven Prohibitions" for household fire prevention, that is to say, no smoking or butt before sleeping; no match, lighter and ignitor for children; no burning in windy day; no leaving when cooking especially for fried food; no inflammable substance near the house; and no air burn for the pans, pots, etc.

Finally, you should pay attention to fire prevention in daily life. Families with children shall supervise the fire safety of children; you should not dry clothes with electric heaters, etc.