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October is Fire Safety Month

October 26, 2015 By Doug Francis

Tysons Ladder Truck in Vienna VAOctober has been designated “fire safety month” because the historic Great Chicago Fire happened in October 1871.

These days, fire safety comes to our attention thanks to fire house pancake dinners and open houses geared toward parents and kids.

But today, as I sat at my home office computer crafting an especially inspirational email, I heard sirens which seemed to be getting closer.

Vienna Volunteer Fire Department Engine 2 suddenly roared down the street stopping in front of my neighbor’s house.

Firefighters were scrambling, and I knew that their house must be on fire.

A cloud of white smoke came out the door.

As far as I could tell, four engines and two ladder trucks quickly set up operations as more white smoke poured out.

Luckily, the fire was quickly put out and no one was hurt, but, it was a reminder why smoke detectors are still essential.

As it turns out, the smoke detector wasn’t working and if this had happened at 4:00 A.M., then lives would have been lost.

Test Your Smoke Detectors

Vienna VA VFD Engine 2Some readers may remember my monthly newsletters back in the 1990’s when I would dedicate an issue to replacing batteries in your smoke detectors.

My mission began one morning when reading The Washington Post, and I noticed an article about a town house fire in Falls Church. It was on a street where some clients lived, and then it mentioned that “a couple had escaped the early morning fire.”

I drove over to Scott and Jeannie’s to see that their townhouse had a burned thanks to a neighbor’s careless actions.

And she mentioned that she did not remember the smoke detectors going off.

Yikes!

After that experience, I started to mail clients 9-Volt batteries every October with a note reminding them to replace the batteries in their smoke detectors. These days, the USPS doesn’t like me to mail batteries.

Batteries are important, and remember that replacing older smoke detectors is important too.

With Fire Safety Month in mind, spend some time this weekend checking your smoke detectors, consider installing a CO or Carbon Monoxide detector, and move combustibles away from your gas furnace or gas hot water heater.

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Filed Under: Blog, Living Here Tagged With: Vienna Virginia

About Doug Francis

A Realtor specializing in unique and new homes around Vienna, Virginia, Doug started writing a first-hand blog about his everyday real estate experiences a decade ago. In depth, helpful and fun has always been the objective. Outside real estate, he was profiled in a commercial for Verisign's "Where the World Clicks" campaign, and was quoted in Money Magazine's Best Places to Live article on Vienna. He's a Boston University graduate who feels morning coffee is non-negotiable.

Being able to guide my clients through many real estate sales, either moving out, moving in, or just across town, has been a rewarding experience that helps when discussing a plan with a future client.

Being able to help them focus and understand our proven sales plan always eases their anxiety of this looming personal task. And, putting it into bite-sized steps always helps them get where they really want to be.

My background… I’ve been an active licensed agent in Virginia for 25 years, work at TTR Sotheby’s International Realty in McLean, and sell homes in all price ranges. I donate to the town tree replacement fund, participate in a neighborhood citizens association, and try my best to stay in shape.

Questions? Email doug@dougfrancis.com or call me at (703) 304-6827 to discuss your plans. Cheers!

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About Doug Francis

I am a Realtor with TTR Sotheby's International Realty® just outside Washington D.C. in Northern Virginia. I have been a full-time Realtor licensed in Virginia since 1991, and cover a big territory specializing in the Vienna real estate market and custom homes for sale.

I have unique knowledge of digital real estate marketing, and my marketing starts here. My elite clientele has been attracted to my results-oriented strategy for years, and I am accepting new clients now.

Thanks for reading, and feel free to contact me at 703-304-6827 or email me at doug@dougfrancis.com anytime!

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TTR Sotheby's International Realty
6723 Whittier Avenue McLean, VA 22101

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