WASHINGTON —  No matter where you live, it’s a good weekend to think about safety around the home.  The Maryland State Fire Marshal has declared this “Community Risk Reduction Weekend.”

Firefighters are fanning out across the state testing and installing working smoke alarms.

“They are the first line of defense in home safety,” says Montgomery County Fire  & Rescue Services Chief Scott Goldstein. The county offers residents a free home safety check.

“Clearly providing smoke detectors is the key point, but we also want to talk about adequate fire extinguishers or adequate and appropriate interfaces with your fireplace,” Goldstein said.

A visiting fire crew might also discuss having a fire escape plan.

“Everybody needs to have two ways out of every room,” Goldstein said.

Visiting firefighters check for all safety risks, for example, in the homes in seniors, firefighters will look for trip hazards, grab rails and sufficient lighting.