Quick Tips for Keeping a Fire Safe Home

Fire safety is one of the most important things to implement in your home. There are many ways to prepare your home for fires and fire safety.

General Safety Tips:

• Make sure you have the right number of fire alarms installed in your home. There should be one on every level of the home, outside each room, and inside each bedroom. All the fire alarms must be wired together to ensure that if one of the alarms goes off, they all go off. Fire alarms should be tested once a month and the batteries should be replaced at least once a year.
• If you have children, make sure that they know what the smoke alarms sound like and what to do if they hear them.
• Make sure that everyone in the home knows two ways to exit every room in the house and set a pre-arranged meeting spot outside of the house.
• Make a family-emergency communication plan that includes people to contact if the family members cannot find one another.
• Practice escaping from your home a couple of times a year. Press the smoke alarm and yell “Fire!” to alert everyone that they must get out.
• Know how to dial 9–1–1
• Teach household members to STOP, DROP, and ROLL to put out clothing that is on fire.

Protect Your Home:

• Install a smoke alarm on every level of your house. In addition, consider installing a carbon monoxide alarm in a central location.
• Keep matches and lighters away from the reach of children, preferably in a locked cabinet.
• If the power is out, use flashlights instead of candles.
• Make sure your house number is easily legible from the street, even at night.

Reducing Fire Risks Within Your Home:

• Use kerosene heaters only if permitted by law. Refuel kerosene heaters outdoors only and after they have fully cooled.
• Check all the electrical wiring in your home. Fix or replace any frayed extension cords, exposed wires, or loose plugs.
• Make sure wiring is not under rugs, attached to nails, or in any high traffic areas.
• Make sure electrical outlets have cover plates and no exposed wiring, and avoid overloading outlets or extension cords.
• Store combustible materials in open areas away from heat sources.

Staying Fire-safe in the Kitchen:

• If you are frying, grilling, or broiling, stay in the kitchen! If you are simmering, baking, or roasting, stay in the home.
• Keep pets off of cooking surfaces.
• Keep the stove area clear of flammable objects.
• If you are cooking something that catches on fire, slide a lid on the burning pan and turn off the burner. Leave the lid on the pan until it’s completely cool. Moving the pan can cause serious injury or cause the fire to spread. No matter what, if the fire is caused by grease, do NOT pour water on it.
• Implement the above suggestions into your household to help make your home fire safe, and call your local fire department with any questions or concerns!