Fire Safety
According to the National Fire Protection Association, in 2003, 80% of fires in the U.S. were in residential homes resulting in 3,925 deaths. Fires are preventable the majority of the time and every household should take the following precautions to protect their families and valuables.
SMOKE DETECTORS: • Install smoke detectors on every level of your home and outside of sleeping areas.
• Test every detector at least once a month and replace batteries at least once a year.
FIRE EXTINGUISHERS: • Fire extinguishers should be mounted in the kitchen, garage, and
workshop.
• Purchase an ABC type extinguisher for extinguishing all types of fires.
• Learn how to use your fire extinguisher before there is an emergency.
• Remember, use an extinguisher on small fires only. If there is a large
fire, get out immediately and call 911 from another location.
THINKING AHEAD: Your Exit Plan
• Prepare a floor plan of your home showing at least two ways out of each room.
• Sleep with your bedroom door closed. In the event of fire, it helps to hold back heat and
smoke. But if a door feels hot, do not open it; escape through another door or window.
• Agree on a fixed location out-of-doors where family members are to gather.
• Stay together away from the fire. Call 911 from another location. Make certain that no one
goes back inside the burning building.
• To help cut down on the need for an emergency exit in the first place, clear all unnecessary
items from the attic, basement, garage, and closets.
FIREPLACE:
• Use a fireplace screen to prevent sparks from flying.
• Don't store newspapers, kindling, or matches near the fireplace or have an exposed rug or
wooden floor right in front of the fireplace.
• Have your chimney inspected by a professional prior to the start of every heating season
and cleaned to remove combustible creosote build-up if necessary.
• When lighting a gas fireplace, strike your match first, then turn on the gas.
FURNACE/SPACE HEATERS:
• Install and maintain heating equipment correctly. Have your furnace inspected by a
professional prior to the start of every heating season.
• Don't store newspapers, rags, or other combustible materials near a furnace, hot water
heater, space heater, etc.
• Don't leave space heaters operating when you're not in the room.
• Keep space heaters three feet away from anything that might burn, including the wall.
• Don't use extension cords with electrical space heaters. The high amount of current they
require could melt the cord and start a fire. .
• Never use a gas range as a substitute for a furnace or space heater.
CLOTHES DRYER:
• Never leave home with the clothes dryer running.
• Dryers must be vented to the outside, not into a wall or attic.
• Clean the lint screen frequently to keep the airway clear.
• Never put in synthetic fabrics, plastic, rubber, or foam because they retain heat.
ELECTRICAL HAZARDS:
• It is better not to use extension cords. If you feel you must use one,
make sure that it is not frayed or worn. Do not run it under a rug or
twist it around a nail or hook.
• Do not use light bulb wattage which is too high for the fixture. Look
for the label inside each fixture which tells the maximum wattage.
• Check periodically for loose wall receptacles, loose wires, or loose
lighting fixtures.
• Allow air space around the TV to prevent overheating. The same
applies to plug-in radios and stereo sets, and to powerful lamps.
• If a circuit breaker trips or a fuse blows frequently, immediately cut
down on the number of appliances on that line.
• Watch for the signs of an overloaded circuit: dimming lights when an appliance goes on, a
shrinking TV picture, slow heating appliances, or fuses blowing frequently. Call a qualified
electrician to get expert help if these things occur.
KITCHEN:
• Have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen, near the exit.
• Never pour water on a grease fire; turn off the stove and cover the pan with a lid, or close the
oven door.
• Keep pot handles on the stove pointing to the back, and always watch children in the
kitchen.
• Don't store items on the stove top, as they could catch fire.
• Keep kitchen appliances clean and in good condition, and turn them off and disconnect
them when not in use.
• Don't overload kitchen electrical outlets and don't use appliances with frayed or cracked
wires.
• Don’t wear really loose or baggy clothing when cooking because they could fall into the
flame and catch fire.
• Clean the exhaust hood and duct over the stove regularly and wipe up spilled grease as
soon as the surface of the stove is cool.
General Rules
• Keep lighters and matches out of the reach of children.
• Teach every family member to ‘Stop, Drop, and Roll’ if they catch on fire
• Never leave candles or incense burning unattended
• Never leave children unattended with fire or space heaters.
• Flammable liquids should be stored only in approved safety containers, and the containers
should be kept outside the house and garage in a separate storage shed.
• Gas up lawn equipment and snowblowers outside, away from enclosed areas and any
source of sparks or heat.
• Start the equipment 10 feet from where you filled it with fuel.
• Don't fuel a hot lawn mower, snowblower, or other motor; let it cool first.
• Never smoke in bed.
• Never dump an ashtray into the trash without wetting the butts and ashes first.