House Fire Safety and Prevention

Tips for House Fire Safety and Prevention

• Know the leading causes of house fires: cooking, heating, electrical, smoking and candles.
• Install smoke alarms on each level of your home, inside all bedrooms and outside sleeping areas. Test fire alarms monthly and replace batteries as needed.
• Keep flammable items at least three feet away from anything that get hot, such as space heaters, ovens, candles and electrical sockets.
• Turn off space heaters when you leave the room or go to sleep.
• Never leave a candle burning unattended.
• If you have a fireplace, make sure your chimney is professionally inspected and cleaned once a year. Use a screen to prevent escaping embers.
• Remain in the kitchen while cooking. Keep the stove clean and clear of flammable objects.
• Take fire safety precautions if you smoke. Always smoke outdoors, never smoke in bed or when drowsy. Dispose of cigarettes in a designated ashtray. Use water to extinguish a cigarette or cigar.
• Do not over load electrical sockets. Practice fire safety by unplugging items that are not in use.
• Talk to children about the fire safety. Keep lighters and matches out of reach and locked away.
• Know how to safely operate a fire extinguisher. Keep a fire extinguisher near both your oven and fireplace.

House Fire Safety Plan

• Teach your family what the smoke alarms in your home sound like and what to do when they hear them.
• Create an fire safety escape plan. Ensure that all members of your family know two ways to escape from each room of the house.
• Have safety ladders accessible for sleeping areas on the second and third floor.
• Designate a meeting place. Choose a safe, known location for your family to meet after escaping the home.
• Practice your house fire safety plan at least twice per year and at different times of the day. Make sure everyone knows what to do in case of an emergency.
• Emphasize “get out, stay out.” Never re-enter the home for any reason.

In the event of a fire, there is nothing more important than the safety of your family. With a proper fire safety plan and preparedness, you can keep your family and home safe. Taking the time to educate yourself and create a fire safety plan is the first step to preventing fire damage.