Fire Safety Tips and Resources

Home Fire Safety Tips

• Smoke Alarms: Install smoke alarms on every level of your home and inside each bedroom. Test them monthly and replace the batteries at least once a year.

• Fire Escape Plan: Create a home escape plan and practice it twice a year with your family. Ensure that everyone knows two ways out of every room and where to meet outside.

• Fire Extinguishers: Keep a fire extinguisher in your kitchen and know how to use it. Ensure it is easily accessible.

• Kitchen Safety: Never leave cooking unattended. Keep flammable objects away from the stove and always turn pot handles inward to prevent accidents.

• Heating Safety: Keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn and never leave them on when you leave a room.

Outdoor Fire Safety

• Grill Safety: Keep grills at least 10 feet away from structures. Clean them regularly to avoid grease fires and never leave them unattended while in use.

• Bonfires: Only light fires in designated areas, and never leave them unattended. Keep a bucket of water or a hose nearby in case of emergencies.

• Fire Pits: Ensure that fire pits are at least 10 feet away from buildings and flammable materials. Use a screen to prevent embers from escaping.

Seasonal Fire Safety

• Holiday Lights & Decorations: Use only non-flammable decorations and check all holiday lights for frayed wires before use. Turn off lights before going to bed or leaving the house.

• Winter Heating Safety: Never use an oven to heat your home. Keep flammable materials away from fireplaces, and ensure chimneys are clean and in good repair before use.

• Candles: Keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything that can burn and always extinguish them before leaving the room or going to bed.

Fire Prevention for Kids (https://sparky.org/)

• Matches & Lighters: Teach kids never to play with matches, lighters, or other fire-starting tools. Keep them out of reach.

• Stop, Drop, and Roll: Make sure children know what to do if their clothes catch fire.

• Smoke Alarm Awareness: Educate children on the sound of a smoke alarm and what to do when they hear it – get out, stay out, and call 911.

Emergency Preparedness

• Fire Drill Practices: Encourage households to practice fire drills regularly and ensure everyone knows the quickest exit routes.

• Know Your Address: Remind everyone in your home, including children, to memorize their home address so they can relay it clearly to 911 operators.

• Emergency Kits: Prepare an emergency kit that includes essentials like water, first aid supplies, a flashlight, and important documents in case of an evacuation.

Special Needs & Fire Safety

• For Seniors: Develop escape plans that consider physical limitations. Ensure working smoke alarms are placed where they can be heard.

• For People with Disabilities: Keep pathways clear of obstructions, and plan exits that consider mobility devices.

• For Pets: Include pets in your fire evacuation plan. Make sure they have proper identification, and practice getting them out of the house quickly.