Home Fire Prevention Tips

Fire Prevention:

The best is to have smoke detectors in every room. And to check their batteries every month if they are not hard wired.
Never leave candles or a fire burning or unattended. All should be extinguished completely if they cannot be monitored. Clean chimneys regularly. Use a guard to prevent traveling embers.
Many fires start in kitchens. Stand by your pan, especially when cooking with combustible oils. Be especially wary with kids and pets in the kitchen. Never leave the kitchen with a stove flame on.
Keep fire extinguishers on hand, preferably in every room.
Keep bedroom doors closed when sleeping. This allows detectors to pick up smoke fastest. And prevents smoke from spreading.
Check all electrical cords. Ruptured cords can spark fires. All electrical should be monitored for overheating, smells, etc. Use licensed electricians.
Keep combustible/flammable substances and ingredients out of your home or securely stored.
Keep your stove and oven clean. Keep all appliance filters cleaned.
Check your clothes dryer. Always clean the lint filter after each load.
Inspect and maintain all heating sources regularly. Space heaters are notoriously risky.
Check your insurance coverage.
Keep dry debris/leaves and combustibles away from your home.
Create an evacuation plan, study it, memorize it and practice it. An evacuation ladder on lower floors may be a consideration.

What to do in the event of a fire.

Get out. FAST. If you can. Safely. Most buildings have 2 stairways, so always know where they are even when traveling.
Activate the fire alarms if they have not gone off, alert all in the home/building ASAP. Call 911 and don’t assume someone else has.
Close doors and windows. Opening windows will draw smoke and fire from outside. Open doors allow smoke and fire to spread faster.
Stay low. Fall to the floor and crawl. But beware that some toxic elements may have fallen to the floor so try to stay elevated. Smoke and gasses rise and you don’t want to breathe any in.
Go to a predetermined assembly point and take inventory of people.
Before opening a door touch the handle. If cool, open carefully. If there is smoke, shut immediately and then seal as many cracks as you can with wet towels/clothing. Seal vents too with wet cloth.
Rip down any flammable materials close to a window, like curtains.
Do not use elevators.
Turn off any gas or electrical equipment. Turn off any ventilation/HVAC equipment except a bathroom extractor fan.
Close as many doors as you can between you and the fire.
Do not go back into the property. Leave possessions behind as they can slow your exit.

Being prepared with a plan can make all the difference.

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