Fire safety and protection starts before a fire occurs. Tips provided below can help reduce the loss of life and property in the event of a fire.
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Actions YOU Can Take For Fire Preparation & Fire Risk Reduction
BE PREPARED PRIOR TO A FIRE
HAVE A HOME ESCAPE FIRE PLAN
Today, with the prevalence of synthetic materials in the home, occupants have roughly 3 to 5 minutes to escape.
Consider replacing burglar bars with glass break detectors so home security does not impact your ability to escape a fire.
Keep a ladder next to high windows to aid your escape.
Make a home fire escape plan for the entire family and practice it at least twice a year.
Plan where to meet up with your family should you need to escape your home.
KEEP A FIRE EXTINGUISHER HANDY
Place a fire extinguisher in your kitchen and laundry to enable you to respond when a fire just sparked or is small.
INSTALL SPRINKLERS
If you are building or remodeling your home, install residential fire sprinklers. Sprinklers can contain and may even extinguish a fire in less time than it would take the fire department to arrive.
INSTALL SMOKE DETECTORS
Install smoke detectors/alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas.
Install multiple types of smoke detectors/alarms.
Ionization smoke detectors are responsive to smoke caused by flaming fires.
Photoelectric smoke detectors are responsive to fires that begin with a long period of smoldering.
Hard-wired smoke detectors will not work during a power outage, unless they are equipped with a battery back-up. Upgrade yours or install a few battery-operated detectors for coverage during power outages.
Install separate carbon monoxide detectors.
Interconnect smoke detectors/alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound.
TEST SMOKE DETECTORS
Test smoke alarms at least once a month and replace batteries once a year or when the alarm “chirps” to tell you the battery is low.
REPLACE SMOKE DETECTORS EVERY 10 YEARS
The components no longer work after 10 years.
WAYS TO REDUCE FIRE RISK
WATCH YOUR COOKING
tay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you must leave, even for a short time, turn off the stove.
PREVENT CLOTHES DRYER FIRES
Clean lint filters every time you use the dryer.
Clean your dryer vent ductwork every year.
INSPECT ELECTRICAL CORDS
Replace cords that are cracked, damaged, have broken plugs, or have loose connections.
GIVE SPACE HEATERS SPACE
Keep fixed and portable space heaters at least three feet from anything that can burn. Turn off heaters when you leave the room or go to sleep.
KEEP MATCHES & LIGHTERS OUT OF REACH
Keep matches and lighters up high, out of the reach of children, preferably in a cabinet with a child lock.
BE CAREFUL WHEN USING CANDLES
Keep candles at least one foot from anything that can burn. Blow out candles when you leave the room or go to sleep.
SMOKE OUTSIDE
Ask smokers to smoke outside. Have sturdy, deep ashtrays for smokers.
WHAT TO DO WHEN A HOME FIRE OCCURS
EXTINQUISH THE FIRE, IF POSSIBLE
If the fire has just sparked—for example, a pan catches fire on the stove—you may be able to contain it.
Grab your fire extinguisher and remember to PASS: pull the pin, aim at the base of the flames, squeeze the extinguisher handle, and sweep from side to side until the fire is extinguished. Make sure that the fire is completely out and not still smoldering.
CRAWL BENEATH THE FLAMES TO ESCAPE
Fire produces smoke and poisonous gases that can cause lightheadedness or loss of consciousness if inhaled—both of which can cause issues if you’re trying to get out of a burning building. To escape a fire and its fumes, crawl to the closest exit, remembering that it may be a window. Staying low to the ground will help protect you from inhaling smoke and toxic gases.
CHECK DOORS & DOORKNOBS FOR HEAT
If you must go through a door to get to an exit, check if the door is hot. If the door (or doorknob) is warm to the touch, there could be fire raging on the other side, so do not go through it. If you open a door and see fire or smoke, shut the door and go to a second exit.
RUN TO SAFETY
Once you make your way outside, run away from the fire to safety. Part of the house or apartment, like the roof or siding, may catch fire and fall around the perimeter of the building, so run across the street or down the block to safety.
CALL FOR HELP
Once you have made it away from the fire, call 911. If you don’t have a cellphone, go to a neighbor’s house and ask to borrow a phone. Tell the operator that there’s been a fire at your address, and then keep the line open to see if they need any other information.
IF YOU’RE TRAPPED INSIDE
If you end up trapped, cover the cracks around the door with whatever you can find: blankets, jackets, towels, etc. If you can wet the fabric down, do so. Cover vents with wet blankets as well, to keep smoke from seeping into the room, and call 911 if you have access to a phone.
In the event that you get stuck on an upper story of a building, hang sheets or anything large enough to capture people’s attention out the window to let firefighters know where you are. Do not attempt to make your way through the fire.
If your clothes catch on fire, you should immediately stop, drop, and roll: stop where you are, drop to the ground, and roll to extinguish the flames. Cover your face with your hands as you roll, as well, to further protect yourself from flames.