Fire Prevention & Safety Tips

Fire Escape Plan

Have a plan of escape with two ways out of each room in your home.
Make sure windows can be opened quickly and easily from inside by all members of your household.
If you see smoke, try another way out. If you cannot avoid the smoke, crawl on your hands and knees.
Do not stop or go back for possessions.
Pick a meeting place outside, well away from the building and do a head count.
Once outside, stay outside.

Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Have at least one smoke and carbon monoxide detector on each level of your home and in each bedroom.
Test alarms every month.
Change batteries every year.
Make sure all members of the household know the sound of the alarms and how to react.

Kitchen Fire Safety

Turn the handles of pots and pans away from the front of the stove.
Wear close-fitting clothing and tie long hair back when cooking.
Never leave cooking unattended and avoid cooking when potentially impaired.
Store matches and lighters out of the reach of children.

Exterior Fire Safety

Ensure your house number is visible from the street with at least 3 inch high reflective numbers on both sides of your mailbox.
Make your driveway accessible for emergency vehicles.
Use grills well away from siding, deck railings, and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
Dispose of hot coals and ashes properly: douse with plenty of water and place in a non-flammable container such as a metal bucket.

Electrical Fire Safety

Refrain from extension cords and outlet adapters.
If you must use extension cords, only use the kind with built-in circuit breakers and do not tack them to walls or run them through doorways or under rugs.
Check appliances regularly for loose or frayed cords.
Unplug small appliances when not in use.

Fire Extinguishers

There are five different types of extinguishing agents:

Class A - ordinary combustible materials such as cloth, wood, rubber, paper, and many plastics.
Class B - flammable liquids such as grease, gasoline, oil, and oil-based paints.
Class C - appliance, tools or other equipment that is electrically energized or plugged in.
Class D - flammable metals (often specific for the type of metal in question).
Class K - vegetable oils, animal oils, or fats in cooking appliances.

There are also multi-purpose fire extinguishers that can be used on two or more of the above type fires, such as "B-C" or "A-B-C." Call 911 immediately!

Only use a fire extinguisher if:

You are physically capable of properly operating a fire extinguisher.
You have alerted other occupants and someone has called the fire department.
The fire is small and contained to a single object, such as a wastebasket.
You are safe from the toxic smoke produced by the fire.
You have a means of escape identified and the fire is not between you and the escape route.
Your instincts tell you that it is safe to use an extinguisher.

Fire Extinguisher Maintenance

Follow the fire extinguisher manufacturer's maintenance schedule.
Check pressure gauges and make sure hoses and nozzles are free of debris.
Remove any oil or grease that might accumulate on the exterior and check for damage such as dents or rust.
Shake dry chemical extinguishers once a month to prevent the powder from settling or packing.
Pressure test (hydrostatic test) the extinguisher according to the manufacturer's schedule to ensure the cylinder is still safe.
Immediately replace the extinguisher if it needs recharging or is damaged.