Home Fire Safety

Please follow our Home Fire Safety tips to safeguard yourself, your family, and your home against fire.

Smoke Detectors

Place a smoke detector outside every sleeping area and one on each level of your home.

Test the battery in the detector once a month. If the detector doesn't work, it can't help you.

Change the battery in the detector at least once a year. Even better, do it twice a year, each time you reset your clocks for daylight savings time.

Clean the detector twice a year by vacuuming its outside casing with your vacuum attachment.

Know the sound of your smoke detector.

Residential Sprinklers

With sprinklers people increase their chances of getting out of a burning home alive by 97 percent.

Sprinklers reduce potential fire damage by 60 to 90 percent.

Ninety percent of home fires are put out by a single sprinkler head.

Sprinklers usually put out a fire before the fire department arrives.

Most insurance carriers offer discounts of between 5 and 15 % on homeowner’s insurance for homes with sprinklers.

Fire Escape Plan

Practice E.D.I.T.H - Exit Drills in the Home.

Have two means of egress from every room in the house.

Everybody should know how to open all doors and windows.

Post escape routes.

Have a designated meeting place.

Practice your home escape plan at least twice a year with all members of the family.

Remember, get out and stay out and call 9-1-1 in the event of a fire.

Fire Hazards in the Home

Having smoke detectors and home escape plans go a long way toward protecting you and your home. The best protection, however, is fire prevention. By recognizing fire hazards in your home, you can head off a fire before it has a chance to start.

If you smoke, use large, non-spill ashtrays, never smoke in bed, and keep lighters and matches out of the reach of children.

Monitor cooking food at all times.

Keep combustibles away from stove tops and wear short or close-fitting sleeves when cooking so as not to catch clothes on fire.

Use a lid to smother grease fires on stove tops and turn off the burner. Never use water to extinguish a grease fire.

Turn pot handles toward back of stove to keep children from pulling pots off and onto themselves.

Have heating appliances checked and cleaned yearly.

When using space heaters, remember to give the heaters at least three feet in all directions away from walls, curtains, furniture or any other combustible items.

Allow ashes to cool first before disposing of them and always dump them in a tightly covered metal container.

Check appliance cords regularly for fraying and keep all appliances in working order.

Use one extension cord per appliance. Overloading outlets can cause wires to overheat and fuses to blow.

Allow cords to breathe, do not run them under carpets or pinch them under or behind furniture.

Make sure the extension cord is rated for the appliance - check the amperage.

Never leave children around open flames.

Keep flammables and combustible liquids out of reach of children and away from any heat source.

Dispose of rags containing flammable material by placing them in a metal, air tight container with a lid.

Fire Survival Tips

Get out of the burning structure and call 9-1-1. Do not hang up until the operator instructs you to do so.

If you cannot escape, seal off the room you are in by closing doors and stuffing towels in vents and door cracks. Call 9-1-1 and notify the operator of your location, then, wait by a window to signal for help.

If you must leave your location, feel the door with the back of your hand, if the door is hot use an alternate exit, otherwise, proceed and crawl low under smoke.

If your clothes catch on fire, STOP, DROP, and ROLL. You can cool a burn by running the burn under cool running water. Never put butter or ointments on a burn. If the burned area is charred or blistered, seek medical attention immediately.

PREVENTION AND PREPAREDNESS ARE YOUR BEST DEFENSE AGAINST FIRE IN YOUR HOME.