Fire Safety Tips

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, nearly 250,000 fires occur in American homes per year, resulting in over 2100 deaths and almost $6 billion in losses. Most of these disasters can be avoided by following a few simple fire safety tips.

Prevention

• Install and maintain smoke detectors, with one or more active on every floor. They should be tested every 30 days and their batteries replaced once every 6 months. 


• Avoid smoking while in the bed. Burning cigarette butts can set the sheets on fire, turning the bed into a death trap.


• Stay in the kitchen while cooking. Never leave a stove unsupervised, especially a gas stove.


• Keep all space heaters at least 5 feet away from anything that could be flammable, like chemicals or paper.


• Keep flammable items away from children. This includes chemicals, matches and lighters.

Survival and Mitigation

• Buy an ABC class home fire extinguisher. Have at least one for the house, close by the garage or kitchen. Class K fire extinguishers are now making their way into the market and should be used in the kitchen to deal with grease fires.


• Plan your potential escape routes. Make sure that there are two ways out of every room.


• Take any brownout seriously. Inspect the affected power outlet for burns and check the walls for heat. If you detect either, evacuate the building and call the fire department immediately.


• Put out grease fires by smothering it with baking soda if a Class K fire extinguisher is unavailable. Do not use water, as this will only make the fire worse.