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Never leave food unattended on a stove.
Keep cooking areas free of flammable objects (such as, potholders and towels).
Avoid wearing clothes with long, loose-fitting sleeves when cooking.
Never smoke in bed or leave burning cigarettes unattended.
Do not empty smoldering ashes in a trash can, and keep ashtrays away from upholstered furniture and curtains.
Never place portable space heaters near flammable materials (such as, drapery).
Keep all matches and lighters out of reach of children. Store them up high, preferably in a locked cabinet.
Install smoke alarms on every floor of the home, including the basement, and particularly near rooms in which people sleep.
Use long-life smoke alarms with lithium-powered batteries and hush buttons, which allow persons to stop false alarms quickly. If long-life alarms are not available, use regular alarms, and replace the batteries annually.
Test all smoke alarms every month to ensure they work properly.
Devise a family fire escape plan and practice it every 6 months. In the plan, describe at least two different ways each family member can escape every room, and designate a safe place in front of the home for family members to meet after escaping a fire.
If possible, install or retrofit fire sprinklers into home.
FIRE SAFETY FACTS
$8.6 billion annually. Intentionally set structure fires resulted
in an estimated
$664 million in property damage.
In order to protect yourself, it is important to understand the basic characteristics of fire.
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Fire is FAST. In just two minutes, a fire can become life-threatening. In five minutes, a residence
can be engulfed in flames.
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Fire is DARK. Fire produces gases that make you disoriented and drowsy. Instead of being
awakened by a fire, you may fall into a deeper sleep. Asphyxiation is the leading cause of fire
deaths, exceeding burns by a three- to- one ratio.
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Fire is HOT. Heat and smoke from fire can be more dangerous than the flames. Inhaling the superhot
air can sear your lungs.
FIRE PREVENTION TIPS
The following are things you can do to protect yourself, your family, and your property in the event of a
fire:
BEFORE A FIRE
SMOKE ALARMS AND CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS
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Install smoke alarms. Properly working smoke alarms decrease your chances of dying in a fire by
half.
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Place smoke alarms on every level of your residence, including the basement.
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Install a working carbon monoxide detector in the common area of the bedrooms.
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Test and clean smoke alarms once a month and replace batteries at least once a year. Replace smoke
alarms once every 10 years.
COOKING SAFETY
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Never leave cooking unattended.
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Always wear short or tight-fitting sleeves when you cook.
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Keep towels, pot holders and curtains away from flames
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Never use the range or oven to heat your home.
ESCAPING THE FIRE
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Have an escape plan. Review escape routes with your family.
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Make sure windows are not nailed or painted shut.
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Teach family members to stay low to the floor, where the air is safer, when escaping from a fire.
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In high-rise, never lock fire exits or doorways, halls or stairways. Never prop stairway or other fire
doors open.
HEATING SOURCE
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Place space heaters at least three feet away from flammable/combustible materials.
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Use only the type of fuel designated for your space heater.
MATCHES/LIGHTERS AND SMOKING
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Keep matches/lighters away from children.
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Never smoke in bed or when drowsy or medicated.
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If you must smoke, do it responsibly.
ELECTRICAL WIRING
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Inspect extension cords for frayed or exposed wires or loose plugs
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Make sure outlets have cover plates and no exposed wiring.
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Make sure wiring does not run under rugs, over nails, or across high traffic areas.
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Do not overload extension cords or outlets.
ASK THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO INSPECT YOUR HOME FOR FIRE SAFETY AND
PREVENTION
DURING A FIRE
If your clothes catch on fire, you should:
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Stop, drop, and roll until the fire is extinguished.
DO NOT PANIC
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Do not assume someone else already called the fire department get out of the house then call the Fire
Department.
ESCAPE A FIRE
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Check closed doors with the back of your hand to feel for heat before you open them.
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If the door is hot do not open it. Find a second way out, such as a window. If you cannot escape
through a window, hang a white sheet outside the window to alert firefighters to your presence.
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Stuff the cracks around the door with towels, rags, bedding or tape and cover vents to keep smoke
out.
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If there is a phone in the room where you are trapped, call the fire department again and tell them
exactly where you are.
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If the door is cold slowly open it and ensure that fire and/or smoke is not blocking your escape
route. If your escape route is blocked, shut the door and use another escape route.
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If clear, leave immediately and close the door behind you. Be prepared to crawl.
AFTER A FIRE
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Once you are out of the building, STAY OUT! Do not go back inside for any reason.
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If you are with a burn victim or are a burn victim yourself call 911, cool and cover your burns until
emergency units arrive.
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If you are a tenant contact the landlord.
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Tell the fire department if you know of anyone trapped in the building.
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Only enter when the fire department tells you it is safe to do so.
FIRE SAFETY IS YOUR PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY…FIRE STOPS
WITH YOU!
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Fire Prevention
