Fires cause an estimated 3,500 deaths
and nearly $4 billion in property damage in the United States. By taking a few
precautions, you can prevent your home and family from a devastating blaze.
Home Heater Safety
- Keep flammables, such as drapes and
furniture, away from space and portable heaters.
- Hire a
certified chimney sweep to regularly clean and inspect the chimney.
- Inspect
heating equipment regularly for proper design, installation and operation.
- Follow
manufacturer instructions when installing and filling liquid and gas-fueled
heaters.
- Never
leave auxiliary heating equipment unattended.
Electrical
plug safety
- Don’t overload wall outlets.
- Don’t
use fuses rated too high for your home’s circuits.
- Don’t
use frayed electric cords.
- Don’t
run extension cords under rugs or furniture.
Cooking safety
- Keep the stove clean and free of grease.
- Keep the handles of pots and pans turned
inwards.
- Keep flammable material (including shirt
sleeves) away from burners.
- Keep a fire
extinguisher rated for grease fires nearby.
- Never store
flammable liquids in the kitchen.
- Never leave
cooking unattended.
Since most fires
start between midnight and 4 a.m., the key to survival is being awake and
alert. Working smoke detectors save crucial time in responding to a blaze and
also saves lives.
Smoke alarm safety
- Install at least
one smoke detector on each floor and one near each bedroom area.
- Check detectors
regularly to make sure they are working.
- Change the
batteries twice each year. An easy way to remember is to put in fresh batteries
when you change the clocks in the spring and the fall.