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.