Fire Safety at Home

Facts & Figures

• 15 of every 16 homes (94%) in the United States have at least one smoke alarm.

• One-half of home fire deaths occur in the 6% of homes with no smoke alarms.

• Homes with smoke alarms (whether or not they are operational) typically have a death rate that is 40-50% less than the rate for homes without alarms.

• In three of every 10 reported fires in homes equipped with smoke alarms, the devices did not work.  Households with non-working smoke alarms now outnumber those with no smoke alarms.

• Why do smoke alarms fail?  Most often because of missing, dead or disconnected batteries!

Tips For Safety In The Home

• Install smoke detectors on every level of the home in rooms, stair landings, and passageways.  Test them monthly and change the batteries twice a year.

• Don't install smoke alarms near windows, outside doors, or ducts where drafts might interfere with their operation.

• Don't paint your smoke alarms;  paint or other decorations could keep them from working when you most need it.

• Regularly vacumming or dusting your smoke alarm following manufacturer's instructions can help keep it working properly.

• Never “borrow” a battery from a smoke alarm.

• Replace smoke alarms every 10 years.

• Consider installing automatic fire sprinklers to spray water on fire in its early stages to reduce or stop damage.

• Put out cigarettes in an ashtray.  Never throw them in the trash.  Make sure they are completely out. 

• Keep all lighters and matches in locked or high cabinets away from children.

• Use light bulbs with the correct wattage for the fixture.

• Replace all frayed, cracked or broken electrical cords.

• Check for independent testing lab safety labels (i.e., UL, FM) on all appliances and portable heaters.

• Use outlets safely.  Don't plug too many large appliances into one outlet, overload an extension cord, or plug more than one extension cord into an outlet.

• Make sure there are two escape routes from every room, including basement bedrooms.

• Store and use all cleaning products and aerosol cans away from heat.  Don't burn the containers or throw in with trash that will be burned.

• Do not use electrical appliances or tools when you or the cord is in or near water.

Tips For Safety In The Kitchen

• Have the stovetop and oven checks annually to be sure that they are working properly.

• Keep the stovetop and oven clean to avoid grease fires.

• Remove towels, potholders, plastic bags, newspapers and other flammable materials around the stovetop.

• Do not hang curtains or other flammable materials above the stove.

• Replace or have a professional fix any appliance with frayed or loose cords or wires, or cords that get hot while the appliance is in use.

• Do not use or store appliances and cords near water where they can get wet.

• Hang paper towel racks, curtains and towels away from the toaster, roaster oven, and any other heat producing appliances.

• Turn pot handles toward the back of the stovetop.

• Use only microwave-safe dishes in the microwave.

• Wear tight-fitting sleeves or roll them up when cooking.

• Unplug appliances when they are not in use.

Tips For Safety In The Living Room

• Clean wood or coal stoves and fireplace chimneys before each heating season.

• Burn only dry, seasoned wood in the fireplace or wood stove to reduce the build-up of creosote (which is flammable) in the chimney.

• Always use a fire screen.

• Don't wear loose or flowing clothes when tending fires.

• Close the screen or heat-tempered glass door when the fireplace is in use to prevent sparks from igniting furniture, draperies or other items.

• Avoid running cords or wires under rugs and carpets or near a heat source where they can overheat.  Don't run them across doorways where they can become worn.

• Stack newspapers, wood, matches and other items that might catch fire away from the fireplace, wood or coal stove.

• Install an approved stove board under wood and coal stoves and place these stoves at least 3 feet away from any wall.  Follow local building and fire codes.

• Place large, clean, deep, non-tip ashtrays in the living room and other rooms where smokers are likely to be.  Douse ashtrays with water before emptying  them into a trash can to put out any embers.

Tips For Safety In The Bathroom

• Run appliance cords away from the sink or tub where they can get wet.

• Install Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters in the bathroom, kitchen, and other rooms with water or moisture.  These shut off the current when there is a danger of shock.

• Use hair dryers and curling irons away from items that might burn.

• Disconnect after use.  Don't fold or crimp cords when storing them.

Tips For Safety In The Bedroom

• Install a smoke detector in the hallway near each bedroom.  Sleep with bedroom doors closed.

• Buy portable heaters with automatic shutoff safety features.  Keep them clean and at least three feet away from draperies, furniture, clothes, bedding and wall.

• Never smoke cigarettes in bed or any time you are sleepy.

• Use a heating pad for no more than 30 minutes.  Always unplug it when you are finished.

• Unplug your electric blanket when it is not in use and store it flat.  Never fold or roll it.

Tips For Safety In The Basement

• Have your furnace checked before each heating season to be sure it is in proper working condition.

• Change furnace filters frequently.

• If you use the basement as a bedroom, make sure the windows are large enough to crawl through in case of fire.

• Do not store trash or anything that could catch fire near the furnace.

• Become familiar with your main electric panel.

• Clean lint from the dryer screen before each use.  Plug the dryer into a separate outlet and vent it to the outside.  Be sure the vent does not get clogged.  This is a favorite spot for bird nests.

• Follow the manufacturers' recommended time for drying synthetic fabrics, rubber, plastics or foam.

Tips For Safety In The Garage Or Shop

• Keep a fire extinguisher in this area and familiarize yourself with its use !

• Use proper gauge extension cord with any power tool or high-wattage equipment.

• Store gasoline in approved, tightly sealed containers and use it only as motor fuel.

• Keep paints and other flammable liquids and chemicals in their original, labeled containers with tight fitting lids.

• Use and store flammables (pesticides, fertilizers, paint, gasoline, etc.) away from any source of heat or flame.  Never smoke near flammable liquids.

• Dispose of oil soaked rags after use or store them in a tightly closed metal container.  Never burn them or throw them in trash that will be burned.

• Place unused charcoal in a metal container with a tight fitting lid in a cool, dry place.  Damp charcoal can ignite itself !

• Use cordless tools when working around water or on grounded components such as plumbing and heating systems.

General Safety Tips

• While smoke alarms alert people to fires, families still need to develop and practice home fire escape plans so that they can get out quickly.

• Install at least one smoke alarm on every floor of your home (including the basement) and outside each sleeping area.  If you sleep with the door closed, also install a smoke alarm in the room that you sleep in.  In new homes, smoke alarms are required in all sleeping rooms!

• Because smoke rises, alarms should be mounted high on walls or ceilings.  Wall-mounted alarms should be positioned 4-12 inches from the ceiling;  ceiling-mounted alarms should be positioned 4 inches away from the nearest wall.  On vaulted ceilings, be sure to mount the alarm at the highest point of the ceiling.

• Smoke alarms should not be installed near a window, door or forced-air register where drafts could interfere with their operation.

• People with hearing impairments should install smoke alarms with louder alarm signals and strobe lights to properly alert them.

• Be sure that the smoke alarm that you buy carries the label of an independent testing lab.

• Alarms that are hard-wired to the home's electrical system should be installed by a qualified electrician – after all, your life could depend on this!