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HOUSE FIRE

Did you know that if a fire starts in your home you may have as little as two minutes to escape? During a fire, early warning from a working smoke alarm plus a fire escape plan that has been practiced regularly can save lives. Learn what else to do to keep your loved ones safe!

Did You Know? Fire Safety Facts & Statistics

  • On average, seven people die in home fires every day. 
  • Fire departments respond to an average of 355,400 home fires each year.
  • Cooking appliances are the leading cause of home fires.  
  • 65 percent of fire deaths occur in homes without working smoke detectors. 
  • It only takes 30 seconds for a small fire to spread. 

Home Safety Checklist

  • Check to see if each room has a smoke alarm. 
  • Look for smoke alarms in hallways or stairwells.
  • Ask your parents to let you hear what your smoke alarm sounds like.
  • Make sure your home’s windows and doors are free of clutter, toys and furniture. 
  • Keep electrical cords free from clutter and untangled.

Parents Fire Safety Tips & To-Dos

Fire Prevention Tips 

  • Keep lighters and candles out of children’s reach.
  • Test your home’s smoke detectors at least once a month. 
  • Keep fire safety equipment in your home. Fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, and escape ladders are common home fire safety items.
  • Identify any fire safety hazards, such as lint left in dryers, plugged in heating appliances, and cleaning your chimney. 

Making a Fire Evacuation Plan

  1. Find all of your home’s possible exits. Start by drawing your home’s floor plan. Spot at least two exits in each room. Make sure each exit is clear from clutter and easy to open in case of an emergency. 
  2. Install smoke detectors in your home.Alarms should be installed in hallways and inside of every bedroom on every level of your home so it’s easy to hear when sleeping. 
  3. Be prepared when you hear the alarm. If you hear your smoke alarm sound, leave immediately. When exiting, stay low to the ground to inhale less of the rising smoke. 
  4. Keep loved ones in mind. If you have elders or infants in the home, have a plan to get them to safety and assign one family member to help them ahead of time. 
  5. Stop, drop and roll. If your clothes catch on fire during an evacuation, Stop, Drop and Roll. Stop where you are, drop to the floor, and roll while covering your hands and eyes until the flames are gone. 
  6. Choose a place for everyone to meet safely. Make sure everyone knows how to get there. Call 9-1-1 once you’re in a safe place. Memorize phone numbers just in case you’re not at the meeting location to let family members know you’re safe.
  7. Don’t go back inside. If you left family members or valuables behind, don’t go back towards the fire. When you call, let the dispatcher know so firefighters can handle the rescue. Wait until firefighters say it’s safe to go back to the home. 

Practice the Family Fire Drill

Follow these easy steps to practice your fire drill. Remember to review your family’s plan at least twice a year.

  1. Let your family know that you are going to practice the fire drill.
  2. Explain that when the smoke alarm goes off, everyone should quickly and carefully leave the home and go to the Outside Meeting Place.
  3. Ask everyone to go to a different room and wait for the alarm. After several minutes, set off the smoke alarm by pushing the test button and watch your family’s actions.
  4. When everyone reassembles at the Outside Meeting Place, ask each family member to explain exactly what they did when the alarm went off.
  5. Review any questions. 

Follow these tips to stay safe in the kitchen

  • Stay in the kitchen while you use the stovetop. If you leave for even a short time, turn off the burner.
  • If you are baking or roasting food, check it regularly and use a timer.
  • Don’t leave home if the stove or oven is on.
  • Watch out for loose sleeves near an open flame.
  • Keep anything that can catch fire – oven mitts, wood utensils, food packaging, or dish towels – away from your stovetop.
  • Keep a lid handy to smother a fire.

Follow these tips to stay safe in the garage

  • Store flammable items away from your home: Keep flammable liquids, like gasoline, oil, paints, propane, and varnishes in a shed away from your home.  
  • Avoid clutter: Keep your garage tidy and free of clutter and debris, which can be flammable.  
  • Use electrical tools safely: Use electrical tools with caution and avoid overloading circuits.  
  • Install a heat alarm: Install a heat alarm instead of a smoke alarm in your garage.  
  • Have a fire extinguisher: Make sure you have the right fire extinguisher for your garage and know how to use it.  
  • Practice exiting: Practice exiting your garage regularly.  
  • Have a plan: Educate family members on what to do in the event of a fire, and make sure you have a list of emergency contacts.  
  • Have water on hand: Keep at least one gallon of sealed water per person per day for three days in your garage.
  • Electrical malfunctions are the most common cause of garage fires, so it’s important to inspect and maintain your electrical outlets.