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7 Tips on Fire Prevention in the Home - Install smoke detectors on every level of your home and outside of sleeping areas. Make sure to test every smoke detector at least once a month and replace batteries at least once a year. Manufacturers recommend replacing smoke detectors every 10 years. Smoke detectors work 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If your smoke detector is over 10 years old, you should consider getting a new one.
- Fire extinguishers should be mounted in the kitchen, garage and workshop. Make sure you learn how to use a fire extinguisher before there is an emergency. Only use them to put out small fires. If there is a large fire, get out immediately and call 911 from another location.
- Check corridors and make sure they are free of obstructions. Also, prepare a floor plan of your house showing fire escape routes. Plan two exit routes per room. Have an emergency escape ladder for second story bedrooms. Be sure that all family members know the plan and determine a safe meeting place outside, in the event of a fire.
- Do not store newspapers, kindling or matches near the fireplace or have an exposed rug or wooden floor right in front of the fireplace. And…when lighting a gas fireplace, strike your match first, then turn on the gas.
- Do not store newspapers, rags or other combustible materials near a furnace, hot water heater, space heater, etc. Also, do not use extension cords with electrical space heaters. The high amount of current they require could melt the cord and start a fire. Also, keep the lint trap, dryer vent and area surrounding the dryer clean of lint buildup.
- Never leave home with the clothes dryer running and never put in synthetic plastic, rubber or foam because they retain heat.
- Never pour water over a grease fire. Turn off the stove and cover the pan with a lid or close the oven door. Also, clean the exhaust hood and duct over the stove regularly and wipe up spilled grease as soon as the surface of the stove is cool.
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