Home Fire Safety
Fire Safety Checklist
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Install and maintain smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
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Keep a multipurpose fire extinguisher in the kitchen and understand its operating principles
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Designate two exits from your home
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Ensure that everyone in your home understands to stay low and crawl in smoke
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If a fire breaks out, “GET OUT and STAY OUT.” Call 9-1-1 from a neighbor’s home
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If your clothes catch fire, “STOP, DROP, and ROLL” to extinguish the flames
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Never re-enter a burning home unless the fire department gives you the okay
Outside Your Home
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Store flammable liquids such as gasoline in a tight, properly labeled, fire safe container away from any heat source and small children.
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Turn off outdoor power equipment such as lawn mowers and allow them to cool before storage or adding gasoline.
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Keep weeds and underbrush clear from the structure of your home.
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Clear pine needles and leaves from the roof, eaves, and gutters.
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Trim all tree limbs within 10 feet of a structure.
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Keep your grill at least five feet away from any structure.
Inside Your Home
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Wear short or snug fitting clothes while cooking.
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Do not leave the food preparation area while cooking.
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Use a low flame on gas stoves to protect against grease fires.
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Always turn pot handles and utensils to the middle of the stove to prevent children from grabbing them.
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Keep your cooking area clean.
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Do not store pot holders, towels, or napkins near the cooking area.
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Set your hot water heater to 120 degrees Farenheit to prevent scald burns
If You Smoke
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Use large heavy ashtrays that won’t tip over.
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Extinguish all smoking materials completely.
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Empty used ashtrays only after the contents have cooled.
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Do not smoke on or around furniture or in the bedroom.
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Store matches, and lighters out of the reach of children.
Electrical
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Only purchase and use UL-approved or tested appliances.
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Plug only one appliance into an outlet or extension cord.
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Unplug a cord from the plug and do not pull from the cord.
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Use only safety-tested extension cords or surge protection devices.
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Provide appliances with adequate ventilation.
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Keep all appliances away from water.
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Replace broken plugs and frayed cords.
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Call a licensed electrician if you experience any of the following in your home; frequently blown fuses, tripped circuit breakers, flickering lights.
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Do not run extension cords under any carpet or like material.
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Do not run extension cords over door frames.
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Do not plug more than one extension cord in a line.
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Keep clothes dryer vents clean and do not operate the dryer while it is unattended.
Heating Systems
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Do not place or maintain any home heating device less than 3 feet away from drapes, clothing, linens, furniture, etc.
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Check and replace filters according to the manufacturer recommendations.
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Use electrical heating appliances designed for your home’s electricity capability.
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Do not plug more than one heater into the same circuit.
Woodstoves and Fireplaces
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Have chimneys and fireplaces cleaned once a year
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Your chimney should have a cap on the top outside.
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Keep the damper open when in use.
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Use a glass cover or screen to cover the opening of the fireplace when in use.
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Before disposing of ashes make sure they are cooled for several hours even if you are dumping them outside. Ashes should be contained in a metal container with a lid.
Smoke Detectors
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Install and maintain at least one smoke detector on each level of your home.
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At minimum, there should be one detector outside each sleeping area; preferably one in each sleeping area.
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Test smoke detectors monthly.
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Replace the batteries in all detectors when you change your clocks.
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Keep the detectors clean.
Exit Drills for Your Home
- Design an escape plan for your family.
- Have two ways out of every room.
- Establish a place outside where everyone can meet.
- Practice your fire drill every 6 months (at minimum).
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