Fire Prevention and Safety

• Stay in the kitchen and closely monitor your meal anytime you are cooking.

• Avoid using candles because of the fire risk. Use battery-powered lights and flashlights instead. If you must use a candle, use extreme caution and never leave it unattended. 

• Keep electrical appliances in good working order.

• Install and learn how to use a fire extinguisher. Extra points if you have a fire blanket too.

• Use caution around heating equipment such as space heaters and fireplaces. Keep anything that could catch fire at least 3 feet from the heat.

• Clean lint filters on clothes dryers after every use and always let dryers complete the cool-down cycle.

• Store all matches and lighters out of reach of children.

• By law every home must have at least one working smoke alarm installed on each level of the house. Clean and test your alarms regularly and make sure they are working.

• Always plug appliances directly into wall outlets. Extension cords are for short-term use. 

• STEP ONE

Draw your home floor plan on the grid, marking all the exits. Click HERE for a helpful guide. 

• STEP TWO

Involve your children by asking them to help identify the two quickest and safest

ways to get out of the house from every room, including upper floors. Find two paths to the outside from every room. The first path will often be a doorway. The second path may be a window or a second doorway. You need two paths in case your first path is blocked by smoke or flames. It is important to remember to keep your escape paths are clear and not blocked by clutter, furniture or equipment 

• STEP THREE

Decide on an outside meeting place, such as a neighbor's house. 

• STEP FOUR

Practice your escape plan twice a year with your entire household. Account for all those who many need extra assistance in your planning, including infants, small children, older adults and individuals with a disability, access or functional needs. Make sure that someone is assigned to help them, if needed, and that everyone can use the escape routes.

• STEP 5

Keep the plan handy (on the fridge) to remind everyone of the safe exits in case of fire. 

• Be sure that you install smoke alarms in your home and that you maintain and test them regularly. 

• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas 

• Make sure everyone in your home knows the sound of a smoke/CO2 alarm and what to do if it goes off. 

• Test ALL smoke alarms at least once a month by pressing the test button. Smoke alarms with 10-year batteries are good for up to 10 years. 9-volt smoke alarms should have their batteries replaced at least once a year. 

• Install a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm (also called detectors) in the hallway of your home near sleeping areas. Avoid corners where air does not circulate. 

•  Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to test the CO alarm every month. 

• Do not use a CO alarm in place of a smoke alarm. Have both. 

• Before buying a CO alarm, check to make sure it is listed with Underwriter’s Laboratories standard 2034, or there is information in the owner’s manual that says the alarm meets the requirements of the IAS 6-96 standard.